Entrepreneur ambidexterity: A study of entrepreneur behaviours and competencies in growth-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Volery, Thierry; Mueller, Susan; von Siemens, Björn
• Is Part Of: International small business journal. Volume 33:Number 2(2015)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 129
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: ambidexterity -- entrepreneur behaviour -- exploitation -- exploration -- growth; Small business -- Periodicals; 338.64205
• DOI: 10.1177/0266242613484777
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-2426

Abstract

This article uses the sociological method of structured observation to explore the every day behaviour of entrepreneurs from an exploration-exploitation perspective. Six entrepreneurs leading successful growth-oriented businesses were observed for a four-day period and 2305 'units of action' performed by the entrepreneurs were recorded. Six behavioural patterns that allowed them, their management team or the organisation as a whole to pursue ambidexterity were identified. In contrast with the existing high-level approaches of ambidexterity, this study provides a synthesis of entrepreneur behaviours and competencies to achieve ambidexterity at the operating level.