Coexistence of structural and contextual ambidexterity - evidences in Indian organisations

Abstract

Though studies on structural and contextual ambidexterity have been taken up as separate research stream and studied in detail by various researchers, no study so far has been taken up to suggest the coexistence of both the attributes while illustrating the existence of ambidexterity in organisations. Do both forms of ambidexterity exist together? If it exists, how does the presence of one of the attributes effect the functioning of the other? An empirical study conducted across 11 firms in western India suggests the coexistence of both forms of ambidexterity. Interestingly, the presence of contextual ambidexterity complements the presence of structural ambidexterity and vice versa. Research findings indicate that the two attributes of ambidexterity are not mutually exclusive.