Section4 Flashcards
1
Q
Core Idea: Exploitation
A
Exploitation
- Focus on refinement and efficiency
- Returns are reliably linked to time & place
- Example: manufacturing units
2
Q
Core Idea: Exploration
A
Exploration
- Emphasises variation, risk taking, and experimentation
- Returns are uncertain, more distant in time
- Example: R&D labs
3
Q
Definition: Ambidexterity
A
Ambidexterity
- Ability to pursue both incremental and discontinuous innovation
- Requires contradictory structures, processes, and cultures
- (Tushman & O’Reilly, 1996)
4
Q
Ambidextrous Organisations
A
Ambidextrous Organisations
- Balance exploitative and explorative activities
- Often use separate or contextual structures
- Leadership must foster alignment and adaptability
5
Q
Structural vs. Contextual Ambidexterity
A
Structural vs. Contextual
- Structural: Explorative & exploitative tasks in separate teams
- Contextual: Individuals split time across both tasks
- Managers enable front-line decision-making
6
Q
Rules and Their Functions
A
Rules
- Embody “the way we do things here”
- Derived from past problem-solving
- Define roles, guide behaviour, and set controls
7
Q
From Exploitation to Inertia
A
Inertia
- Structures may ossify around existing knowledge
- Communication channels formed around known technologies
- Overreliance on set practices limits adaptation
8
Q
IDEO: Combining Exploration & Exploitation
A
IDEO
- “Enlightened trial and error” with brainstorming & prototypes
- Disciplined process with distinct phases & client management
- Small teams, flat hierarchy, trust-based culture
9
Q
Google Example
A
Google in Zurich
- ~100000 employees globally, ~3000 in Zurich
- Largest R&D site outside USA
- Ambition for growth & innovation
10
Q
IBM Example
A
IBM in Zurich
- ~350000 employees globally, ~350 in Zurich
- 4 Nobel Prize winners associated with the lab
- Known for major scientific achievements
