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Introducing conflict as the microfoundation of organizational ambidexterity

Summary for agile leaders

Human resource (HR) perspective on managers’ ambidexterity. 337 managers from two large firms participated in a survey that measured manager ambidexterity against length of service in the organization and length of service in a function (organizational-functional tenure).
The authors were surprised to find that the longer managers remained in a functional area, the lower their ambidexterity became. They speculate that managers moving into new areas have to gain knowledge compared to existing functional, and/or that the longer managers remain in a functional post, the more they identify with that function rather than the organization.

Provides methods for measuring manager performance and manager ambidexterity (quantitively, using a survey).

Reviewed: 01 Jan 2023 by Russ Lewis
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Authors: 
Tom Mom, Sebastian Fourne, Justin J. P. Jansen
Publication date: 
2015
DOI: 
10.1002/hrm.21663

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Abstract

Scholars have suggested that we need a better understanding about the drivers and performance implications of managers’ ambidexterity. By building a human resource management perspective on managers’ ambidexterity, this article not only examines organizational and functional tenure as important antecedents, but also provides novel insights into the contextual conditions under which the ambidextrous behavior of managers contributes to individual performance. Based on survey research among managers of two large firms, our results indicate that while organizational tenure contributes to managers’ ambidextrous behavior, functional tenure actually limits such complex behavior. Our study also reveals how managers’ performance results from the interaction between their ambidextrous behavior and the uncertainty as well as the interdependence of their work context. Results indicate that managers’ ambidexterity contributes to individual performance in more uncertain and interdependent work contexts. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cite as (Harvard referencing)

Mom, T., Fourne, S., Jansen, J.J.P., 2015. Managers’ Work Experience, Ambidexterity, and Performance: The Contingency Role of the Work Context. Human Resource Management 54, 6
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