Managing exploration and exploitation in a media organisation – A capability-based approach to ambidexterity

ABSTRACT This study contributes to emerging research on management of organisational tensions in the media industry. We approach the topic by utilising the concept of ambidexterity, which has hardly been applied to media organisations. The goal of this study is to provide a capability-based approach to organisational ambidexterity. Thus, we offer a new approach for analysing media management by operationalising ambidexterity with operational and dynamic capabilities. The study analyses what kinds of tensions ambidexterity creates between managerial operational and dynamic capabilities. The empirical analysis is based on interviews with top-level managers at the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yle, during 2013/14. The approach is qualitative. The results are presented by using our theoretical approach of combining exploration and exploitation (ambidexterity) with sensing and seizing (dynamic and operational capabilities).

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