Achieving Organizational Ambidexterity Using Management Control Systems

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The presentation of a framework for understanding how different types of management control system, guided can be used to induce and balance both exploitation and exploration in organizations.

Business

Based on the following research:
McCarthy I. P. & Gordon B. R.
2011. Achieving contextual
ambidexterity in R&D
Organizations: A Management
Control System Approach, R&D
Management, 43(1): 240-258
Access the full paper here.

WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL AMBIDEXTERITY?
• The pursuit of two different modes
of learning:
1. Exploitation = using current
resources and capabilities in
an efficient and reliable
fashion to head in the same
direction
2. Exploration = searching for ,
acquiring and developing new
resources and capabilities to
go in a new direction

EXPLOITATION EXPLORATION
Follow the rules and drive out the variance
and slack.
Break the rules and promote variance and
slack.
Focus on serving existing customers and
their needs.
Serve new customers with new needs.
Manage and refine existing competences. Develop and lead new competences.
Optimize the organization for existing rules. Develop new organization system with new
rules.
Make money now. Make money later.
AMBIDEXTERITY

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
• Firms, teams and individuals
that attain an appropriate
balance between exploration
and exploitation will achieve
superior performance over
time.
• ‘Balance’ does not mean 50%
exploitation and %50
exploration. It depends on
your industry velocity (rate
and direction of change)
Exploitation ExplorationLongtermperformance
LowHigh
Mode of Learning

TWO APPROACHES
• Structural ambidexterity
– “involves splitting exploitation and exploration into different
organizational units (i.e., separate divisions, departments or
teams)” (McCarthy & Gordon, 2011: 241)
• Contextual ambidexterity
– “the capacity to attain appropriate levels of exploitation and
exploration behaviors in the same R&D organizational unit”
(McCarthy & Gordon, 2011: 241)

CONTEXTUAL AMBIDEXTERITY
Involves creating an organizational
context that inspires, guides and
rewards people to pursue both
exploitation and exploration
behaviors.
But how do you create the context
to allow yourself and others to
juggle, toggle and be ambidextrous?

ANSWER = MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS
The systems (e.g., rules, rewards,
policies, practices, and
technologies) that managers use
to direct and adjust the behaviors
of employees to ensure
organizational relevance,
greatness and survival.

9
SIMONS ‘FOUR LEVERS OF CONTROL’
Control System Behavior Focus Outcome
Beliefs systems Communicate values and
goals.
Establish purpose and the
activities to be performed.
Boundary systems Specify and enforce rules
of the game.
Define the activities to be
avoided.
Diagnostic systems Determine and support
targets.
Perform the correct
activities well.
Interactive systems Promote learning and
exploration.
Perform new activities.

10
EXPLOITATION
Growth vs Control
Innovation vs Efficiency
EXPLORATION Strategy
Risks to be
Avoided
Boundary
Systems
Critical Perf.
Variables
Diagnostic
Systems
Core Values
Belief
Systems
Strategic
Uncertainties
Interactive
Systems
LEVERS, TENSIONS & AMBIDEXTROUS BEHAVIORS

“The balancing of exploitation
and exploration tensions is much
like riding a bike – it requires a
continuous and irregular shifting
of control system use over time"
(McCarthy & Gordon, 2011: 255)
ORGANIZATIONAL AMBIDEXTERITY

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