A conceptual framework of strategy, action and performance dimensions of organisational agility development

ABSTRACT

Agility is today a key dimension of organisational excellence as it encompasses the aptitude to successfully respond to changes in the surrounding environment. Although existing research has investigated specific perspectives of organisational agility, an integrative framework is yet to be introduced in literature. This article aims to address this gap by presenting a conceptual model that encapsulates various dimensions critical to the development of agility within organisations. An extended review of literature is used to identify agility-related concepts, and a design science approach is adopted to build the framework. Three macro-areas are described in terms of 7 propositions and dimensions and 30 items concerned with an agility development initiative. The main value of the article is to provide a holistic view of agility and a number of interdisciplinary perspectives into a single representation framework. The model can also support managers involved into the execution of agility development initiatives.

KEYWORDS:

• Framework
• organisational agility
• performance
• strategy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alessandro Margherita

Alessandro Margherita, PhD is Assistant Professor (qualified for Associate Professor) of business and project management at the Department of Engineering for Innovation of the University of Salento (Italy). His research focuses on business process management, technology entrepreneurship and collective intelligence systems. He has been a visiting researcher at the Peking University (PKU) in Beijing (China) and a research affiliate at the CCI – Center for Collective Intelligence of MIT Sloan (USA).

Hossein Sharifi

Hossein Sharifi, PhD is a Reader in operations and supply chain management at the University of Liverpool. He conducts research on the subject of agile manufacturing and systems and related areas such as supply chain management, organisational agility, and human resource agility. He possesses several years of working experience in the high-tech industry and he has led research into a number of areas engaging with organisations, central and local governments and industry at various capacities, collaborating with both SMEs, large manufacturing companies, leading universities and professional associations.

Antonio Caforio

Antonio Caforio is a computer engineer with a longstanding expertise in business process management. He conducts research and consulting activities in national and European research projects focused on the design and application of methodologies and systems for knowledge management and process Management. He teaches project and process management into undergraduate, Master’s and professional training courses at the University of Salento and in other organisations.