Strategic Agility: An Introduction

This chapter constitutes the introduction of the book titled “Strategic Agility: Past, Present and Future.” Here, we emphasize the links among strategic agility, environmental dynamism, and uncertainty, further discussed in the next chapters. Also, we offer an overview of some theoretical advancements and empirical evidence on how industries are changing. Several industries are exhibiting a shift toward more dynamic forms of competition. The globalization processes, demand uncertainty, technological uncertainty, and industry competition are constantly challenging firms to keep the industry competitive pace and ultimately protect their competitive position. These factors have relevant implications on strategic agility both from a theoretical and practical viewpoint. From a theoretical perspective, the accelerated competitive dynamics led to an evolution of the concept of strategic agility over time (we will discuss this more in detail in our third chapter). From a practical view, scholars noted that firms are constantly coping with new challenges while attempting to achieve strategic agility, and ultimately create room for a new (temporary) competitive advantage.