AMBIGUITY AND LEARNING IN THE INNOVATION PROCESS: MANAGING EXPLOITATION-EXPLOITATION BY BALANCING CREATIVITY AND CONSTRAINT REVISITED

Alf Steinar Sætre () and Eric Brun ()
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Alf Steinar Sætre: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Alfred Getzv. 1, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Eric Brun: University of Stavanger, Department of Industrial Economics, Risk Management and Planning, 4036 Stavanger, Norway

International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), 2013, vol. 10, issue 04, 1-9

Abstract: In this paper, we explicate the details of the management of ambiguity and the balancing of creativity and constraint as it relates to organizations' absorptive capacity. The innovation process is characterized by cycles of expensive (explorative) activity where ambiguity increases, and constrictive (exploitative) activities, where ambiguity decreases. We argue that ambiguity oscillates in the short run and decrease in the long run while learning increases. These fluctuations in the opportunity space are driven by the balancing of creativity and constraint.

Keywords: Exploration and exploitation; ambiguity; opportunity space (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1142/S0219877013500144

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