Disentangling organizational agility from flexibility, adaptability, and versatility: a systematic review

Abstract

Abstract Organizational agility is the ability of an organization to swiftly and efficiently respond to changes in the organization’s environment. However, the literature demonstrates the interchangeability of agility, flexibility, adaptability, and versatility. Therefore, confusion and conceptual overlap persist. As a result, this study aimed to provide further conceptual clarity about organizational agility by synthesizing organizational agility, flexibility, adaptability, and versatility. A systematic review of 40 articles published in business and management-related journals between 1991 and 2022 in ABI/INFORMS, Since Direct, Emerald databases are employed. Findings from thematic analysis and content analysis using Leximancer text mining analysis show that versatility, adaptability, and flexibility are closely connected with their focus on coping with change in the business environment. However, agility is distinct due to its emphasis on organizational ability, capability, and changeability, as well as how it conceptualizes these attributes. This review contributes to developing organizational agility theory and practice by disentangling organizational agility from related concepts. Specifically, it contributes to scientific communication by referring to the same phenomena as organizational agility. Finally, the study concludes by highlighting future research directions.

Keywords

• Organizational agility
• Flexibility
• Adaptability
• Versatility
• Organizational change