Capability configuration, ambidexterity and performance: Evidence from service outsourcing sector

Yi Liu, Yonghai Liao and Yuan Li

International Journal of Production Economics, 2018, vol. 200, issue C, 343-352

Abstract: How to resolve the dilemma of ambidexterity, or simultaneous alignment and adaption, is a vital issue in the operational field. Based on the resource management model, we argue that capability configurations could work as effective strategies for leveraging the potential of capabilities and benefit the pursuit of contradictory ambidexterity. This study explores how complementary and balance configurations of technological and marketing capabilities influence alignment and adaption and improve firm performance. Through regression analysis of data collected from service-outsourcing vendors in China, we provide evidence that both the complementary and balance configurations of these two capabilities can be used to achieve alignment and adaption, thereby improving firm performance. Moreover, whereas the complementary configuration of technological and marketing capabilities helps achieve alignment and adaption simultaneously, the balance configuration helps achieve only adaption. This study provides intriguing insights into resolving the dilemma of ambidexterity through exploiting the capability configuration strategy, which deserves scholars' attention in future studies.

Keywords: Technological capabilities; Marketing capabilities; Capability configuration; Ambidexterity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527318301567
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:proeco:v:200:y:2018:i:c:p:343-352

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpe.2018.04.001

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Production Economics is currently edited by Stefan Minner

More articles in International Journal of Production Economics from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().