Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2015, Manufacturing and Technology Management

As the degree of uncertainty and intensity within the complex business environment continues to increase, firms are forced to make timely changes to their product and process technologies. Such environments are often characterized by unpredictable demand patterns, rapid industry clockspeed, and heightened competitive intensity. As a result, firms face many difficulties in realizing sustained and superior performance, and are at risk of realizing decreases in market and financial performance. Firms can alleviate this risk by engaging in innovation practices that enable them to secure current profitability (efficiently serving existing customer segments) alongside future viability (adapting to meet the demand of new customer segments). Simultaneously serving existing and breakthrough product markets means that organizations must be able to balance paradoxical tensions in their innovation management capabilities. Ambidexterity is one such capability, in which the successful balance of exploration and exploitation promises to offer supernormal business performance. While the performance benefits of ambidexterity have been noted, research has not yet adequately sought to understand whether a firm's decision to pursue ambidexterity is contingent on certain business environment factors. Likewise, research has also not yet explored the intangible resources a firm must build and/or acquire and manage after deciding to pursue ambidexterity. Additionally, because no single firm can adapt and survive without the same being achieved by its supply chain partners, ambidexterity in supply chain capabilities is vital. However, the literature base examining the importance of ambidexterity in the supply chain is scarce. Lastly, ambidexterity and the process for implementing it within the firm and across the supply chain remains misunderstood amongst practitioners. To fill the aforementioned research gaps, this study builds a strategic innovation-based and interdisciplinary theor (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Paul Hong (Committee Co-Chair); Dr. Monideepa Tarafdar (Committee Co-Chair); Dr. Jenell Wittmer (Committee Member); Dr. Mark Gleim (Committee Member); Dr. Lakeesha Ransom (Committee Member) Subjects: Business Administration; Management; Operations Research; Organization Theory; Technology