Realizing Organizational Ambidexterity: A Taxonomy of Digital Accelerators and Their Integration Mechanisms for Digital Innovation

Authors

Patricia Brauer, Universität HamburgFollow
Jun-Patrick Raabe, Universität HamburgFollow
Ingrid Schirmer, Universität HamburgFollow

Paper Type

FP

Paper Number

115

Abstract

The innovator’s dilemma leads organizations to follow exploration and exploitation activities while simultaneously striving for ambidexterity. Whereas structures, modes, or conditions of ambidexterity have received much attention in recent studies, research on how the integration of digital innovation is achieved is still scarce. This capability is often ascribed to digital innovation units (DIUs), which are responsible for the development and integration of digital innovations. Within the scope of our qualitative-empirical study, we discovered how the integration of digital innovation is potentially covered by digital accelerators, an instance of digital innovation units. A categorization of digital accelerators and their integration mechanisms is achieved through a taxonomy. We propose that digital accelerators act as middleware between the frontend and backend of innovation activities. Especially, participation in digital innovation ecosystems and external validation create a meaningful support for realizing organizational ambidexterity with digital accelerators.

Recommended Citation

Brauer, Patricia; Raabe, Jun-Patrick; and Schirmer, Ingrid, "Realizing Organizational Ambidexterity: A Taxonomy of Digital Accelerators and Their Integration Mechanisms for Digital Innovation" (2021). PACIS 2021 Proceedings. 181.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2021/181