BSc.

Business Administration and Digital Management: Managing Innovations in Organizations

Mandatory Assignment 3:

AI and Ambidexterity

Course: Managing Innovations in Organizations

Professor: Rasmus Koss Hartmann

StudentID Number: ……. …….

Date of Submission: 30/11/2023

Word Count Essay: 903 words

Characters: 6012

Page Count: 4
In light of ChatGPT being publicly available for one year the question arises, will it take

away our jobs in the future, will it replace creatives and everyday tasks? Generative AI has

been booming for the last year, with thousands of different AIs hitting the market. Many

people now fear for what this will mean for their livelihood. The 911th podcast episode “How

Generative AI Changes Creativity” from HBR Idea Cast discusses the transformative

potential of AI in various fields, including creative industries. In this paper, I want to explore

how Generative AI will change the workforce by using examples from the Podcast and

analyse these through the lens of Adler’s theory of Ambidexterity, specifically how AI's

integration into creative and business processes represents a complex interplay between

exploration and exploitation, and how this can shape the future.

Adler's theory challenges the traditional view that exploration and exploitation are mutually

exclusive, suggesting that organisations can engage in both simultaneously, resulting in a

positive-sum situation. He disagrees with Abernathy and March’s theory that a firm can only

trade off one for the other. This concept, known as ambidexterity, highlights the importance

of balance between exploiting existing knowledge and exploring new opportunities. It

emphasizes that organisations must adapt to changing environments while leveraging their

existing capabilities. Adler also mentions how this can only work if there is a high level of

trust within the firm community, suggesting that The Productivity Dilemma is only such if

trust is absent and the individual worker does not have enough agency to better the process

for the benefit of the firm. In the context of generative AI, ambidexterity becomes relevant as

it requires businesses and creatives to harness AI's potential for both efficiency and creativity

simultaneously.

The podcast highlights a crucial aspect of AI's impact on creativity and innovation: the

distinction between specialists and generalists. According to Don Allen Stevenson III, AI

systems thrive on narrow, specific data sets, making them ideal for specialists. However, they

struggle to replicate the versatility of generalists. “ [] So if you’re a creative that’s being a

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generalist, you’re safe. If you’re a creative that’s being a specialist, you’re not safe at all

”(Don Allen Stevenson III, 12:00). Moreover, AI's role in the creative process, as described

by Jackie Lane, suggests a harmonious integration of exploration and exploitation. AI can

assist individuals and teams in generating a wide range of ideas and promoting exploration.

Simultaneously, it enhances efficiency by providing alternative perspectives and exploitation

ideas. This integration aligns with Adler's theory, emphasising that organisations can benefit

from both exploration and exploitation.

David De Cremer's quote, "Don’t be afraid. Just use it. Get to know it," (32:13) underscores

the importance of embracing AI as a tool rather than fearing its potential to replace jobs.

Leaders should not fear AI but should use it to enhance efficiency and assist in idea

generation. This approach reflects an exploitation of AI's capabilities to streamline processes

while exploring its potential to facilitate creativity. By adopting this attitude, leaders can

create a positive-sum situation where AI complements human creativity. The podcast also

touches on ethical considerations, emphasizing the need for responsible AI use. This relates

to the potential harm to society due to ungoverned and uncontrolled AI use, reflecting the

importance of considering ethical exploration alongside the exploitation of AI capabilities.

Ensuring the ethical and responsible use of AI aligns with Adler's theory, as it recognizes the

need for a balanced approach that integrates safeguarding societal well-being.

In the evolving landscape of the workplace influenced by generative AI, the potential for AI

to replace human jobs is a nuanced issue. While AI's capability to automate routine tasks is

evident, its role in creative and specialized fields remains supportive rather than substitutive.

Generative AI, by design, excels in processing and recombining existing data, making it a

powerful tool for enhancing productivity and assisting in creative processes. However, its

built-in limitation lies in its reliance on existing datasets, which constrains its ability to

generate genuinely new concepts. This aspect highlights the irreplaceable value of human

creativity, which is rooted in the ability to think abstractly and conceptualize ideas beyond the

scope of already existing data. Therefore, in creative areas, AI should be viewed not as a

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replacement but as a catalyst that augments human creativity. Supporting this view, an

insightful perspective on AI's future role is that 'In the age of AI, human creativity and

innovation will become even more valuable in the workplace, as machines take over routine

tasks and processes,' suggesting that the fear of AI replacing creative jobs might be

misplaced.

With this in mind, it can be said that embracing AI to enhance efficiency and creativity

allows organisations to navigate this new complex landscape. However, it is crucial to

remember that AI, being inherently non-creative and trained on existing datasets, cannot

generate truly novel ideas. This limitation ensures that specialists in creative fields do not

have to fear for their jobs; instead, they can leverage generative AI for increased efficiency,

allowing them more time for original creative endeavours, which AI cannot replicate. Ethical

considerations are foremost in this context and emphasise responsible AI used to ensure that

its capabilities are exploited for the greater benefit of society. Moving forward, understanding

the ambidextrous nature of AI integration is key to shaping a future where AI and humans

collaborate for greater innovation and creativity, instead of generative AI replacing humans.

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References:

1. Adler, P. S. (2009). Perspectives on the Productivity Dilemma. Journal of

Operations Management.

2. How Generative AI Changes Creativity. (2023, May 11). Harvard Business

Review. https://hbr.org/podcast/2023/05/how-generative-ai-changes-creativity