Distributed leadership, open innovation, and organisational ambidexterity: the moderating roles of connectedness and environmental dynamism

ABSTRACT

Organisational ambidexterity in a firm is significantly influenced by leadership. The relationship between distributed leadership and organisational ambidexterity has attracted the attention of scholars. However, the specific influence and internal mechanism are still unclear. Based on 274 questionnaires from senior managers in mainland China, this study clarifies the effect of distributed leadership on organisational ambidexterity and assesses the mediating role of open innovation and moderating roles of organisational connectedness and environmental dynamism. Our results indicate that distributed leadership has a positive effect on organisational ambidexterity and that the relationship is partially mediated by inbound and outbound open innovation. Organisational connectedness and environmental dynamism positively moderate the relationship between distributed leadership and open innovation (inbound and outbound open innovation) and the relationship between inbound open innovation and organisational ambidexterity. This study expands the driving factors of organisational ambidexterity and enriches the situational factors.

KEYWORDS:

• Distributed leadership
• open innovation
• organisational ambidexterity
• connectedness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 72002063] and the fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities [grant numbers JS2020HGXJ0034, JZ2020HGQA0169].

Notes on contributors

Lihua Fu

Lihua Fu is a lecturer at the School of Management, Hefei University of Technology. She received her PhD degree with the University of Science and Technology of China. Her research focuses on innovation management and leadership. She has published in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, and Technology Analysis and Strategic Management.

Ke Qin

Ke Qin is a master student at the School of Management, Hefei University of Technology. Her research focuses on innovation management and accounting.

Ruijie Li

Ruijie Li is a PhD candidate at the School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China. His research interests include innovation management and leadership.

Yaokuang Li

Yaokuang Li is a professor at the School of Management, Hefei University of Technology. He received his Master and PhD degrees in Management from Hefei University of Technology and Tongji University, respectively. His current research interests include entrepreneurship and finance. His research has been published in Journal of Business Research, International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, and Entrepreneurship Research Journal.