Characterizing Organizational Lifecycle through Strategic and Structural Flexibility: Insights from MSMEs in Mexico

The Influence of the Barriers of Hybrid Strategy on Strategic Competitive Priorities: Evidence from Oil Companies

This study examines the impact of the barrier of adopting hybrid strategy on strategic performance using the oil sector in Iraq as a case. International oil companies consider various strategies in order to achieve superior performance. The procedure needs to overcome certain essential barriers for the adoption of the hybrid strategy that combines the cost leadership and differentiation strategy. The questionnaire was distributed online due to the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the closure of companies in the country. Out of the 537 questionnaires answered, 483 were used for further analysis which yielded usable response rate of 90%. The structural equation modeling results confirmed that the high costs of technologies, the priority of other external matters, inadequate industry regulation, insufficient supply, organizational capabilities, strategic capabilities, and financial capabilities are significantly related to strategic performance. The researchers recommend conducting an in-depth study of the phenomenon based on theoretical and empirical foundations, especially considering the relationship between the barriers of a hybrid strategy and strategic performance based on linear and non-compensatory relationships. This research sheds light on the barriers to adopting the hybrid strategy required by the oil sector as it relies on continuous production.

IT Capabilities, Strategic Flexibility and Organizational Resilience in SMEs Post-COVID-19: A Mediating and Moderating Role of Big Data Analytics Capabilities

This research provides a novel progression to the existing research about big data analytics capabilities (BDAC) by investigating and measuring its influence on organizational resilience and strategic flexibility. Toward that end, 400 different SMEs in Saudi Arabia were approached. Data were collected via questionnaire. Results confirm that the ability to handle big data analytics totally mediates the relationship between IT capabilities and strategic flexibility. Big data infrastructure flexibility has a negative effect on strategic flexibility. Big data personal expertise not only negatively affects the relationship between IT capabilities and strategic flexibility but also stimulates and reinforces the relationship between strategic flexibility and organizational resilience. The critical pathway developed and tested the trend to make the organization as an immune system able to make the best of the worst. This implies the urgent need for policymakers and managers to adopt and comprehend the concept of BDAC instead of IT capabilities to define oriented plans specifically formulated for stimulating strategic flexibility and organizational resilience. By adopting the proposed model, SMEs can interact more effectively internally and externally.