The Impact of Digital Transformation on Innovativeness in Airline Companies: The Role of Agility and Openness to Change

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the mediating role of organizational agility and the moderating role of openness to change by examining the impact of digital transformation on organizational innovativeness in airline companies. The airline industry, characterized by its dynamic nature and intense competitive conditions, necessitates continuous change and innovation. The dynamic nature of the airline industry due to intense competition, high safety standards and ever-changing technological requirements necessitates the rapid adaptation of digital transformation. In this context, understanding how digital transformation influences the innovative capacities of businesses, as well as the significance of organizational factors such as agility and openness to change in these processes, holds substantial theoretical and practical value. This research aims not only to generate theoretical insights but also to provide practitioners in the airline industry with recommendations for optimizing digital transformation processes, enhancing innovation capacities, and achieving competitive advantages. In line with the data collected from 421 airline employees through a questionnaire, it was determined that organizational agility plays a full mediating role in the relationship between digital transformation and innovation and openness to change strengthens this process. Research findings show that agile organizations benefit more from digital transformation, and firms open to change have higher innovation capacities. Accordingly, airline companies recommend strategies to increase organizational agility, encourage employees' openness to change and expand digital skills training to manage digital transformation processes effectively. Furthermore, it is emphasized that digitalization should be considered a strategic transformation in terms of operational efficiency and in the context of corporate governance, decision-making processes and customer experience.

Keywords

• Digital Transformation
• Innovation
• Agility
• Openness to Change

References

1. Agocs, C. (1997). Institutionalized Resistance to Organizational Change: Denial, Inaction and Repression. Journal of Business Ethics, 16, 917-931.
2. Akçay, Y. (2024). The Mediating Role of Innovative Business Behavior in the Effect of Digital Transformation Perception on Employee Performance, the Regulatory Role of Perceived Organizational Support. PhD Dissertation, Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul University. Istanbul.
3. Akkaya, B., & Tabak, A. (2018 Adaptation to Turkish of Organizational Agility Questionnaire: Reliability and Validity Study. Journal of Human and Work, 5(2), 185-206.
4. Alıcı, A. (2023). Digitalization and Digital Maturity Models in Air Transport. K. Kiracı , & G. Tanrıverdi içinde, Hava Taşımacılığı Yönetimi: Teori ve Uygulama (s. 259). Detay Yayıncılık
5. Altuntaş, M., & Kılıç, E. (2021). Investigation of the Relationship Between Airline Transportation and Economic Growth: The Case of Turkey. Afyon Kocatepe University Journal of Social Sciences, 23(1), 187-202.
6. Ayar, M., & Yıldız, D. (2023). The Effect of Organizational Change Cynicism on The Digital Transformation of Institutions: A Research on Administrative Staff. Journal of Economics Business and Political Researches, 8(21), 421-442.
7. Bakan, İ., Sezer, B., & Kara, C. (2017). The Effects of Knowledge Management on Organizational Agility and Organizational Inertia: An Emprical Study. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Journal of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 7(1), 117-138.
8. Başar, R. (2023). Current Approaches in Digital Transformation: Turkey and World Examples. İ. Ç. Tekin içinde, Yönetim Bilişim Sistemleri İşletmelerde Dijital Dönüşüm Yönetimi (s. 125-162). Gaziantep: Özgür Yayınları.

9. Canbolat, M. A., & Karagöz, H. (2023). The Mediating Effect of Perceived Inclusiveness in The Effect of Openness of Organizational Change on Job Crafting: A Study in The Banking Sector. International Journal of Management Economics and Business, 19(4), 953-973.
10. Çağlar, Ç. (2013). The Relationship Between The Schools’ Level of Openness to Change and The Teachers’ Level of Organizational Commitment. Adiyaman University Journal of Social Sciences, 6(15), 119-150.
11. Çağlıyan, V., Attar, M., & Külahlı, S. (2021). The Mediating Role of Organizational Learning in The Effect of Transformational Leadership on Organizational Innovation. Eskişehir Osmangazi University Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 16(1), 124-145.
12. Çalışkan, A... (2022). Openness Toward Organizational Change: A Scale Development Study. Journal of Aksaray University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences14(2), 191-202.
13. Çörekçioğlu, F. (2024). Organizational Agility and Related Concepts: A Study. PhD Dissertation, Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul University. Istanbul.
14. Datta, D. K., Rajagopalan, N., & Zhang, Y. (2003). New CEO Openness to Change and Strategic Persistence: The Moderating Role of Industry Characteristics. British Journal of Management, 14(2), 101-114.
15. Demirtaş, H. (2012). Primary Schools’ Openness to Change. İlköğretim Online, 11(1), 18-34.
16. Erdem, B., Gökdeniz, A., & Mert, Ö. (2011). The Relationship Between Innovation and Organizational Performance: A Research in Five-Star Hotels in Antalya Abstract. Dokuz Eylul University Journal of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 26(2), 77-112.
17. Gemici, E., & Zehir, C. (2019). The Relationship Between Environmental Turbulence and Organizational Innovativeness. Yıldız Social Sciences Institute Journal, 3(1), 66-83.
18. Gökcek, H. A., Erin, S. M., & Gölbaşı, B. T. (2022). The Moderating Role of Perceived Risk in the Relationship Between Innovation and Satisfaction: An Application on Online Shopping. Journal of Management and Economics Research, 20(2), 98-120.
19. Gürbüz, F. G., & Hatunoğlu, Ş. B. (2022). Assessment of Organızatıonal Agılıty: Adaptatıon And Valıdatıon of The Scale for Applıcatıon in Türkiye. Journal of Management Marketing and Logistics, 9(1), 27-37.
20. Helvacı, M. A. (2015). Eğitim Örgütlerinde Değişim Yönetimi. Ankara: Nobel Yayınları.
21. Hayes A.F. (2018). Introduction to Mediation, Moderation and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression- Based Approach (2. Print). New York: The Guilford Press.
22. Karaman, F. (2021). Analysis of the Relationship Between Leadership, Team Dysfunctions and Agility in Aviation Sector. Ph.D. Dissertation, Graduate School of Education, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Istanbul.
23. Karamolla, T. (2024). The Effects of Organizational Agility and Enterprise Social Media on Non-Organizational Behaviours: Regulatory Role of Traditionality. Ph.D. Dissertation, Institute of Social Sciences, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Nevşehir.
24. Kılıç, Y. K. &Yavuz, M. (2021). The Evaluation of Authentic Leadership in terms of Trust in Manager and Schools’ Levels of Openness to Change. Cukurova University Faculty of Education Journal, 50(2), 1033-1068.
25. Kırdar, Y., & Karaoğlu, B. O. (2023). Digital Transformation in Building a Safety Culture in Aviation. P. Çelikcam, Y. Kırdar, H. Pektaş, H. Ö. Pektaş, A. Serttaş, S. K. Dündar, & A. Serttaş (Dü.) içinde, Dijital Kültür (s. 21-34). Çanakkale: Holistence Publications.
26. Kohli, R., & Melville, N. P. (2018). Digital innovation: A review and synthesis. Information Systems Journal, 29(3), 1-40.
27. Kuleelung, T. (2015) Organizational Agility and Firm Performance: Evidence. The Business and Management Review, 7(1), 206-217.
28. Kundi, M., & Sharma, S. (2015). Efficiency Analysis and Flexibility: A Case Study of Cement Firms in India. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 16(3), 221-234.
29. Meidute-Kavaliauskiene, I., Yıldız, B., Çiğdem, Ş., & Činčikaitė, R. (2021). The effect of COVID-19 on Airline Transportation Services: A Study on Service Robot Usage Intention. Sustainability, 13(22), 12571.
30. Meydan, C. H. (2023). A Review on Digital Transformation Practices in Airline Companies. Journal of Aviation Research, 5(1), 65-82.
31. Miller, V. D., Johnson, J. R. ve Grau, J. (1994). Antecedents to Willingness to Participate in a Planned Organizational Change. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 22, 59-80.
32. Morgül, A. Ü., & Ataç, O. L. (2024). The Mediating Role of Organizational Learning in the Relationship Between Digital Leadership and Innovation: A Study on Remote Workers. JOEEP: Journal of Emerging Economies and Policy, 9(Special Issue), 51-65.
33. Nadeem, A., Abedin, B., Cerpa, N., & Chew, E. (2018). Editorial: Digital Transformation & Digital Business Strategy in Electronic Commerce The Role of Organizational Capabilities. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 13(2), 1-13.
34. Nadkarni, S., & Narayanan, V. K. (2007). Strategic Schemas, Strategic Flexibility, And Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Industry Clockspeed. Strategic Management Journal, 28(3), 243-270.
35. OECD. (2005). OECD Web Sitesi Annual Reports: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2005/04/oecd-annual-report 2005_g1gh4cc3/annrep-2005-en.pdf Retrieved from
36. Oğuzhan, Y. S. (2021). The Effects of Organizational Innovation and Creativity on Transformative Leadership Perception. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 17(35), 2155-2178.
37. Omol, E. J. (2024). Organizational Digital Transformation: From Evolution to Future Trends. Digital Transformation and Society, 3 (3), 240–256.
38. Onağ, O., & Tepeci, M. (2016). Organizational Learning Capability and Its Impact on New Product and Business Performance Through Organizational Innovativeness. Istanbul Management Journal, 7(80), 80-95.
39. Önalan, O. (2023). Organizational Agility and Learning Organization Interaction: A Research for University Administrators. Ph.D. Dissertation, Graduate School of Educational Sciences, Karabük University, Karabük.
40. Över, D. (2021). In Companies: The Relationship Between Agility Perception, Corporate Culture, Employee Motivation, Innovation, and Employee Feedback. Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Education, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul.
41. Özdemir, A. (2023). The Effect of Digital Transformation on Organizational Agility. Ph.D. Dissertation, Graduate School of Education, Karabük University, Karabük.
42. Sağlam, M. (2021). Achieving Digital Transformation as the Vision of the Future in Businesses and Turkish Adaptation of Digital Transformation Scale. İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 20(40), 395- 420.
43. Sambamurthy, V., Bharadwaj, A., & Grover, V. (2003). Shaping Agility Through Digital Options: Reconceptualizing the Role of Information Technology in Contemporary Firms. MIS quarterly, 237-263.
44. Shahaei, B. (2008). Paradigm Of Agility, Definitions, Features and Concepts. 194th Issue (s. 4-18). Tadbir Publication.
45. Sharifi, H., & Zhang, Z. (2001). Agile Manufacturing in Practice Application of a Methodology. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 21, 772-794.
46. Sherehiy, B. (2008). Relationships Between Agility Strategy, Work Organization and Workforce Agility. Doctor Dissertation, University of Louisville. Louisville.
47. Şahin, Z. (2023). Analysis of the Effects of Digital Transformation on Organizational Innovation: The Case of İstanbul Beylikdüzü Organized Industrial Zone. İşletme Araştırmaları Dergisi, 15(1), 486-499.
48. Tamer, Ş., Şahin, D. R., & Kemik, S. (2024). Digitalization in Aviation: An Evaluation on Business Models. İnternational Business Congress (s. 201-2017). Kocaeli: Proceedings Book.
49. Teece, D. j., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic Capabilities and Strategic Management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509-533.
50. Türkay, U., & Aktar, O. (2021). Digital Transformation of Airports in the Aviation Sector. Working Paper Series, 2(1), 86-97.
51. Wanberg, C. R., & Banas, J. T. (2000). Predictors and Outcomes of Openness to Changes in Reorganizing Workplace. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85(1), 132-142.
52. Wang, C. L., & Ahmed, P. K. (2004). The Development and Validation of the Organisational Innovativeness Construct Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. European Journal of Innovation Management, 7(4), 303-313.
53. Warner, K. S., & Wager, M. (2018). Building Dynamic Capabilities for Digital Transformation: An Ongoing Process of Strategic Renewal. Long Range Planning, 52(3), 326-349.
54. Worley, C., & Lawler, E. E. (2010). Agility And Organization Design: A Diagnostic. Organizational Dynamics, 39(2), 194-204.
55. Yavaş, V. (2022). A Content Analysis on the Relationship Between Digitalization and Productivity in Aviation. Journal of Productivity, 2, 225-237.
56. Yılmaz, E. (2024). The Effect of Change Attitude on the Perception of Individual Innovativeness and Organizational Agility: Research on Technopark Employees. Ph.D. Dissertation, Graduate School of Education, Karabük University, Karabük.
57. Zaheer, A., & Zaheer, S. (1997). Catching the wave: Alertness, responsiveness, and market influence in global electronic networks. Management Science, 43(11), 1493-1509.
58. Zhang, D., & Sharifi, H. (2000). A Methodology for Achieving Agility in Manufacturing Organisations. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 20(4), 496-513.