Agility and Resilience in Information Systems Research

Abstract

This research analyzes how the concepts of agility and resilience are treated in IS literature. While agility has been an object of study in IS research for many decades, resilience is a fairly new topic. Both are gaining strategic importance in a firm’s sustainability and growth, especially given the remarkable changes in the landscape that the firm operates in. It is thus important to understand what agility and resilience mean in IS research. Our paper is a first attempt to study IS literature and provide a thematic analysis of facets of each concept. In doing so, we identify aspects that are common to both agility and resilience and those that are unique to each. The results of this study can be used for an empirical examination of the two constructs and a validation of how they can be measured in firms. IS researchers and industrial practitioners can benefit from a deeper understanding of agility and resilience.

Information systems security resilience as a dynamic capability

“…Such solutions involved new logistics, transportation and supply chain management configurations and an accompanying adjustment in IS to support the altered business processes. With such changes, companies need to keep up with ever-evolving cyber threats and refocus on the key elements of resilience – rebounding, coping and recovery (Goel et al ., 2022) – that are essential to long-term business performance, both operational and financial.…”

“…Although robustness and reliability are necessary, they do not include aspects of resilience, such as anticipation, prevention and mitigation of disruptions (Hilton et al ., 2012). Similarly, the agility of systems emphasizes the capability to sense and react to external stimuli, among other factors, while resilience embraces the ability to rebound, cope and recuperate (Goel et al ., 2022).…”