Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Department

Bisk College of Business

First Advisor

Charles E. Bryant

Second Advisor

Jignya M. Patel

Third Advisor

Abram L. J. Walton

Fourth Advisor

Kenneth R. Pike

Abstract

Identification of organizational ambidexterity has varied methodologies and is up to researcher interpretation. This leads to a lack of replicability of testing and disjointed conclusions regarding defining ambidexterity in the field as well as its antecedents. This study investigates the intersection of organizational ambidexterity and financial metrics by leveraging from a comprehensive set of financial variables, literature backed indicators of exploration, exploitation, or antecedents to ambidextrous capabilities. Drawing upon seminal works by leading scholars, including O'Reilly III, Tushman, Gibson, March, Birkinshaw, and others, this research provides a novel approach to identifying organizational ambidexterity. By leveraging a dataset of corporate financial indicators and patent data, a measure for both exploration and exploitation is operationalized. The analysis reveals distinct patterns which supports difference between exploratory, exploitative, and ambidextrous firms within the S&P500. The study then shifts to testing the new measure of ambidexterity by comparing a model that leverages known antecedents and moderators with ambidextrous companies. The findings contribute to the literature by enhancing the conceptual clarity and measurement rigor in ambidexterity research, providing a foundation for future studies on strategic decision-making and firm performance.

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