Knowledge workers' ambidexterity: conceptual separation of competencies and behavioural dispositions

Abstract

While previous literature on organisational ambidexterity research has largely focused on the organisational or top management level, research on individual ambidexterity is in the early stage. The present study expands research in this area by proposing conceptual separation of core competencies for individuals' ambidexterity and their relations to behavioural ambidexterity. Drawing from the literature on organisational ambidexterity and knowledge management, the authors coined the term knowledge workers' integrated ambidexterity competency, a multidimensional construct that consists of cognitive, information, and social skills. Hypotheses are developed to test the multidimensionality and causal relationships among constructs. Empirical analysis with survey data from 293 knowledge workers in South Korea supports the validity of the multidimensional construct and indicates that integrated ambidexterity competency, involving an interaction of cognitive, information, and social skills, drives behavioural ambidexterity. The contribution of the study lies in advancing the theory of organisational ambidexterity by conceptual separation of competencies from behaviour as well as the development of the multifaceted perspectives of the competencies, and the development of measurement items.

Keywords:

• ambidexterity
• innovation
• knowledge management
• knowledge worker
• individual competency

Notes

1. The authors prefer the term ‘competency’ rather than ‘capability’, considering the term ‘capability’ has been used ambiguously to define the previous ambidexterity conception.