Leaders in the healthcare setting are challenged with competing responsibilities as they seek to provide high-quality services, ensure the implementation of safety measures, and engage in workforce maintenance. Many researchers have described innovation as a strategic approach to organizational concerns and have noted a failure to implement innovative measures in healthcare. This study was an investigation of the impact of ambidexterity in healthcare leaders on innovation. The purpose of this quantitative study, guided by the ambidexterity theory of leadership for innovation, was to analyze the extent to which ambidextrous leadership characteristics of healthcare executives and chief nursing officers (CNOs) influence the innovative performance of CNOs in the healthcare setting. The research question addressed which ambidextrous leadership behaviors or combination of behaviors, including open and closed behaviors of healthcare executives and exploration and exploitation actions of CNOs in healthcare settings, explain a statistically significant portion of the variance in innovative performance of CNOs. The research design involved the administration of a cross-sectional quantitative survey to 126 CNOs from across the nation. Each participant was employed by an acute-care hospital, held an active nursing license in the state employed, and had been in the role of CNO or chief nursing executive (CNE) for over a year, reporting directly to executive leadership. A linear multiple regression analyzed the correlation between ambidextrous factors and the effect on performance innovation. Findings suggest that a combination of ambidextrous behaviors had more impact on innovation performance than each set of behaviors alone. The results of the study may be used for the development of nursing leadership and supporting efforts for overall improvement in healthcare.

En förutsättning för att revisionsbyråer skall överleva, är att lägga fokus på både förbättring och förnyelse av tjänster och produkter. Detta för att företag kontinuerligt behöver anpassa sitt utbud till den externa miljöns skiften och föränderliga efterfrågan. Syftet med denna studie är att förklara hur integrerat ledarskap påverkar förmågan att uppnå ambidexterity i revisionsbyråer. Studien har för avsikt att utforska olika ledarskapsstilar och eventuella samband mellan dessa och ambidexterity i revisionsbyråer. Genom användning av relevant teori och angränsande litteratur som berör integrerat ledarskap och ambidexterity, har en modell tagits fram som undersöker kopplingar mellan de aktuella ledarskapsstilarna och ambidexterity i revisionsbyråer. Med hjälp av en enkätundersökning som skickades till auktoriserade och godkända revisorer, har modellen testats empiriskt. Detta resulterade i 141 svar, där 104 svar var fullständiga. Resultaten av studien indikerar att ingen av de testade ledarskapsstilarna kan signifikant förklara någon påverkan på ambidexterity, dock tyder resultatet på att en auktoriserad revisor har en negativ påverkan på ambidexterity i förhållande till en godkänd revisor. Tidigare forskning tyder på att ambidexterity påverkas av faktorer som inte berörs i denna studie. Möjligtvis  har dessa faktorer starkare påverkan på ambidexterity än integrerat ledarskap vilket kan vara anledning till varför något förklarande samband på området inte kunnat påvisas. Oavsett vad som styr ambidexterity verkar revisionsbyråer i en föränderlig miljö vilket medför att förbättringar av befintligt utbud är viktigt att fokusera på samtidigt som helt nya tjänster verkar behövas för långsiktig överlevnad.   Kunskap vad gäller hur ledarskap påverkar ambidexterity kan medföra att revisionsbyråer får en inblick om vad som kan öka deras överlevnad. Genom en balans mellan exploaterande och utforskande innovationer, kan konkurrenskraften stärkas för byråerna.   Nyckelord: Ambidexterity, innovation, exploaterande och utforskande innovation, ledarskap, integrerat ledarskap, revisionsbyråer, auktoriserad och godkänd revisor. / A prerequisite for audit firms to survive, is focus on both improvement and renewal of services and products. This because companies constantly need to adapt their range of services and products to the external environment fluctuations and changing demands. The purpose of the study is to explain how integrated leadership affects the ability to achieve ambidexterity in accounting firms. The study aims to explore various leadership styles and potential relationships between them and ambidexterity in audit firms. Thru use of relevant theory and adjoining literature regarding integrated leadership and ambidexterity, a model has been produced which examines connections between the current leadership styles and ambidexterity in audit firms. With the help of a questionnaire sent to authorized and approved auditors, the model has been tested empirically. This resulted in 141 responses, with 104 completed responses.  The results of the study indicates that none of the tested leadership styles can explain effect on ambidexterity, however, the result shows that authorized auditors have a negative correlation with ambidexterity in relation to approved auditors. Recent research indicates that ambidexterity is affected by factors not being covered in this study. Possibly these factors have stronger effect on ambidexterity than integrated leadership which may be the reason why no explaining relationship has been found on the matter. Regardless what governs ambidexterity audit firms operates in a changing environment, which makes improvements of existing supply important to focus at the same time as new services seem to be needed for long term survival.   Knowledge regarding how leadership affects ambidexterity implies that audit firms get a glimpse of what could increase their survival. Through a balance between exploitative and explorative innovation, it contributes to improving the competitiveness of the firms.   Keywords: Ambidexterity, innovation, exploitative and explorative innovation, leadership, integrated leadership, accounting firms, authorized and approved auditor.

En förutsättning för att revisionsbyråer skall överleva, är att lägga fokus på både förbättring och förnyelse av tjänster och produkter. Detta för att företag kontinuerligt behöver anpassa sitt utbud till den externa miljöns skiften och föränderliga efterfrågan. Syftet med denna studie är att förklara hur integrerat ledarskap påverkar förmågan att uppnå ambidexterity i revisionsbyråer. Studien har för avsikt att utforska olika ledarskapsstilar och eventuella samband mellan dessa och ambidexterity i revisionsbyråer. Genom användning av relevant teori och angränsande litteratur som berör integrerat ledarskap och ambidexterity, har en modell tagits fram som undersöker kopplingar mellan de aktuella ledarskapsstilarna och ambidexterity i revisionsbyråer. Med hjälp av en enkätundersökning som skickades till auktoriserade och godkända revisorer, har modellen testats empiriskt. Detta resulterade i 141 svar, där 104 svar var fullständiga. Resultaten av studien indikerar att ingen av de testade ledarskapsstilarna kan signifikant förklara någon påverkan på ambidexterity, dock tyder resultatet på att en auktoriserad revisor har en negativ påverkan på ambidexterity i förhållande till en godkänd revisor. Tidigare forskning tyder på att ambidexterity påverkas av faktorer som inte berörs i denna studie. Möjligtvis  har dessa faktorer starkare påverkan på ambidexterity än integrerat ledarskap vilket kan vara anledning till varför något förklarande samband på området inte kunnat påvisas. Oavsett vad som styr ambidexterity verkar revisionsbyråer i en föränderlig miljö vilket medför att förbättringar av befintligt utbud är viktigt att fokusera på samtidigt som helt nya tjänster verkar behövas för långsiktig överlevnad. Kunskap vad gäller hur ledarskap påverkar ambidexterity kan medföra att revisionsbyråer får en inblick om vad som kan öka deras överlevnad. Genom en balans mellan exploaterande och utforskande innovationer, kan konkurrenskraften stärkas för byråerna. / A prerequisite for audit firms to survive, is focus on both improvement and renewal of services and products. This because companies constantly need to adapt their range of services and products to the external environment fluctuations and changing demands. The purpose of the study is to explain how integrated leadership affects the ability to achieve ambidexterity in accounting firms. The study aims to explore various leadership styles and potential relationships between them and ambidexterity in audit firms. Thru use of relevant theory and adjoining literature regarding integrated leadership and ambidexterity, a model has been produced which examines connections between the current leadership styles and ambidexterity in audit firms. With the help of a questionnaire sent to authorized and approved auditors, the model has been tested empirically. This resulted in 141 responses, with 104 completed responses. The results of the study indicates that none of the tested leadership styles can explain effect on ambidexterity, however, the result shows that authorized auditors have a negative correlation with ambidexterity in relation to approved auditors. Recent research indicates that ambidexterity is affected by factors not being covered in this study. Possibly these factors have stronger effect on ambidexterity than integrated leadership which may be the reason why no explaining relationship has been found on the matter. Regardless what governs ambidexterity audit firms operates in a changing environment, which makes improvements of existing supply important to focus at the same time as new services seem to be needed for long term survival. Knowledge regarding how leadership affects ambidexterity implies that audit firms get a glimpse of what could increase their survival. Through a balance between exploitative and explorative innovation, it contributes to improving the competitiveness of the firms.

Denna uppsats består av en fallstudie vars syfte är att bidra med kunskap kring vilka faktorer som påverkar arbetet av att stödja utbildning på ett lärosäte för högre utbildning, i relation till digital transformation, vid kriser som COVID-19-pandemin. Studien bidrar även med förståelse för relaterade begrepp som har ett samband med digital transformation vid liknande kriser. För att uppfylla syftet har ett valt arbetssystem på ett lärosäte för högre utbildning undersökts genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med ett urval av respondenter. Det studerade arbetssystemet har valts ut för att dels få en överblick över arbetssystemet och dess roller, dels för att ta reda på hur detta arbetssystem förhållit sig till begrepp som har en koppling till digital transformation vid COVID-19-pandemin. Resultatet visar att begreppen ambidexteritet, agilitet, digital motståndskraft och digital transformation har ett samband, och att dessa begrepp är faktorer som påverkar arbetet av att stödja utbildning vid kriser som liknar COVID-19-pandemin. Andra viktiga faktorer som har en koppling till dessa begrepp och anses ha en påverkan är kursplaner, utvärderingar, IT-kompetens, innovationsförmåga samt digitala verktyg. Dessa slutsatser baseras på upplevelser och erfarenheter från de representerade rollerna ur det valda arbetssystemet. / This is a case study whose purpose is to contribute with knowledge about the factors that affect the work of supporting education at a higher education institution, in relation to digital transformation, in crises such as the COVID-19-pandemic. The study also contributes with an understanding of related concepts that are related to digital transformation in similar crises. To fulfill this purpose, a selected work system at a higher education institution has been studied through semi-structured interviews with a sample of respondents. The studied work system has been selected to get an overview of the roles within the work system, as well as to find out how this work system relates to concepts related to digital transformation in the COVID-19-pandemic. The results shows that the concepts of ambidexterity, agility, digital resilience, and digital transformation are related, and that these concepts are factors that influence the work of supporting education in crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Other important factors that are linked to these concepts and are considered to have an impact are syllabi, evaluations, IT skills, innovation ability and digital tools. These conclusions are based on experiences and opinions by the represented roles from the chosen work system.

In the U.S., clean energy goals and the move towards a clean energy economy are causing the electric power sector to add emerging and innovative renewable energy resources into their generation mix. Electric utilities (EU) face a monumental challenge to create, deliver, and capture value from emerging and disruptive technologies. This study seeks to address the impact of solar photovoltaics on the EU market by investigating the role of business model changes within the domain of urban and rural U.S. electric utility organizations. By integrating the evolving EU business model with the Competing Values Framework (CVF), a new lens is created to assess the changing and evolving business behavior within the EU industry. Furthermore, a predictive and prescriptive tool emerges associated with organizational ambidexterity (OA). Finally, four lessons are presented that will help EU leaders become more anticipatory, adaptable, and responsive in this changing renewable environment.

Background: The idea of MCSs operating together in a package is not a new concept. However, not many empirical studies have been made where MCSs have been studied as a package despite studies showing the importance in doing so. The assessment of the performance implications of MCSPs has traditionally been limited to financial measures. Theory suggests that the performance of a MCSP ought to be assessed on a broader scale than conventional output measures. Organizational ambidexterity has been positively associated with a broad variety of performance measures and thus it is used as an assessment tool in this study in response to the need for performance measurement on a broader scale than financial output. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the MCSP in two different phases in the case organization and assess how the MCSP in these two phases promotes the organization’s ability to achieve organizational ambidexterity. Methodology: This study uses a qualitative research strategy and is limited to a single case study in a R&D organization within a Swedish medical technology company. Semistructured qualitative interviews have been used to collect empirical data. Conclusion: The MCSP in the two phases is composed of different MCSs that were found to be used differently. Within the MCSP in both phases, several linkages were revealed between control elements and that some MCSs function to achieve the purposes of other MCSs. This study further concludes that the MCSP of the current phase was found to promote organizational ambidexterity better than the MCSP in the previous phase due to it promoting a better balance between exploitation and exploration.

Employability is a field of research and a concept that has developed considerably over the past century. Today, employability contributes to discussions in higher education, psychology and even labour market politics. What influences employability is thus of great importance to a number of stakeholders. Since employability consists of assets that make an individual employable, the employer’s perception of employability is essential. An area within organisational strategy called ambidexterity discusses the competitive advantage that can be obtained by hiring staff with certain characteristics, indicating that there could be a relation between ambidexterity and employability.   The purpose of this study is to explain how organisational ambidexterity influences employers’ preference in regards of employability. To do so, a conceptual model was developed from theoretical research. The model included: education, experience and personal characteristics. A questionnaire was used to collect data in order to explain the relation between ambidexterity and employability.   The findings of the study did not show that organisational ambidexterity influences employer preferences regarding employability considerably even though indications that a relation exists were found. Moreover, the study findings indicated that other factors such as gender and age of recruiter might have an influence on employer preferences instead.

Research has been conducted regarding what relationship demographic diversity have to organisational ambidexterity and team resilience; however never at the same time. This research adds a new context, to this field of research since research has never, to our knowledge, been conducted in a school context. The purpose with this thesis is to explain what relationships gender, age, cultural and tenure diversity have on organisational ambidexterity and team resilience. A cross-sectional research design was used, because of the positivist and deductive approach. The method consisted of a quantitative part in the form of a web based self-completion questionnaire mediated by email, to upper secondary schools, in five Counties, with a minimum of three managers. The qualitative part was in the form of three in-depth interviews, two with School Directors and one with a registrar. The findings shows that gender, culture have a negative relationship to organisational ambidexterity, and age have a positive relationship when moderated by shared vision. The limitations are that only schools with a minimum of three top managers were chosen; the results thereby lack generalisability in other contexts. The implications are that shared vision, when applied to an upper secondary school context seem to decrease in importance and suggestibility. The original value of the conducted study is new insights regarding the relationships demographic diversities have on organisational ambidexterity and team resilience; the choice to conduct the test in a school context.

Il est devenu courant de développer une organisation ambidextre dans une entreprise pour garantir un avantage compétitif dans son environnement. Cette perspective trouve ses racines dans le modèle de James March (1991) ayant la vocation de soutenir l'apprentissage organisationnel par des mécanismes adaptatifs entre agents. Ce modèle ancré dans la tradition du problem-solving propose une approche comportementaliste palliant les biais et heuristiques de la rationalité limitée. Par opposition avec les modèles de la littérature étudiant l’équilibrage entre les activités d’exploration et d’exploitation (ambidextrie), nous démontrons que l’exploration peut être plus générative si elle utilise les contraintes d’exploitation comme connaissances préalables à la génération de concepts. Ceux-là reposent sur un conditionnement positif par les paramètres des processus décisionnels contribuant à l’exploitation. De nouvelles situations décisionnelles sont ainsi conçues plutôt que de se contenter d’une traditionnelle sélection des explorations. Ce modèle –ambidextrie décisionnelle – permet de réaliser des projets capables d’explorer des conditions dépassant les limites et performances de l’exploitation. Une recherche intervention chez Zodiac Aerospace permet de rendre compte de ce nouveau modèle. Il étend ainsi la notion d’ambidextrie organisationnelle dans l’inconnu, plus adaptée au management et gouvernance de l’innovation, tout en précisant la gestion des métabolismes organisationnels nécessaires aux changements des organisations dans un conglomérat de PMEs. / It is now common knowledge to develop an ambidextrous organization in a firm to guarantee a competitive advantage in its environment. Such perspective is rooted in James March’s model (1991) whose purpose is to sustain organizational learning through adaptive mechanisms between agents. This model anchored in the tradition of problem-solving offers a behavioural approach coping with biases and heuristics of bounded rationality. In contrast, with literature models studying the balance between exploration and exploitation activities (ambidexterity), we demonstrate how exploration can be more generative if it uses exploitation constraints as prior knowledge to generate concepts. These rely on positively conditioning them by decision-making parameters contributing to exploitation. New decision situations are designed instead of traditionally selecting explorations. This model - decisional ambidexterity-allows building up projects capable of exploring conditions overcoming limitations and performances of exploitation. A collaborative research conducted at Zodiac Aerospace allowed revealing such new model. It extends organizational ambidexterity into the unknown, more adapted to innovation management & governance, whilst precising how to drive organization metabolisms inducing change among participating organizations in a conglomerate of SMEs.

Open innovation (OI) is currently being applied as a new mode for firms to utilise both internal and external resources for R&D and new product developments. Investigating the impact of OI on China's high-tech firms is becoming increasingly important. Under the guidance of China's national innovation policy and the rise of innovation in high-tech industries, OI is regarded as having a positive impact on the competitiveness of Chinese firms and as bringing a significant innovation outcome. By utilising and integrating external knowledge and resources, OI can promote high-tech firms' R&D development in China's current transitional environment. A key objective of this thesis is to examine the overall relationship between locational factors, ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance given absorptive capacity (ACAP). The thesis reviews the current literature regarding OI, ambidexterity in OI, the cluster effect and ACAP and then integrates these lenses to build links for constructing a new model of the research. This includes the relationships between locational factors, ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance. It also examines the moderating effect of ACAP and, more importantly, the mediation effect of ambidexterity in OI on the relationship between locational factors and innovation performance. The findings of the thesis reveal that locational factors positively affect ambidexterity in OI, while ACAP positively moderates the relationship between the two factors. In addition, ambidexterity in OI - an optimal combination of inbound and outbound OI - can significantly influence innovation performance and is crucial to the ambidextrous conduction of firms. ACAP also positively moderates the relationship between ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance. Finally, ambidexterity in OI can mediate the relationship between locational factors and innovation performance, and ACAP moderates the overall relationship between locational factors, ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance. This thesis makes a number of contributions to the existing OI literature. First, building on the cluster perspective, the thesis contributes to the literature on OI by recognising the influence of locational factors on the balance in OI. The examination of ACAP also contributes to the literature by highlighting the contingent value of ACAP on the relationship between locational factors and the balance in OI. Second, the thesis contributes to the OI literature by bringing a greater conceptual clarity to the view of balance. A more balanced portfolio can bring better innovation performance than those that are less balanced. The thesis also enriches the knowledge in the relationship between the balance in OI and innovation performance, which demonstrates the moderating effect of ACAP on this relationship. Third, the study conceptualises the balance in OI that mediates the relationship between locational factors and innovation performance. It is a key contribution to the existing OI literature by advancing our understanding of the overall relationship among locational factors, the balance in OI and innovation performance.