Advanced manufacturing technologies, strategic agility, business network and sustained competitive performance: an empirical evidence from an emerging economy

Abstract With the current business climate and changing market demands, competition is intense in the manufacturing industries, and firms face several challenges, particularly those in emerging economies. Based on this, it is necessary to integrate digital technologies and strategies to boost organizational efficiency and achieve a sustained competitive advantage. This study investigates the impact of advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT) on sustained competitive performance. In addition, the study examines the role of strategic agility (SA) in complementing AMT to improve sustained competitive performance. Four hundred and three valid survey data collected from senior managers of manufacturing firms across different industries that have integrated digital technologies in Turkey were utilized to examine the relationships. The result unveiled that AMT positively impacts sustained competitive advantage and SA. Strategic agility has a positive effect on sustained competitive advantage. Strategic agility mediates the influence of advanced digital manufacturing technologies on sustained competitive advantage. Business network moderates both AMT’s direct and indirect impacts on sustained competitive advantage and the indirect effect through strategic agility, such that the relationships are stronger for firms who extensively utilize their business network. Therefore, the AMT and SA improve production efficiency from an emerging economy perspective and, in turn, improve sustained competitive advantage. The buffering role of the business network was also demonstrated. The findings are helpful as they open the black box on how and under what conditions the relationships are more or less effective, as mentioned above. Crucial new and valuable insights are given to practitioners, particularly those in emerging economies, on using digital technologies to build sustained competitive advantage.