Strategic Alignment and Communications (Focus on Knowledge Management) Mediate the Influence of IT Flexibility and Emotional Intelligence on Innovation

Strategic alignment (focus on knowledge management) or the fit between information technology (IT) and business strategy remains a key topic of concern among managers and employees worldwide. On the other hand, emotional intelligence and communication (focus on knowledge management) plays an important role in innovation in today’s organizations. Innovations are essential to organization’s performance and advancement. The one ingredient essential for organizations to become an innovation driven organizations is the alignment between communications and strategy. The interrelationship between communication, strategic alignment, and innovation plays a vital role in the growth and success of organizations in Iran. In this paper, it was concluded that strategic alignment and communication with focus on knowledge management as the mediator variable play a vital role and can impact the relationship between, IT flexibility and emotional intelligence with innovation among managers and employees in organizations in Iran. The importance of communications and strategic alignment in relation to innovation is substantiated in many Research and Development (R&D) studies. In the current study, IT flexibility and emotional intelligence was the independent variable and innovation as the dependent variable while strategic alignment and communication (focus on knowledge management) were the mediator variables. The dimensions of emotional intelligence in this study included: (intrapersonal, interpersonal, stress management, adaptability, and general mood), while the dimensions of IT flexibility included: (hardware compatibility, software modularity, network connectivity, and IT skills adaptability). Data (N = 250) for this study and were collected through questionnaires filled up by managers of banks in Iran. The method for collecting data was library, field study, and assessment of the questionnaire. The content validity of the research was approved, and structure and facial method and measurement permanency validity were assessed through method of Cronbach’s Alpha 5 by (5.9560). The assessment hypotheses of the research were analyzed by the formulas and analyzed via Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. On reviewing the literature, it showed that there is a positive relationship between IT flexibility and innovation when strategic alignment (focus on knowledge management) served as a mediator of this relationship. Also, the literature review showed that there is a positive relationship between emotional intelligence and innovation when communication (focus on knowledge management) served as a mediator of this relationship. Additionally, according to the literature review on innovation area and logical arguments, it was proposed that innovation can result in the links between IT flexibility and strategic alignment (focus on knowledge management), and emotional intelligence and communication (focus on knowledge management).

کلیدواژه ها:

IT Flexibility ، Strategic Alignment ، Innovation ، Knowledge Management ، Emotional Intelligence ، Communication