DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.190189.1 ISSN: 2046-1402

Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Strategic Flexibility: A Focused Systematic Review of Indicators and Research Contexts

Susy M Napitupulu, Kadarisman Hidayat, Edy Yulianto, Mukhammad Kholid Mawardi
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This study examines which indicators constitute strategic flexibility, where they are applied, and how consistently they are conceptualized and operationalized. A focused systematic literature review, guided by PRISMA 2020 and a concept-centric approach, was conducted using Scopus articles published between 2020 and 2026. The synthesis identified 21 indicators across 52 occurrences. Resource flexibility (14 studies) and coordination flexibility (13 studies) formed the most consistent core, whereas planning, decision-making, market, production, human capital, capacity, information, supply-chain, functional, adaptive-responsive, and proactive-reactive flexibility appeared as context-specific extensions. These indicators were applied across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, tourism, mining, education, and MSME settings, particularly under innovation, digital transformation, sustainability, and environmental turbulence. Conceptual and operational consistency was high only for the resource-coordination pairing; most other indicators were infrequent, differently defined, or located near the boundaries of strategic flexibility. The study therefore proposes a core-extension structure rather than treating all identified indicators as equivalent dimensions. It offers a focused critical synthesis that clarifies the construct’s measurement boundaries and supports more context-sensitive operationalization in future research.

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