Investigating factors affecting the speed of internationalization with the mediating role of organizational agility in Pharmaceutical SME Companies of Alborz Province

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of business intelligence, foreign market knowledge and entrepreneurial characteristics on the speed of internationalization with the mediating role of organizational agility in SME pharmaceutical companies in Alborz province. The statistical population of this research was formed by those who hold a position and responsibility in SME pharmaceutical companies. In fact, they are decision makers. Therefore, it is possible to consider those who are part of the managerial positions, assistants, supervisors, senior decision makers, board members, and experts of different departments of SME pharmaceutical companies of Alborz province as members involved in the statistical population. did In this research, Klein's approach was used to determine the sample size. He believes that 10 or 20 samples are necessary for each variable. Considering the presence of 8 variables in the research, the sample size is estimated to be 20 times that is 160 samples. Non-probability sampling method was used. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data and its Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.950, which indicates the reliability of the research tool. Also, the KMO test was confirmed in the validity of the research instrument construct. Smart PLS software was used to analyze the data and test the research hypotheses. The research findings out of the ten mentioned hypotheses show the confirmation of seven hypotheses and the rejection of three hypotheses. The foreign market knowledge construct did not show any positive and significant relationship with organizational agility structures and the speed of internationalization and also its mediating role was not confirmed. But other structures, namely business intelligence and entrepreneurial characteristics, showed a significant and positive relationship with organizational agility and the speed of internationalization, both directly and indirectly through the mediating role of organizational agility.