Title: Facilitating ambidexterity with HR practices - a case study of an automotive supplier

Authors: Birgit Renzl; Martin Rost; Jürgen Kaschube

Addresses: Privatuniversitaet Schloss Seeburg, A-5201 Seekirchen am Wallersee/Salzburg, Austria ' Universitaet der Bundeswehr München, D-85577 Neubiberg, Germany ' Privatuniversitaet Schloss Seeburg, A-5201 Seekirchen am Wallersee/Salzburg, Austria

Abstract: In dynamic environments organisations are challenged to simultaneously explore new capabilities and to exploit existing ones; a capability that has been named 'ambidexterity'. Research identified that ambidexterity can be achieved through different means (e.g., structural ambidexterity, contextual ambidexterity). Ambidexterity, however, is always based on individual competencies of organisational members. Yet, the link between organisational means aimed at achieving ambidexterity and the individual competencies of the employees have remained imprecise. In order to tackle this link, we conducted a case study at a technological leader in the automotive supplier industry. We analyse how ambidexterity can be combined with issues of psychological management research, transformational leadership style, competency management and new theories on work performance. Thereby, we shed light on the link between individual competencies and human resource (HR) practices aimed at achieving organisational ambidexterity. Our research allows inferring recommendations for academics and practitioners how to better manage ambidexterity.

Keywords: automotive suppliers; organisational ambidexterity; automobile industry; competency management; transformational leadership; transactional leadership; human resource management; HRM; HR practices; case study; psychological management; work performance; individual competencies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2013.054920

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2013 Vol.13 No.3, pp.257 - 272

Published online: 28 Nov 2013 *

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