Information technology competency and organizational agility: roles of absorptive capacity and information intensity
Information Technology & People
ISSN: 0959-3845
Article publication date: 27 April 2020
Issue publication date: 22 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Scholars have examined the possible relationship between information technology (IT) and organizational agility. Although the general-level effect of IT is undisputed, empirical research on how different types of IT contribute to various aspects of organizational agility remains scarce. Therefore, this study aims to propose an integrated framework of internal capability and external environment to address this research gap.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigates the potential mediating effects of absorptive capacity and the moderating effects of information intensity in the IT‒agility relationship. With a dataset comprising 165 organizations in China, this work provides empirical evidence that the effects of absorptive capacity and information intensity are multifaceted and nuanced, thereby revealing the latent mechanisms of IT competency and organizational agility.
Findings
Absorptive capacity partially mediates the effects of IT knowledge and IT operations on market capitalizing agility and fully mediates their effects on operational adjustment agility. However, no direct or indirect effects of IT objects are found on both types of organizational agility. Information intensity also positively moderates the effects of IT operations and IT objects on absorptive capacity. However, no significant moderation is found with regard to IT operations.
Originality/value
This study provides novel insights by demonstrating clearly the different mediating roles of absorptive capacity in the relationship among various types of IT competency and diverse aspects of organizational agility. This work also underscores the moderating role of information intensity in shaping absorptive capacity through IT competency.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) Programs of China [71661017, 71722014, 91646113, and 71471141], the National Social Science Foundation of China (16ZDA013), Ministry of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences of China [17YJC630013] and Startup Foundation for Distinguished Scholars of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics (2019YJ065). The authors appreciate the support of the Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universities “Big data and Business Intelligent Innovation Team.” Dr. Shan Liu serves as the corresponding author.
Citation
Mao, H., Liu, S., Zhang, J., Zhang, Y. and Gong, Y. (2021), "Information technology competency and organizational agility: roles of absorptive capacity and information intensity", Information Technology & People, Vol. 34 No. 1, pp. 421-451. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-12-2018-0560
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited