The Impact of Absorptive Capacity on Business Model Innovation with Mediation Role of Strategic Flexibility

In a highly leading industry in the world, such as the automotive industry, innovation in the business model is one of the concerns of which Iran Khodro Company is no exception. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of absorption capacity on business model innovation with the mediating role of strategic flexibility. The statistical population of the present study is 95 managers of Iran Khodro Company in operational, intermediate and advanced levels that the whole statistical population was selected as a statistical sample by census method. The research method is descriptive-analytical, the method of data collection is field, and the data collection tool is standard questionnaires. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through face and content validity, factor analysis, convergent and divergent validity, and its reliability was confirmed through Cronbach's alpha. Structural equation modelling tests using Smart-PLS were used to test the research hypotheses. The results of data analysis showed that the absorption capacity has a significant effect on business model innovation in Iran Khodro Company. Absorption capacity has a significant effect on strategic flexibility in Iran Khodro Company. Strategic flexibility has a significant effect on business model innovation in Iran Khodro Company. Strategic flexibility mediates between the absorption capacity and innovation of the business model in Iran Khodro Company.<br>

作为全球领军产业之一的汽车行业，商业模式创新是业界普遍关注的核心议题之一，伊朗霍德罗公司（Iran Khodro Company）亦不例外。本研究旨在探讨吸收能力（absorption capacity）对商业模式创新的影响，并检验战略灵活性（strategic flexibility）在其中的中介作用。本研究的统计总体为伊朗霍德罗公司95名运营层、中层及高层管理人员，研究采用普查法将全部统计总体作为研究样本。本研究采用描述性分析研究方法，数据收集方式为实地调研，数据收集工具为标准化调查问卷。问卷效度通过表面效度、内容效度、因子分析、聚合效度与区分效度得以验证，信度则通过克朗巴赫α系数（Cronbach's alpha）得到确认。本研究借助Smart-PLS开展结构方程模型（structural equation modelling）检验，以验证研究假设。数据分析结果显示：在伊朗霍德罗公司中，吸收能力对商业模式创新具有显著正向影响；吸收能力对战略灵活性具有显著正向影响；战略灵活性对商业模式创新具有显著正向影响；战略灵活性在吸收能力与商业模式创新之间发挥显著中介作用。