The impact of digital maturity on the competitive advantage of businesses: The mediating role of knowledge management orientation

In today's information age, technology and digitalization stand out as important elements in developing competitive advantage of businesses. In this context, the digital maturity levels of businesses are also a determining factor in the competition in question. In addition, when digitalization and information management orientation are considered together, it is a fact suggested by researchers in the literature that both elements will increase the performance of businesses. Based on this, this research aims to examine the mediating role of information management orientation in the effect of digital maturity on competitive advantage. The sample of the research consists of 254 businesses traded in BIST. The data of the research was collected from the deputy general manager, manager and assistant managers in the senior management positions in these businesses using the survey technique. While collecting the data, commonly used scales were used in the measurement of digital maturity, information management orientation and competitive advantage (performance). The surveys were conducted with face-to-face and online methods. Using appropriate statistical software to test the mediating effect, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis and regression analyses were applied to the data obtained in this way. According to the findings of the research, it was determined that the digital maturity levels, information management orientation and performance indicators of the companies traded in BIST, including the sample, were above average. In addition, it was revealed that digital maturity and information management orientation had a positive and significant effect on competitive advantage. However, it was determined that the mediating effect of information management orientation was significant in the effect of strategic ability, leadership ability, operational ability, cultural ability, governance ability and technological ability on competitive advantage, but market ability and employee and expert ability were not significant.