Social Network Structure´s Influence on Organizational Ambidexterity

Due to future markets shifts as well as current market dynamics industries like the automotive industry OEMs have to be able to handle both exploration and exploitation simultaneously, a capability which is called ´organizational ambidexterity´. Using data from German and Austrian premium OEMs as well as leading-edge suppliers of the automotive industry present work sheds light on the questions what important drivers like external and internal ties of an unit may enhance explorative or exploitative behavior? And does a balance of these drivers enhance organizational ambidexterity? The paper shows how important these drivers are and how absorptive capacity as context factor influences the relationship between the drivers and organizational ambidexterity.