Organizational Ambidexterity; Antecedents, Events and Outcome - Balancing exploration and exploitation, the long term sustainability imperative

Abstract

Abstract Could organizational ambidexterity prevent the proverbial red tape from poising organizations and render a simultaneous pursuit of exploratory and exploitative activities possible? This thesis examines how one successful production company has balanced the two contradictory activities and what factors have rendered a simultaneous pursuit of exploration and exploitation possible. Two innovation cases and a description of the organization with its resources succinctly cover the most salient factors affecting exploration and exploitation in MPD. Firstly, a hierarchical separation of exploration and exploitation has rendered a simultaneous pursuit possible. Secondly, a supportive organizational context moderate the tension between exploration and exploitation by helping individuals engage in both types of activities. Lastly, environmental dynamisms are found to affect both exploration and exploitation.