Structural Differentiation and Ambidexterity: The Mediating Role of Integration Mechanisms

Justin Jansen, Michiel Tempelaar, Frans Van Den Bosch and Henk Volberda

ERIM Report Series Research in Management from Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam

Abstract: Prior studies have emphasized that structural attributes are crucial to simultaneously pursuing exploration and exploitation, yet our understanding of antecedents of ambidexterity is still limited. Structural differentiation can help ambidextrous organizations to maintain multiple inconsistent and conflicting demands; however, differentiated exploratory and exploitative activities need to mobilized, coordinated, integrated, and applied. Based on this idea, we delineate formal and informal senior team integration mechanisms (i.e. contingency rewards and social integration) and formal and informal organizational integration mechanisms (i.e. cross-functional interfaces and connectedness) and examine how they mediate the relationship between structural differentiation and ambidexterity. Overall, our findings suggest that the previously asserted direct effect of structural differentiation on ambidexterity operates through informal senior team (i.e. senior team social integration) and formal organizational (i.e. cross-functional interfaces) integration mechanisms. Through this richer explanation and empirical assessment, we contribute to a greater clarity and better understanding of how organizations may effectively pursue exploration and exploitation simultaneously to achieve ambidexterity.

Keywords: HD58.9; L22; ambidexterity; dynamic capabilities; exploration and exploitation; formal and informal integration mechanisms; structural differentiation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D21 L20 M (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-11-05
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Journal Article: Structural Differentiation and Ambidexterity: The Mediating Role of Integration Mechanisms (2009)
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