The Impact of Strategic Flexibility on Achieving Competitive Advantage An Applied Study on Yemeni Banks in the capital city.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the impact of strategic flexibility and its dimensions (resource flexibility, organizational structure flexibility, and service delivery flexibility) on achieving competitive advantage and its dimensions (quality, cost, market share, and innovation) for Yemeni banks in the capital city. The study also aimed to assess the level of strategic flexibility enjoyed by Yemeni banks and measure their level of competitive advantage. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, and data were collected through a questionnaire. The study population consisted of 1,146 individuals representing 11 banks, and the targeted sample size was 330 individuals, according to the Krejcie and Morgan model. Using SPSS 27 software, the study data were analyzed, and its hypotheses were tested.

The study reached several conclusions, the most important of which are: the positive impact of strategic flexibility on achieving competitive advantage in the Yemeni banks under study. Additionally, there was significant interest in strategic flexibility across all its dimensions, with the highest attention given to the dimensions of resource flexibility and service delivery flexibility, while the least attention was given to organizational structure flexibility. Furthermore, there was a high level of interest in competitive advantage, with the most emphasized dimensions being cost, quality, and market share, while the least emphasized dimension was innovation.

The study recommended: increasing attention to the application of strategic flexibility in the banks under study across all dimensions, which will enable them to adapt to economic and political changes and respond effectively to challenges. Furthermore, the banks should focus on enhancing their competitive advantage in all dimensions, particularly in the area of innovation, as this will contribute to a better understanding of customer needs and strengthen their competitive position.