Big data analytics capability in supply chain agility: The moderating effect of organizational flexibility

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine when and how organizations build big data analytics capability (BDAC) to improve supply chain agility (SCA) and gain competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approachThe authors grounded the theoretical framework in two perspectives: the dynamic capabilities view and contingency theory. To test the research hypotheses, the authors gathered 173 usable responses using a pre-tested questionnaire.FindingsThe results suggest that BDAC has a positive and significant effect on SCA and competitive advantage. Further, the results support the hypothesis that organizational flexibility (OF) has a positive and significant moderation effect on the path joining BDAC and SCA. However, contrary to the belief, the authors found no support for the moderation effect of OF on the path joining BDAC and competitive advantage.Originality/valueThe study makes some useful contributions to the literature on BDAC, SCA, OF, and competitive advantage. Moreover, the results may further motivate future scholars to replicate the findings using longitudinal data.