Esmaeil Malekakhlagh - Associate Professor, Department of Business Management, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Safari - Assistant Professor, Department of Business Management, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran
Shahrokh Beigi - PhD Student in Business Policy Making, Department of Business Management, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Mohammad Reza Rokhideh - PhD Student in Business Policy Making, Department of Business Management, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of scenario planning on strategic innovation considering the mediating role of strategic thinking and strategic flexibility. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive survey in nature. The statistical population of the study is the manufacturing companies of Bushehr province. In order to determine the sample size, the test-software method (G-Power) was used. Based on this, ۲۲۲ observations were calculated. Using a simple random sampling method with the online survey, ۱۷۶ questionnaires were finally received by the researchers. Data analysis was performed using the structural equation method and Smart PLS ۳ software. Research findings showed that scenario planning has a positive and significant effect on strategic innovation. The mediating effect of strategic flexibility and strategic thinking in the relationship between scenario planning and strategic innovation is also significant. The present study expands the management literature by filling in research gaps. Organizations today need to change their past strategies to be able to understand and meet customer needs faster and more competitively than other competitors.

Strategic Innovation, Scenario Planning, Strategic thinking, Strategic Flexibility