Ambidextrous Governance in Supply Chains: The Impact on Innovation and Cost Performance

• DOI: 10.1111/jscm.12033
• Publication Date: 2013-10-21T19:46:05Z
• Authors: Constantin Blome; Tobias Schoenherr; Matthias Kaesser
• Keywords: Ambidexterity; Enabling

Ambidexterity has been gaining attention among supply chain scholars due to its potential for overcoming trade‐offs. Associated with these complexities is the choice of an appropriate governance mechanism in buyer–supplier relationships, which can include relational and contractual approaches. Extending ambidexterity research management domain, we focus present study on ambidextrous governance, define as simultaneous pursuit both elements. We investigate effect innovation cost performance. In addition, this relationship highly dependent that may be firm level, theorize about moderating organizational ambidexterity. further consider external contextual factors influencing ability effectuate performance, recognizing former not effective under conditions greater demand uncertainty product complexity. delineate our hypotheses based extensions complementarity theory, test them, taking a buyer's perspective, data collected multirespondent survey manufacturing firms. Our results demonstrate positive between highlight critical role enabler furthermore detect mixed effects variables considered—demand complexity—as moderators, emphasizing impact performance subject dynamics are more complex than originally perceived. With investigation, extend domain offer important implications practice.