Science Research Management ›› 2015, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (1): 143-151.

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An empirical research on the effects of ambidexterity in strategic orientation on product innovation and business performance

Li Wei   

  1. Management School, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China
  • Received:2013-06-09 Revised:2014-04-08 Online:2015-01-25 Published:2015-01-23

Abstract: Being the core contents of strategic orientation (SO), the market orientation (MO) and the technology orientation play a significant role in the sustainable growth of scientific and technological (S&T) firms. This paper applies ambidexterity theory to the research of SO, trying to explore the effects of ambidexterity in "market-technology" orientation on product innovation and business performance. Relevant data about 228 S&T firms shows that the fitted ambidexterity of the two SOs yields positive effects on incremental product innovation (IPI), while the combined ambidexterity of the two SOs exerts impacts on breakthrough product innovation (BPI). The IPI and BPI play a respective mediating role in the relationships between fitted ambidexterity, combined ambidexterity and business performance. In the context of diverse environmental volatility, there are different relations between product innovation and business performance. The research results provide theoretical value and practical implications for S&T firms in terms of optimizing SO and improving product innovation and business performance.

Key words: ambidexterity theory, market orientation, technology orientation, product innovation, business performanc

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