Title: Strategic flexibility, strategic leadership and business sustainability nexus

Authors: Chijioke Nwachukwu; Hieu Minh Vu

Addresses: Department of Management, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska, 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic; Centre for Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation, Suite C59, New Banex Plaza, Wuze 2, Abuja, Nigeria ' Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration, Van Lang University, 69/68 Dang Thuy Tram str. W. 13, Binh Thanh Dist., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract: Strategic leadership promote organisational strategic flexibility and enhance business sustainability. Drawing on the theoretical lens of dynamic capability and contingency theory, a framework of hypotheses is established that focuses on strategic flexibility, strategic leadership and its implications on business sustainability. This research used surveys collected from microfinance banks operating in Nigeria. The results show that strategic flexibility and strategic leadership have a significant influence on business sustainability. Also, strategic flexibility and strategic leadership significantly affect business sustainability indicators of economic, social, environmental and innovation performance. Finally, we found that strategic leadership moderate the effect of strategic flexibility on business sustainability and its indicators. Our findings clarify the role that organisational capabilities (strategic flexibility and strategic leadership) play in enhancing business sustainability, particularly in the emerging market context.

Keywords: strategic flexibility; business sustainability; strategic leadership; innovation performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2020.107500

International Journal of Business Environment, 2020 Vol.11 No.2, pp.125 - 143

Received: 26 Jun 2019
Accepted: 12 Aug 2019
Published online: 31 May 2020 *

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