Discussing: the

ambidextrous organization
By Li-Bao Chang
Crossword puzzle with some
key terms
Presentation will go on Teams, along with links, answers etc.
 Discussion:

Can you think of an organization that has turned into an ambidextrous organization
(excluding USAToday and CIBA vision)? What did they do?
Ergo, an organization, that has used the key principles of ambidexterity to become
more successful. (See 9 from the crossword puzzle to refresh memory on
ambidextrous)
Example: AMAZON

• Amazon is a company that has successfully adopted an ambidextrous

approach. While continuing to dominate the online retail space, Amazon
has also expanded into new areas such as cloud computing,
entertainment, and hardware.

• Amazon also demonstrates the characteristics such as a shared ambition

for core and explore, autonomy for the explore business, and access to
the assets of the core business. Which are key to ambidextrous.
Theoretical A:

On a theoretical level, how is it that ambidextrous organizations were significantly more successful?
 The structure of ambidextrous organizations allows cross-fertilization among units while preventing
cross-contamination.
 The tight coordination at the managerial level enables the fledgling units to share important resources
from the traditional units—cash, talent, expertise, customers, and so on—but the organizational
separation ensures that the new units’ distinctive processes, structures, and cultures are not
overwhelmed by the forces of “business as usual.”
 At the same time, the established units are shielded from the distractions of launching new businesses;
they can continue to focus all their attention and energy on refining their operations, improving their
products, and serving their customers.
Theoretical B:

What do ambidextrous organizations really need in reality, to be successful (Second to last page of
article)?
 Have the ability to balance exploration and exploitation effectively in their organizational design.
 It needs ambidextrous senior teams and managers—executives who have the ability to understand and
be sensitive to the needs of very different kinds of businesses.
 The company’s senior team must be committed to operating ambidextrously even if its members aren’t
ambidextrous themselves. Resistance in top levels can’t be tolerated
 Clearly communicating the vision to a senior team is also crucial in building ambidextrous designs.
These aspirations provide an overarching goal that permits exploitation and exploration to coexist.
Crossword LINK

• https://crosswordlabs.com/view/the-ambidextrous-organizati
on