Determining the Impact of Competitive Assurance Elements on Agile Management in Small and Medium Enterprises
Keywords:
human resources, Industry 4.0, human resource risks, fuzzy cognitive mapAbstract
Objective: This study investigates the impact of competitive assurance elements on agile management in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Methodology: The research is descriptive-survey in nature, involving a sample of 41 managers and employees from Fidar Steel Company. Data were collected using the standardized agile management questionnaire by Zhang and Sharifi (2000). The data analysis was conducted using path analysis with SmartPLS software, version 4. Findings: The results indicate that all examined variables, including digital transformation, system alignment, agile methods, Scrum, and customer focus, have a positive and significant effect on agile management. Customer focus showed the strongest impact, with a path coefficient of 0.708 and a t-statistic of 8.997. Additionally, digital transformation and system alignment significantly contributed to enhancing organizational agility. These findings highlight the importance of leveraging modern technologies and agile practices to improve organizational performance. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that various factors, such as digital transformation, system alignment, and customer focus, can enhance agile management in SMEs. Implementing these elements can help organizations increase their flexibility and responsiveness to market changes. It is recommended that SMEs invest more in developing digital technologies and agile practices.
Downloads
References
Abbas, A. (2024). Marketing Agility’s Influence on Market Performance: A Perspective From FinTech Industry. Abbdm, 4(02). https://doi.org/10.62019/abbdm.v4i02.165
Aghaei Ghaleche, S. (2023). Maintenance of Employees and Its Impact on Organizational Performance with the Moderation of Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Dynamic Management and Business Analysis, 1(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.22034/dmbaj.2024.2022641.1012
Ahmed, A., Bhatti, S. H., Gölgeci, İ., & Arslan, A. (2022). Digital Platform Capability and Organizational Agility of Emerging Market Manufacturing SMEs: The Mediating Role of Intellectual Capital and the Moderating Role of Environmental Dynamism. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 177, 121513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121513
Al-Zabidi, A., Rehman, A. U., & Alkahtani, M. (2021). An approach to assess sustainable supply chain agility for a manufacturing organization. Sustainability, 13(4), 1752. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041752
Aldiabat, B. (2022). The Mediating Role of Strategic Intelligence in the Relationship Between Organizational Agility and Organizational Excellence in Jordanian Telecommunications Companies. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(4), 496-506. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(4).2022.37
Alkrait, Y., & Almaktoom, A. (2021). The relationship between supply chain agility and organizational performance in KSA. PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 18(15), 266-271. https://archives.palarch.nl/index.php/jae/article/download/8333/7778/16318
Amiri, M., Amirnezhad, G., & Makvandi, F. (2021). Explain the effective factors of human resource management agility with structural equation modeling approach (A case study: ministry of petroleum). iieshrm, 13(49), 91-111. http://iieshrm.ir/article-1-1233-en.html
Ariaparsa, M., & Ebramihi, H. (2023). Technology Transfer Process in the Context of Open Innovation Paradigm. Dynamic Management and Business Analysis, 2(2), 28-39. https://doi.org/10.22034/dmbaj.2024.2022823.1017
Arsawan, I. W. E., Hariyanti, N. K. D., Atmaja, I. M. A. D. S., Suhartanto, D., & Koval, V. (2022). Developing Organizational Agility in SMEs: An Investigation of Innovation’s Roles and Strategic Flexibility. Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity, 8(3), 149. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030149
Bahadori, S., Abdollahnia, M., Maleki, & Bagheri, T. (2022). Examining the Relationship Between Organizational Entrepreneurship and Agility in Knowledge-Based Companies. Business and Economics Research Quarterly. https://journals.iau.ir/article_691723.html
Boudelayi, H., Kenarrudi, M. H., Ebadi, H., & Bahmani, A. (2021). Digital human resource management: An approach to creating organizational agility in the public sector in the era of the digital economy (Case study: National banks of Iran). Public Administration, 13(4), 766-785. https://jipa.ut.ac.ir/article_86531.html
Franco, C., & Landini, F. (2022). Organizational drivers of innovation: The role of workforce agility. Research Policy, 51(2), 104423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2021.104423
Golmohammadi, E., Mohammadi, E., Tolabi, Z., & Khalil Nezhad, S. (2021). Designing a Strategic Agility Model with the Dynamic Capabilities Approach in the Banking Industry (Case Study: Active Banks in Ilam Province). Commercial Strategies, 18(17), 121-146. https://doi.org/10.22070/cs.2022.15485.1189
Kalaignanam, K., Tuli, K. R., Kushwaha, T., Lee, L., & Gal, D. (2021). Marketing Agility: The Concept, Antecedents, and a Research Agenda. Journal of Marketing, 85(1), 35-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022242920952760
Khan, A., Talukder, M. S., Islam, Q. T., & Islam, A. K. M. N. (2022). The impact of business analytics capabilities on innovation, information quality, agility and firm performance: the moderating role of industry dynamism. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-01-2022-0027
Malmir, A., & Norouzzadeh, A. (2021). The mediating role of organizational agility in relation to knowledge management and organizational development. Journal of Police Organizational Development, 18(1), 101-120. https://www.magiran.com/paper/2327060
Maran, T. K., Liegl, S., Davila, A., Moder, S., Kraus, S., & Mahto, R. V. (2022). Who fits into the digital workplace? Mapping digital self-efficacy and agility onto psychological traits. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175, 121352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121352
Nader, A. (2023). The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning Based on a Systematic Literature Review. Dynamic Management and Business Analysis, 1(1), 59-71. https://doi.org/10.22034/dmbaj.2024.2023006.1022
Nakabuye, Z. (2023). Technology Orientation and Export Performance: The Moderating Role of Supply Chain Agility. Modern Supply Chain Research and Applications, 5(4), 230-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/mscra-01-2023-0006
Nurcholis, L., Suhendi, C., & Utami, L. D. (2022). The Effect of Entrepreneurship and E-Commerce on Marketing Performance With Agility as Intervening Variable. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, 20(1), 146-160. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jam.2022.020.01.15
Panda, S., & Rath, S. K. (2021). How information technology capability influences organizational agility: empirical evidences from Indian banking industry. Journal of Indian Business Research, 13(4), 564-585. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIBR-11-2020-0364
Perdana, E., & Syah, T. Y. R. (2023). The Effect of Social Capital and Collaborative Knowledge Creation on E-Business Proactiveness and Organizational Agility in Creating Business Sustainability. International Journal of Applied Business Research, 167-186. https://ijabr.polban.ac.id/ijabr/article/view/326
Pereira, V., Budhwar, P., Temouri, Y., Malik, A., & Tarba, S. (2021). Investigating Investments in agility strategies in overcoming the global financial crisis - The case of Indian IT/BPO offshoring firms. Journal of International Management, 27(1), 100738.
Piran, F., Shahraki, A., & Banihashemi, S. A. (2022). The Effect of Social Capital and Collective Knowledge on Business Intelligence and Organizational Agility: The Case Study of Melli Bank Branches of Zahedan City. Social Capital Management, 9(3), 359-380. https://doi.org/10.22059/jscm.2022.344497.2305
Ramadan, M., Bou Zakhem, N., Baydoun, H., Daouk, A., Youssef, S., El Fawal, A., & Ashaal, A. (2023). Toward Digital Transformation and Business Model Innovation: The Nexus between Leadership, Organizational Agility, and Knowledge Transfer. Administrative Sciences, 13(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci13080185
Rožman, M., Tominc, P., & Štrukelj, T. (2023). Competitiveness Through Development of Strategic Talent Management and Agile Management Ecosystems. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 24(3), 373-393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-023-00344-1
Sadeghimoghaddam, A., Ashraf Ganjouei, F., & Tojari, F. (2021). The Correlation Model of E-Government and Organizational Agility with the Mediating Role of Social Responsibility in the staff of the Ministry of Sports and Youth [Research]. Journal of Health Promotion Management, 10(1), 91-102. http://jhpm.ir/article-1-1264-en.html
Sahafzadeh, A., & Haghighi, M. (2023). D1) Designing a Model for Empowering Iranian Brands with an Emphasis on the Open Innovation Approach in the Home Appliances Industry. New Marketing Research Journal, 12(4), 91-112. https://doi.org/10.22108/nmrj.2023.135031.2756
Sumartik, S. (2023). Agile Management: The Key to Boosting SME Performance in Agriculture. 447-455. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-052-7_49
Thoumrungroje, A., & Racela, O. C. (2021). Linking SME International Marketing Agility to New Technology Adoption. International Small Business Journal Researching Entrepreneurship, 40(7), 801-822. https://doi.org/10.1177/02662426211054651
Vishlaghi, M., Zarei, A., & Feiz, D. (2021). Designing Strategic Agility Model for Sustainable Manufacturing Boom Based on Grounded Theory(Case Study: Automotive Industry). Journal of Improvement Management, 15(2), 127-153. https://doi.org/10.22034/jmi.2021.238717.2292
Zastempowski, M., & Cyfert, S. (2023). A New Angle on SMEs' Competitiveness. How Do Agility Capabilities Affect a Firm's Competitive Position? Journal of Organizational Change Management, 36(4), 635-662. https://doi.org/10.1108/jocm-09-2022-0255
Zhang, H., Ding, H., & Xiao, J. (2023). How Organizational Agility Promotes Digital Transformation: An Empirical Study. Sustainability, 15(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411304
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Moarefi, Gelareh Mortezaei (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.