Purpose How much should existing firms explore while venturing into new businesses? This study builds an organizational learning-based model for corporate entrepreneurship by applying and extending the seminal March (1991) simulation model. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the exploitation-exploration mix (commonality) on organizational knowledge across the short- and long-term. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a two-stage stochastic simulation approach to model adaptive processes related to learning within organizations. In Stage 1, an organization with no initial knowledge is allowed to achieve equilibrium against the realities associated with the first business. In Stage 2, a new reality is introduced, corresponding to the new business. The new corporate venture is, then, allowed to achieve a new equilibrium knowledge by varying commonality across time. Findings The findings suggest that, in the long term, increasing exploitation builds optimal knowledge only when the new and old businesses are very similar. Organizations where employees learn slowly from the organization (low socialization rate) while the organization learns fast from employees (high organizational learning rate) generate optimal steady-state organization knowledge. However, firms face a temporal dilemma. In the short term, firms with low socialization rates and high organizational learning rates fare worse than other configurations. Research limitations/implications Corporate entrepreneurship efforts encompass various conflicts between knowledge sharing and temporality. These conflicts are especially important in technology-driven industries and firms. The study adds a detailed understanding regarding various learning configurations using which firms can respond to new business opportunities and their impact (across time) on knowledge. Practical implications The study provides important inputs to managers and academics, alike, on the tricky nature of managing and maximizing corporate entrepreneurship efforts in knowledge-intensive and technology industries. This paper isolates specific firm knowledge-based dilemmas on the optimal approach toward corporate entrepreneurship ventures over time and commonality. Originality/value The study extends March’s seminal 1991 study on a single business to corporate entrepreneurship settings using a set of stochastic simulations. In doing so, the study adds to the corporate entrepreneurship as well as knowledge management literatures. This paper explores various scenarios emerging from time, organizational code commonality and match between business realities and arrive at optimal knowledge configurations for each scenario.

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the impact of social capital on the performance of small firms and the role played by paradoxical leadership (encompassing both humility and narcissism) and absorptive capacity (ACAP) in affecting this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses multi-source cross-sectional survey data from 205 small automotive ancillary firms in Punjab, India. The data were analyzed using partial least squares-based structural equation modeling as well as the bootstrapping method (PROCESS macro in SPSS).FindingsParadoxical leadership moderates the relationship between social capital and ACAP. Further, potential absorptive capacity mediates the relationship between social capital and realized absorptive capacity (RACAP), which directly impacts firm performance. However, paradoxical leadership does not exhibit a significant moderating effect on the translation of potential to RACAP.Originality/valueFirm leadership is crucial for the social capital and external knowledge absorption in resource-constrained small firms. This paper elucidates the role of paradoxical leadership (balance of chief executive officer (CEO) humility and CEO narcissism) in developing ACAP and for translating social capital into ACAP and finally firm performance. Apart from contributing to the literature at the nexus of leadership styles and ACAP, the paper also brings more clarity to the role played by paradoxical leadership in helping small firms take advantage of social capital in boosting their performance.

Purpose - Because small firms are dependent on external knowledge to overcome various constraints, absorptive capacity (ACAP) is an important capability from a knowledge management perspective. Furthermore, extant research has noted the seemingly contradictory yet potentially complementary interaction of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) traits - humility and narcissism on knowledge management. This study aims to explore the impact of CEO humility and narcissism on ACAP and short-term firm performance. Design/methodology/approach - This paper uses a quantitative approach using multisource data from small Indian firms comprising survey responses from 225 CEOs and 216 general managers of small automotive firms. The data were analyzed using partial least squares - structural equation modeling. Findings - This paper sheds new light on the process through which small firms build ACAP and the role of CEO leadership traits in this regard. This study finds that in a highly turbulent environment, CEO's humility and narcissism affect the development of a small firm's ACAP. This study also discusses important implications for managerial practice and policy making. Originality/value - To the best of the authors'knowledge, this is the first study to empirically examine the impact of the paradoxical leadership traits of narcissism and humility on the short-term performance of small firms, from a knowledge-based perspective through the lens of absorptive capacity.

Purpose Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is viewed as a differentiating strategy that wins over stakeholders’ confidence. Due to the potential strategic and positive effects on businesses, the study of CSR and its relationship to competitiveness has gained relevance. While studies have examined the impact of CSR activities on firm competitiveness, the findings so far remain contradictory. Further research on the underlying processes/mechanisms that explain how CSR contributes to competitiveness remains scarce. Accordingly, this study aims to look into the link between CSR and competitiveness with a focus on Asian business and management studies. Design/methodology/approach By using a bibliometric approach, this paper aims to provide a review of the state-of-the-art research on the linkage between CSR and competitiveness in Asian context. The sample for this research included all 538 studies from the period of 2001–2023 in the Scopus database. A bibliometric study included both co-occurrence and co-citation analysis. Findings The study’s findings made significant contributions by identifying seven distinct clusters of co-occurrences. Using co-citation, three journals-based co-citation clusters and another three authors-based co-citation clusters are identified. The findings show how processes/mechanisms such as – accountability, multi-stakeholder dialogue/engagement, resource generation, emphasizing sustainable development goals and emerging markets, redefining strategy, cultivating value/vision and CSR leadership – are increasing in importance. Practical implications Overall, the authors argue that CSR-led competitiveness is indeed one of the key drivers for improved sustainability performance of a firm. Originality/value Based on findings, a conceptual framework has been proposed highlighting different processes and mechanisms that influence the CSR-led competitiveness – outcomes relationship.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the multi-level ambidexterity challenges through the metaroutine lens. Further, while confronting the ambidexterity challenges, it is found that what is paradox at one level can be understood as tradeoffs at another level. This study uses an in-depth multi-level case study of Tata Motors, an Indian automotive giant highlighting the ambidexterity dynamics across strategic, business unit and functional levels to demonstrate that paradoxes at the strategic level are converted to manageable tradeoffs at the business unit/ operational level. Also, metaroutine-enabled ambidexterity explains a possible way through which multi-level ambidexterity can be promoted and managed within organizations. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a case-based methodology (Eisenhardt, 1989) similar to the approach of Adler et al. (1999). The field research consisted of in-depth interviews, which focus on gathering information from the key involved members in the field, thus enabling us to understand how multi-level ambidexterity is promoted within Tata Motors. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data for this study. Findings The metaroutine lens offers an alternative route to explain the multi-level ambidexterity dynamics at Tata Motors. The ambidexterity questions at different levels in Tata Motors seem to be a mixture of paradoxes and tradeoffs. However, a key trend emerges. At the strategic and business unit level, the firm wanted to exploit their existing products and explore new customer segments. At the product level, the strategic and NPI core team wanted to best combine the customer centric explorations with exploitations resulting in cost savings. The ambidexterity questions at these two levels seem to be paradoxes. However, as the authors analyze the functional domains, it appears that each individual domain was working under increased constraints. Hence, the ambidexterity questions at the domain level seem to be a tradeoff based on the constraints faced by individual functional domains. Originality/value This study presents an in-depth multi-level case study of an Indian automotive giant, Tata Motors. The authors present the role of metaroutines in shaping the ambidexterity issues during the development of passenger vehicles. This study builds on the seminal work of Adler et al., 1999, and extends the discussion to the framing of the ambidexterity question as a paradox and/or a tradeoff. The core argument of this paper is that balancing opposite polarities in business models is basically a paradoxical issue in the exploitation/ exploration relationship.

Purpose Boundary-spanning managers need to recognize, learn and implement external knowledge while balancing the conflicts emerging from new and existing knowledge. The authors' study explores how a paradox mindset (PM) and a learning focus [learning goal orientation (LGO)] promote two managerial capabilities: absorptive capacity (ACAP) and ambidexterity. The authors' study explores the inter-relationship between the mindsets and the capabilities required for innovative work behavior. Design/methodology/approach The authors use survey data from 113 technology/product managers employed in boundary-spanning roles in a large Indian automotive equipment manufacturing firm. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis and bootstrapping (using PROCESS MACRO) are used to test for direct and mediation effects respectively. Findings Both PM and LGO are found to affect individual ambidexterity (IA) via the mediation of individual absorptive capacity (IACAP). While IACAP partially mediates the relationship between PM and IA, there is full mediation in the case of LGO. Research limitations/implications The authors focus on a sample of managers from a single, large Indian automotive firm. Although single case studies can help provide novel conceptual insights and to test theoretical relationships, future research needs to confirm the authors' findings in different types of firms. Practical implications This study shows how a learning orientation and the ability to be energized from conflicts help boundary-spanning managers produce innovative outcomes. Originality/value The authors reveal fresh insights on how both ACAP and ambidexterity share the focus on learning and paradox management. The authors explicate how LGO and PM uniquely impact the critical capabilities of IACAP and IA for boundary-spanning managers.

Managers employed in the dual gatekeeper-shepherd roles in open innovation contexts need to combine external knowledge inflows with existing internal knowledge to drive innovative work behaviour. This study explores how such managers leverage knowledge sources at the firm boundary, to drive innovation activities, by using their individual-level capabilities of absorptive capacity and ambidexterity. To collect data for the study, 121 technology managers employed in four large automotive equipment manufacturing firms in India were surveyed using an online questionnaire. Structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the direct, moderation and mediation relationships hypothesised in the study. The results demonstrate the synergistic roles played by individual absorptive capacity and individual ambidexterity in enhancing the innovative behaviour of managers operating in an open innovation context. This study contributes to the theory related to the understudied individual-level analyses of open innovation and offers recommendations for managers looking to increase their innovativeness at work.

In todays market landscape firms can effectively compete without the benefit of resource advantages, proprietary technology, or market power but by being more aligned towards creative combination and responsive innovation. This study approaches the concept of componovation from the composition based view (CBV) developed by Luo and Child. The CBV emphasizes how firms with ordinary resource endowments can achieve outstanding results through the creative use of open resources and unique integrating capabilities that result in an enhanced speed and a value-price ratio that are well suited to large numbers of mass market consumers. Thus componovation is a new approach aimed at innovation in emerging markets.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the multi-faceted role of metaroutines in dealing with nested ambidexterity challenges experienced during new product introductions (NPIs) at Tata Motors, an Indian automotive giant. Design/methodology/approach This study utilizes an in-depth multi-level case study highlighting the ambidexterity dynamics across strategic, business unit and functional levels. Findings The authors visualize the NPI system found in the firm, including the interactions between structure, process and governance, as a metaroutine. Based on this visualization, the authors argue that certain ostensive (like voice of customer, commonality) and performative (role of leadership and creative recombination) aspects of the metaroutine aid exploratory and exploitative learning across levels at Tata Motors. Further, the authors argue that the role of embedded NPI metaroutine aspects in promoting multi-level ambidexterity offers a distinct form when compared with other academically established forms of structural, contextual and temporal ambidexterity. Practical implications This study focuses on the aspects of the NPI metaroutine that enable ambidexterity within the studied firm. The authors argue that apart from the structural, temporal and contextual mechanisms, managers also need to focus on the nuances of NPI metaroutines and their potential to promote ambidexterity across levels. Originality/value The authors visualize the interactions between the process, structure and governance mechanisms, related to NPI, as a metaroutine. The authors argue that metaroutine enabled approaches to ambidexterity offer a distinct form when compared with other academically established forms of structural, contextual and temporal ambidexterity. Also, metaroutine enabled ambidexterity explains a possible way through which multi-level ambidexterity can be promoted and managed within organizations.

Purpose - The academic discipline of ambidexterity is recognized as an established field within strategic management and organization theory. Extant works in the field recognize the recent burgeoning academic emphasis on ambidexterity and suggest either an impending focus or a decline of the field. Although there have been attempts to review the field of ambidexterity, most of these reviews have not followed a systematic and scientific approach for extricating the key themes emerging within. The purpose of the study is to inductively and systematically capture the main elements constituting the current boundary of the field. Design/methodology/approach - To achieve the stated purpose, this study uses data/text mining to analyze abstracts of scholarly ambidexterity papers published over the past two decades (1997-2016) in academic journals. Using text-mining, lexical analysis is performed to compute the frequency distribution of words. The frequently occurring words are studied in detail and their association with ambidexterity is also studied by means of co-relation. This analysis (used for generation of first order themes) is then complemented by a manual analysis of each first order theme to come up with trends and sub-themes lying within. Findings - The analysis extracts eight distinct themes that indicate the current boundary of ambidexterity research. The findings highlight the potential areas for future academic attention such as networks, business models, leadership, dynamic capability and their inter-linkages with the field of ambidexterity. Overall, the field of ambidexterity is receiving heightened academic interest coupled with a dynamic proliferation across a host of related management fields. Apart from the required future consolidation, the field also needs new insights to enhance its explanatory power. Research limitations/implications - This study analyzes abstracts of 504 works on ambidexterity (in the last two decades) to inductively indicate the current boundaries of the field using a data/text mining approach. Papers that do not explicitly mention ambidexterity in their abstracts, title or keywords are not included in the analysis. Practical implications - The insights of the analysis will not only help researchers but also offer practitioners a good view point about the myriad of paths (not restricted to contextual, structural and temporal) through which ambidexterity can be promoted within and at the organization level. Originality/value - The three-fold contribution of this study is a systematic and scientific approach adopted to define the current boundary of the field of ambidexterity, followed by an exploration of a set of eight distinct themes and finally the identification of ongoing debates, research gaps and future research questions in light of the analysis performed.

Building on the work of Adler et al (1999), this study explores the multi-faceted role of metaroutines in dealing with nested ambidexterity challenges experienced during New Product Introductions at Tata Motors, an Indian automotive giant. The study utilizes an in-depth multi-level case study highlighting the ambidexterity dynamics across strategic, business-unit and functional levels. We find that certain ostensive (like Lean Processes and focus on commonality) and performative aspects (like Creative Recombination/ Anthropophagic intra-firm behavior) of the New Product Introduction metaroutine at Tata Motors aid in promoting Ambidexterity. Further, we argue that Metaroutine enabled approaches to Ambidexterity offer a distinct fourth form when compared with other academically established forms of Structural, Contextual and Temporal Ambidexterity.