Learning to Innovate: How Does Ambidextrous Learning Matter to Radical and Incremental Innovation Capabilities?

Maggie Mei, Keld Laursen, Kwaku Atuahene-Gima

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The notion that ambidextrous learning will improve firm performance and survival has become prominent in the organizational learning literature. Arguing that innovation capabilities are central to the ambidexterity hypothesis, we investigate how the two dimensions of ambidextrous learning (synergy and balance) affect firms? incremental and radical innovation capabilities. Based on organizational learning theory and the dominant logic literature, we develop the theoretical arguments that the synergy of ambidexterity drives incremental innovation capability and the balance dimension of ambidexterity influences radical innovation capability. We conjecture that also there is an interaction effect between synergy and balance on both radical and incremental innovation capabilities. We base our empirical analysis on a survey of a wide range of high-tech firms in China. We find broad support for our theoretical arguments.
    Original languageEnglish
    Publication dateJun 2013
    Number of pages35
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2013
    EventThe 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship: Competitiveness and Dynamics of Organizations, Technologies, Systems and Geography - ESADE Business School, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
    Duration: 17 Jun 201319 Jun 2013
    Conference number: 35
    http://druid8.sit.aau.dk/registrant/index/login/cid/13

    Conference

    ConferenceThe 35th DRUID Celebration Conference 2013: Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship
    Number35
    LocationESADE Business School, Ramon Llull University
    Country/TerritorySpain
    CityBarcelona
    Period17/06/201319/06/2013
    OtherThe DRUID Society Conference 2013
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