The Role of IT Infrastructure Flexibility in Enhancing Operational Performance: A Sequential Mediation Model of Big Data Analytics Capability and Manufacturing Agility in Saudi Manufacturing Firms

Abstract

In this study, I investigate the relationships between information technology infrastructure flexibility (ITIF), big data analytics capability (BDAC), manufacturing agility (MA), and operational performance (OP) in Saudi manufacturing firms, while also examining the moderating role of Data-Driven Culture (DDC) in the relationship between BDAC and MA. Data were collected from 201 Saudi manufacturing firms and analyzed using XLstat and Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM). The findings indicate that ITIF is significantly associated with the development of BDAC, while both BDAC and MA are positively associated with operational performance. The results also support the sequential mediating roles of BDAC and MA and show that DDC strengthens the positive relationship between BDAC and MA. These findings suggest that operational performance is associated not only with flexible IT infrastructure but also with firms’ ability to transform digital resources into analytics capabilities and agile manufacturing practices. From a managerial perspective, Saudi manufacturing firms should strengthen IT infrastructure flexibility and promote data-oriented managerial practices to enhance operational effectiveness. This study contributes to the Dynamic Capabilities literature by proposing and empirically supporting a hierarchical capability-development mechanism linking ITIF to operational performance through BDAC and MA.