WORKFORCE AGILITY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND COMPARISON WITH DOMESTIC STUDIES

Purpose- This research has three main scopes and objectives. The first objective is to thoroughly examine the concept of workforce agility, delineate its boundaries, and conduct a systematic literature review. This review will report existing studies based on their objectives, methods, conceptual frameworks, and findings to identify prevailing patterns. The second objective of the research is to review the local literature, identify and analyze articles, and graduate theses focused on workforce agility within Turkey. The final objective is to review the studies from both local and international literature in a comparative manner to identify and discuss research gaps in the local literature. Methodology- A comprehensive systematic literature review is conducted within the Scopus database. This review identified 36 eligible articles focused on workforce agility, which were reviewed and reported for their objectives, methodologies, and findings. Additionally, theses focused on workforce agility listed in the Council of Higher Education Thesis Center and articles by local authors listed on Google Scholar have been reviewed and discussed for their goals, methodologies, samples, and conclusions in order to enable a comparative view. Findings- International studies emphasize various dimensions of workforce agility, notably proactivity, adaptability, and resilience. These studies highlight the influence of emotional intelligence, organizational structure, and digital transformation on agility. Conversely, Turkish literature remains limited in scope, mainly focusing on specific sectors like ICT and hospitality. Since the number of studies is still very low, critical gaps are identified, such as longitudinal studies and investigations into cross-cultural and cross-sectoral studies such as healthcare and education, indicating a need for broader research within Turkey. Conclusion- The study concludes that while workforce agility is increasingly acknowledged as a vital competency, Turkish literature is still developing compared to global studies. Addressing gaps, such as cross-sector analysis and the influence of cultural factors, could enrich the understanding of workforce agility in Turkey. Recommendations for future research include expanding sector-specific studies and exploring workforce agility's impact on organizational capabilities and performance types in diverse Turkish industries. Keywords: Workforce agility, employee agility, agile workforce, agile employee, agility JEL Codes: M19, O39, J24