Intellectual capital role in ambidexterity emergence. A proposal of a multilevel model and research agenda

Published date09 October 2017
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-10-2016-0100
Pages733-744
Date09 October 2017
AuthorSusana Fernández-Pérez de la Lastra,Natalia García-Carbonell,Fernando Martín-Alcázar,Gonzalo Sánchez-Gardey
Subject MatterInformation & knowledge management,Knowledge management,HR & organizational behaviour,Organizational structure/dynamics,Accounting & Finance,Accounting/accountancy,Behavioural accounting
Intellectual capital role in
ambidexterity emergence
A proposal of a multilevel model and
research agenda
Susana Fernández-Pérez de la Lastra, Natalia García-Carbonell,
Fernando Martín-Alcázar and Gonzalo Sánchez-Gardey
Business Organization Department, Universidad de Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain
Abstract
Purpose Considering the inconclusive results in the literature on the way organizations create
ambidextrous organizational capabilities, the purpose of this paper is to present an alternative theoretical
model of three different paths through which ambidexterity is built. From a multilevel perspective, the model
describes how specific combinations of the facets of intellectual capital human, social and organizational
capital can synergistically work to reach ambidexterity.
Design/methodology/approach The study is based on main arguments from multilevel and intellectual
capital literature. The multilevel approach allows the authors to consider a broader perspective to define three
specific modes to create ambidextrous capabilities. Additionally, the intellectual capital literature completes
the model, with the input (human capital), mechanisms (social capital) and the infrastructure (organizational
capital) needed to develop ambidexterity. With the integration of both frameworks, the model explains how
different types of ambidexterity are generated at diverse firm levels individual, group and organizational,
following different and complementary paths.
Findings This researchgoes beyond the traditionalarguments on how organizationsdevelop simultaneously
exploration and exploitation activities, proposing an integrative model of three complementary modes: path1
(ambidexterity based on individual human capital); path 2 (ambidexterity through social capital) and path 3
(ambidexteritythrough organizationalcapital). Thesepaths link organizationallevels in organizations,showing
the accumulativeprocess of ambidexterity from a multilevel perspective.
Originality/value The paper offers an altern ative view expanding th e ongoing discussion in t he
ambidexterity field. There is a lack of configurational models in the literature that describe,
from a synergistic poin t of view, these compleme ntary paths to achievi ng organizational ambi dexterity.
This approach contribu tes to explaining that no t only individual ambidex trous human capital is
needed to generate orga nizational ambidexter ity, but also that special ist human capital could be a
source of ambidexteri ty.
Keywords Social capital, Human capital, Multilevel perspective, Ambidexterity, Paths
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Todays complex markets demand organizations to develop a combination of both efficiency
and innovative strategic capabilities, developing exploratory and exploitative activities
simultaneously. These types of organizations tend to offer superior performance and build
sustainable competitive advantages ( Jansen et al., 2012). Nevertheless, reaching ambidexterity
implies notably complex processes and activities that demand further research (Kang and
Snell, 2009; Kostopoulos et al., 2015).
The intellectual capital literature offers interesting arguments about the way in
which companies adjust exploration and exploitation activities in a concurrent manner,
Journal of Intellectual Capital
Vol. 18 No. 4, 2017
pp. 733-744
© Emerald PublishingLimited
1469-1930
DOI 10.1108/JIC-10-2016-0100
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1469-1930.htm
The authors appear in alphabetical order and have contributed equally to this paper. The research
project described in this paper was developed under the Research Group SEJ-449 funded by the
Andalusian Government (Andalusian Plan for RandDandI 2007-2013) and the Research Projects
ECO2011-26982 and ECO2014-56580-R, funded by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Technology
(Non-oriented Fundamental Research Projects Subprogram).
733
Ambidexterity
emergence

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