Increasing organizational sustainability: implications of a meta-analysis on organizational agility

Purpose This study aims to examine strategies for enhancing organizational sustainability through a meta-analysis of organizational agility research. By synthesizing prior studies, the critical factors and practices that foster agility were identified. The study emphasizes the role of agility in achieving sustainability goals and maintaining a competitive advantage in volatile market environments, highlighting its importance for organizational resilience. Design/methodology/approach A meta-analytical approach was used to explore a comprehensive collection of studies on organizational agility. The findings were synthesized from various studies that have investigated the relationship between organizational agility and sustainable practices. Data from multiple sources were systematically reviewed and analyzed to derive overarching conclusions on how agility contributes to organizational sustainability. Findings This meta-analysis offers key insights into how agility strengthens organizational sustainability; it highlights absorptive capacity as central, enabling agile organizations to continuously generate, adapt and apply knowledge. Sensing capacity and partnering agility have proven to be vital for using external opportunities. Jointly, these capacities reveal a dynamic link between agility and sustainability, aligning adaptability with long-term strategic goals for enduring success. Originality/value This study provides novel insights by synthesizing and analyzing a broad range of studies on organizational agility, underscoring the critical role of agility in organizational sustainability and offering practical implications for managers and policymakers in enhancing strategic responsiveness and resilience. By emphasizing absorptive and sensing capacities and partnering agility, this study provides a nuanced view of how organizations can adapt to and thrive amid environmental challenges.