Individual unlearning, organizational unlearning and strategic flexibility The down-up change perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between unlearning and strategic flexibility from the down-up change perspective. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the routine-updating process, this study builds a theoretical model and examines it using survey data from 233 firms in China. Findings Unlearning is the enabler to strategic flexibility. Specifically, individual unlearning and organizational unlearning both have positive effects on strategic flexibility. Organizational unlearning exerts a partly mediating effect on the relationship between individual unlearning and strategic flexibility. Originality/value The paper examines the different mechanisms of individual and organizational unlearning on strategic flexibility and suggests that unlearning is a useful method or approach for strategic flexibility. In addition, this study is useful to help managers or practitioners determine how to embrace strategic flexibility by unlearning.