Wang, Ruifang and Gibbons, Patrick
(2021)
Understanding managerial
ambidexterity: a people–situation
interaction approach.
Journal of Strategy and Management, 14 (2).
pp. 170-186.
ISSN 1755-425X
Abstract
Purpose – It is increasingly recognised that managers play a central role in organisational ambidexterity.
While some scholars have recently begun to explain the nature and antecedents of ambidextrous behaviour
among managers, much remains to be learned about the micro-foundations of this behaviour. Adopting a
people–situation interaction approach, this paper investigates the antecedents to managerial ambidexterity
from both situational and individual difference considerations.
Design/methodology/approach – This study adopts a quantitative approach using a combination of
survey and archival data from 305 managers.
Findings – The results indicate that learning goal orientation is positively related with managerial
ambidexterity, whereas there is no significant relationship between functional experience breadth and
managerial ambidexterity. In testing moderation effects, discretionary slack is found to positively moderate the
association between learning goal orientation and ambidexterity and between functional experiences and
ambidexterity.
Practical implications – This paper provides suggestions on employees selection and training, along with
organisational support, in enacting managerial ambidexterity.
Originality/value – Guided by individual difference theory, this paper adds value to one’s understanding of
the antecedents to managerial ambidexterity. It contributes to the ambidexterity literature from the micro-foundation perspective.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Managerial ambidexterity; Individual differences; People–situation interaction; Learning goal;
orientation, Functional experience breadth, Discretionary slack |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Business |
| Item ID: |
16350 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1108/JSMA-08-2020-0224 |
| Depositing User: |
Dr. Ruifang Wang
|
| Date Deposited: |
22 Aug 2022 09:49 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Journal of Strategy and Management |
| Publisher: |
Emerald |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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