Exploration of ambidexterity among SMEs in the Dutch Maritime sector

Exploration of ambidexterity among SMEs in the Dutch Maritime sector: How SMEs align exploitation of existing products and pursue exploration of product innovations

Dubbeld, Maarten (TU Delft Technology, Policy and Management)

Scholten, V.E. (mentor)
van Duin, Ron (graduation committee)
van Beers, Cees (mentor)

Delft University of Technology

Management of Technology (MoT)

2018-06-25

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) tend to focus upon short-term profit in a crisis period, however the EU advised SMEs’ to invest in innovation and quality of products. How SMEs balance between these two contradicting strategies is seldom addressed. Therefore, this study explores how SMEs align their organization upon short term exploitation of current products and explore long term product innovations simultaneously.
The results of this multiple case study research identify Exploitative activities are supported by commonality among organizational goals and Exploration requires investment in knowledge sharing. A moderating effect upon exploitation and exploration, as identified in literature about Organizational Ambidexterity, is also identified among SMEs.

Ambidexterity
SMEs
Exploitation
Exploration
Absorptive Capacity
Top Management Team

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:bbe246b3-8340-4925-9ed6-61249e420cb5

Student theses

master thesis

© 2018 Maarten Dubbeld