What is Ambidexterity?

An organization's success and longevity is dependent on its ability to exploit it's capabilities
while exploring new opportunities. Raisch et al highlights that that organizations capable of both
exploring and exploiting new opportunities and competencies are described as
ambidextrous.Ambidexterity refers to an organization's ability to pursue two disparate things at
the same time(Gibson and Birkinshaw, 2004) . Essentially the ambidextrous environment
adapts and aligns with changes in the task environment,for instance; balancing the demands of
exploitation and exploration( March and Simon 1985, cited in Gibson and Birkinshaw,2004),and
highlighting organizational development of structural systems of managing and innovation
(Duncan,1976)
Adaptability refers to an organization's ability to adjust to volatile markets by undertaking new
opportunities while alignment refers to the coherence of business unit activities(Gibson and
Birkinshaw,2004)
The concept of ambidexterity can be classified into two terms: contextual and structural
“contextual ambidexterity is the behavioural capacity to simultaneously demonstrate alignment
and adaptability across an entire business unit.