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Striving to survive in dynamic business environments, companies often aim to strengthen their organizational agility (OA) by making use of information systems (IS). While findings reported in pertinent literature regarding the relationship between IS and OA are inconclusive, many authors advocate service-oriented architecture (SOA) as a means to ultimately shape OA. However, research on this relationship lacks a systematic synthesis of explanatory results and theoretical contributions. To close this research gap, we synthesize literature in order to conceptualize the relationship between SOA and OA. The potential for establishing a definitive link between SOA and OA is limited because of the weak conceptualization of these two concepts in many studies and their merely association without providing any further explanation of their linkage. In addition to providing a conceptualization of the relationship between SOA and OA, we thus offer an agenda for future research to continue the search for explanations.

Striving to survive in dynamic business environments, companies often aim to strengthen their organizational agility (OA) by making use of information systems (IS). While findings reported in pertinent literature regarding the relationship between IS and OA are inconclusive, many authors advocate service-oriented architecture (SOA) as a means to ultimately shape OA. However, research on this relationship lacks a systematic synthesis of explanatory results and theoretical contributions. To close this research gap, we synthesize literature in order to conceptualize the relationship between SOA and OA. The potential for establishing a definitive link between SOA and OA is limited because of the weak conceptualization of these two concepts in many studies and their merely association without providing any further explanation of their linkage. In addition to providing a conceptualization of the relationship between SOA and OA, we thus offer an agenda for future research to continue the search for explanations.

Managing unanticipated changes in turbulent and dynamic market environments requires organizations to reach an extended level of flexibility, which is known as agility. Agility can be defined as ability to sense environmental changes and to readily respond to those. While information systems are alleged to have a major influence on organizational agility, service-oriented architecture (SOA) poses an opportunity to shape agile information systems and ultimately organizational agility. However, related research studies predominantly comprise theoretical claims only. Seeking a detailed picture and in-depth insights, we conduct a qualitative exploratory case study. The objective of our research-in-progress is therefore to provide first-hand empirical data to contribute insights into SOA’s influence on organizational agility. We contribute to the two related research fields of SOA and organizational agility by addressing lack of empirical research on SOA’s organizational implications.

Managing unanticipated changes in turbulent and dynamic market environments requires organizations to reach an extended level of flexibility, which is known as agility. Agility can be defined as ability to sense environmental changes and to readily respond to those. While information systems are alleged to have a major influence on organizational agility, service-oriented architecture (SOA) poses an opportunity to shape agile information systems and ultimately organizational agility. However, related research studies predominantly comprise theoretical claims only. Seeking a detailed picture and in-depth insights, we conduct a qualitative exploratory case study. The objective of our research-in-progress is therefore to provide first-hand empirical data to contribute insights into SOA’s influence on organizational agility. We contribute to the two related research fields of SOA and organizational agility by addressing lack of empirical research on SOA’s organizational implications.