The effect of startup marketing agility on new product creativity and new product performance: the moderating effect of technological turbulence

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of marketing agility of startup companies on their new product creativity and new product performance while examining the moderating role of technological turbulence. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 319 South Korean startups and empirically analyzed using structural equations modeling technique. Findings First, marketing agility is a potent catalyst that positively influences the novelty and meaningfulness of new products, thereby enhancing new product creativity. Second, marketing agility contributes significantly to new product performance across multiple dimensions, including market, financial, and customer performances. Third, this study underscores the pivotal role of new product creativity, with both novelty and meaningfulness proving to be key drivers of improved new product performance. Technological turbulence is revealed as a moderating force, amplifying the positive relationship between new product novelty and performance. However, while it substantiates some moderating effects, the study does not find significant support for the role of technological turbulence in moderating the relationships among new product meaningfulness, marketing agility, and new product performance. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to analyze the effect of startups’ marketing agility on new product creativity and performance considering the moderating effect of technological turbulence, especially in the South Korean context. This study offers practical insights emphasizing the indispensability of marketing agility for startups operating in rapidly evolving markets. Additionally, it advocates a strategic emphasis on novelty in high-tech turbulence scenarios to bolster new product performance.