IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i9p2581-d228286.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Formation and Effects of Exploitative Dynamic Capabilities and Explorative Dynamic Capabilities: An Empirical Study

Author

Listed:
  • Lina Liu

    (School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Bo Yu

    (School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China)

  • Weiwei Wu

    (School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China)

Abstract

Although previous studies have explored the formation and effects of dynamic capabilities, much remains to be learned on this topic. There has been little research on the formation and effects of exploitative dynamic capabilities and explorative dynamic capabilities. This paper provides an explanation of how entrepreneurial leadership style and slack resources affect the formation of exploitive dynamic capabilities and explorative dynamic capabilities and evaluates the effects of exploitive dynamic capabilities and explorative dynamic capabilities on competitive advantage. Based on a sample of 382 Chinese firms, the empirical results show that a transactional leadership style and absorbed slack resources can encourage the formation of exploitative dynamic capabilities, and that a transformational leadership style and unabsorbed slack resources are conducive to the development of explorative dynamic capabilities. Furthermore, exploitative dynamic capabilities and explorative dynamic capabilities can reinforce and complement each other. Exploitative dynamic capabilities positively impact explorative dynamic capabilities, and explorative dynamic capabilities enhance exploitative dynamic capabilities. In particular, exploitative dynamic capabilities have an important effect on short-term financial performance, and explorative dynamic capabilities lead to a significant long-term competitive advantage. The results show that explorative dynamic capabilities surpass exploitative dynamic capabilities in terms of competitive advantage, even if both have a positive influence on competitive advantage. This study validates and develops the theory of dynamic capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Lina Liu & Bo Yu & Weiwei Wu, 2019. "The Formation and Effects of Exploitative Dynamic Capabilities and Explorative Dynamic Capabilities: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2581-:d:228286
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2581/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/9/2581/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ron Adner & Constance E. Helfat, 2003. "Corporate effects and dynamic managerial capabilities," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(10), pages 1011-1025, October.
    2. J. Robert Baum & Stefan Wally, 2003. "Strategic decision speed and firm performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(11), pages 1107-1129, November.
    3. Wang, Xinchun & Dass, Mayukh, 2017. "Building innovation capability: The role of top management innovativeness and relative-exploration orientation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 127-135.
    4. Gianmario Verona & Davide Ravasi, 2003. "Unbundling dynamic capabilities: an exploratory study of continuous product innovation," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 12(3), pages 577-606, June.
    5. Makkonen, Hannu & Pohjola, Mikko & Olkkonen, Rami & Koponen, Aki, 2014. "Dynamic capabilities and firm performance in a financial crisis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 2707-2719.
    6. Carla Martínez-Climent & María Rodríguez-García & Juying Zeng, 2019. "Ambidextrous Leadership, Social Entrepreneurial Orientation, and Operational Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Gary P. Pisano, 1994. "Knowledge, Integration, and the Locus of Learning: An Empirical Analysis of Process Development," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(S1), pages 85-100, December.
    8. C. Carl Pegels & Yong I. Song & Baik Yang, 2000. "Management heterogeneity, competitive interaction groups, and firm performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(9), pages 911-923, September.
    9. Xie, Yongping & Xue, Wei & Li, Ling & Wang, Anmin & Chen, Yong & Zheng, Qianlin & Wang, Yayun & Li, Xinjuan, 2018. "Leadership style and innovation atmosphere in enterprises: An empirical study," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 257-265.
    10. Li, Da-yuan & Liu, Juan, 2014. "Dynamic capabilities, environmental dynamism, and competitive advantage: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 2793-2799.
    11. Kathleen M. Eisenhardt & Jeffrey A. Martin, 2000. "Dynamic capabilities: what are they?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(10‐11), pages 1105-1121, October.
    12. Jensen, Are & Clausen, Tommy H., 2017. "Origins and emergence of exploration and exploitation capabilities in new technology-based firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 163-175.
    13. Osamu Suzuki, 2019. "Uncovering moderators of organisational ambidexterity: evidence from the pharmaceutical industry," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 391-418, April.
    14. Kevin Zheng Zhou & Fang Wu, 2010. "Technological capability, strategic flexibility, and product innovation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 547-561, May.
    15. Nieves, Julia & Haller, Sabine, 2014. "Building dynamic capabilities through knowledge resources," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 224-232.
    16. Heng Liu & Xiu-hao Ding & Hai Guo & Jin-hui Luo, 2014. "How does slack affect product innovation in high-tech Chinese firms: The contingent value of entrepreneurial orientation," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 31(1), pages 47-68, March.
    17. Yang, Kuo-Pin & Chou, Christine & Chiu, Yu-Jen, 2014. "How unlearning affects radical innovation: The dynamics of social capital and slack resources," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 152-163.
    18. Qing Cao & Eric Gedajlovic & Hongping Zhang, 2009. "Unpacking Organizational Ambidexterity: Dimensions, Contingencies, and Synergistic Effects," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 781-796, August.
    19. Koryak, Oksana & Lockett, Andy & Hayton, James & Nicolaou, Nicos & Mole, Kevin, 2018. "Disentangling the antecedents of ambidexterity: Exploration and exploitation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(2), pages 413-427.
    20. James G. March, 1991. "Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 71-87, February.
    21. Chen, Chung-Jen & Huang, Yi-Fen, 2010. "Creative workforce density, organizational slack, and innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 411-417, April.
    22. Ron Sanchez, 1995. "Strategic flexibility in product competition," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(S1), pages 135-159.
    23. Justin Tan & Mike W. Peng, 2003. "Organizational slack and firm performance during economic transitions: two studies from an emerging economy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(13), pages 1249-1263, December.
    24. Dasí, Àngels & Iborra, María & Safón, Vicente, 2015. "Beyond path dependence: Explorative orientation, slack resources, and managerial intentionality to internationalize in SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 77-88.
    25. O'Reilly, Charles A., III & Tushman, Michael L., 2013. "Organizational Ambidexterity: Past, Present and Future," Research Papers 2130, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    26. Leinan Zhang & Yonggui Wang & Zelong Wei, 2019. "How Do Managerial Ties Leverage Innovation Ambidexterity for Firm Growth?," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 902-914, March.
    27. Daniel A. Levinthal & James G. March, 1993. "The myopia of learning," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(S2), pages 95-112, December.
    28. Vahlne, Jan-Erik & Jonsson, Anna, 2017. "Ambidexterity as a dynamic capability in the globalization of the multinational business enterprise (MBE): Case studies of AB Volvo and IKEA," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 57-70.
    29. Maurizio Zollo & Sidney G. Winter, 2002. "Deliberate Learning and the Evolution of Dynamic Capabilities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(3), pages 339-351, June.
    30. Johan Wiklund & DEAN Shepherd, 2003. "Knowledge‐based resources, entrepreneurial orientation, and the performance of small and medium‐sized businesses," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(13), pages 1307-1314, December.
    31. Zhang, Yufeng & Yang, Zhibo & Zhang, Tao, 2018. "Strategic resource decisions to enhance the performance of global engineering services," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 678-700.
    32. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    33. Li, Shenxue & Easterby-Smith, Mark & Hong, Jacky F.L., 2019. "Towards an understanding of the nature of dynamic capabilities in high-velocity markets of China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 212-226.
    34. Chen, Yan, 2017. "Dynamic ambidexterity: How innovators manage exploration and exploitation," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 385-394.
    35. Tabesh, Pooya & Vera, Dusya & Keller, Robert T., 2019. "Unabsorbed slack resource deployment and exploratory and exploitative innovation: How much does CEO expertise matter?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 65-80.
    36. Wu, Lei-Yu, 2010. "Applicability of the resource-based and dynamic-capability views under environmental volatility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 27-31, January.
    37. Sher Jahan Khan & Ajaz Akbar Mir, 2019. "Ambidextrous culture, contextual ambidexterity and new product innovations: The role of organizational slack and environmental factors," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 652-663, May.
    38. Altaf, Nufazil & Shah, Farooq, 2017. "Slack heterogeneity and firm performance: Investigating the relationship in Indian context," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 390-403.
    39. Shaker A. Zahra & Harry J. Sapienza & Per Davidsson, 2006. "Entrepreneurship and Dynamic Capabilities: A Review, Model and Research Agenda," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 917-955, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ali O. Jifri & Paul Drnevich & William Jackson & Ron Dulek, 2023. "Examining the Sustainability of Contributions of Competing Core Organizational Capabilities in Response to Systemic Economic Crises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Zhixue Liu & Ronggui Ding, 2023. "Dynamic Evaluation of Project Governance in Collaborative Innovation Projects: A Case of Industry Technology Research Institute," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Luciana Aparecida Barbieri da Rosa & Clandia Maffini Gomes & Waleska Campos & Carolina Rodrigues & Tais Pentiado Godoy & Jordana Marques Kneipp, 2022. "Influencing Factors of The Innovation Power in the Adoption of Sustainability Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Yina Zhang & Jiancheng Long & Wu Zhao, 2021. "Relational Embeddedness and BOP-Oriented Dynamic Capability—A Multi-Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-26, May.
    5. Nhat Strøm-Andersen, 2019. "Incumbents in the Transition Towards the Bioeconomy: The Role of Dynamic Capabilities and Innovation Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-20, September.
    6. Zhang, Yixiang & Yang, Jialei & Liu, Meiling, 2022. "Enterprises’ energy-saving capability: Empirical study from a dynamic capability perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    7. Yongbo Sun & Hong Sun, 2021. "Executives’ Environmental Awareness and Eco-Innovation: An Attention-Based View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    8. Carlos Fernandez-Jardon & Xavier Martinez-Cobas & Fabian Martinez-Ortiz, 2020. "Technology and Culture in Subsistence Small Businesses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-13, November.
    9. Liu, Ting & Li, Xizhuo, 2022. "How Do MNCs Conduct Local Technological Innovation in a Host Country? An Examination From Subsidiaries' Perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jorge Ferreira & Sofia Cardim & Arnaldo Coelho, 2021. "Dynamic Capabilities and Mediating Effects of Innovation on the Competitive Advantage and Firm’s Performance: the Moderating Role of Organizational Learning Capability," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 620-644, June.
    2. José Andrade & Mário Franco & Luis Mendes, 2021. "Technological capacity and organisational ambidexterity: the moderating role of environmental dynamism on Portuguese technological SMEs," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(7), pages 2111-2136, October.
    3. Bitencourt, Claudia Cristina & de Oliveira Santini, Fernando & Ladeira, Wagner Junior & Santos, Ana Clarissa & Teixeira, Eduardo Kunzel, 2020. "The extended dynamic capabilities model: A meta-analysis," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 108-120.
    4. Yaqun Yi & Yuan Li & Michael A. Hitt & Yi Liu & Zelong Wei, 2016. "The influence of resource bundling on the speed of strategic change: Moderating effects of relational capital," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 435-467, June.
    5. Justin Tan & Yong Zeng, 2009. "A stage-dependent model of resource utilization, strategic flexibility, and implications for performance over time: Empirical evidence from a transitional environment," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 563-588, September.
    6. Fainshmidt, Stav & Nair, Anil & Mallon, Mark R., 2017. "MNE performance during a crisis: An evolutionary perspective on the role of dynamic managerial capabilities and industry context," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1088-1099.
    7. Vahlne, Jan-Erik & Jonsson, Anna, 2017. "Ambidexterity as a dynamic capability in the globalization of the multinational business enterprise (MBE): Case studies of AB Volvo and IKEA," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 57-70.
    8. Ferreira, Jorge & Coelho, Arnaldo & Moutinho, Luiz, 2020. "Dynamic capabilities, creativity and innovation capability and their impact on competitive advantage and firm performance: The moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 92.
    9. Zhang-Zhang, YingYing & Rohlfer, Sylvia & Varma, Arup, 2022. "Strategic people management in contemporary highly dynamic VUCA contexts: A knowledge worker perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 587-598.
    10. Tan, Justin & Wang, Liang, 2010. "Flexibility-efficiency tradeoff and performance implications among Chinese SOEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 356-362, April.
    11. Michael Yao-Ping Peng & Ku-Ho Lin & Dennis Liute Peng & Peihua Chen, 2019. "Linking Organizational Ambidexterity and Performance: The Drivers of Sustainability in High-Tech Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-17, July.
    12. Atif Açıkgöz & Irem Demirkan & Gary P. Latham & Cemil Kuzey, 2021. "The Relationship Between Unlearning and Innovation Ambidexterity with the Performance of New Product Development Teams," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 945-982, August.
    13. Li, Shenxue & Easterby-Smith, Mark & Hong, Jacky F.L., 2019. "Towards an understanding of the nature of dynamic capabilities in high-velocity markets of China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 212-226.
    14. Marina Estrada-Cruz & Noelia Rodriguez-Hernández & Antonio J. Verdú-Jover & Jose Maria Gómez-Gras, 2022. "The effect of competitive intensity on the relationship between strategic entrepreneurship and organizational results," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 1-24, March.
    15. Byungjoo Paek & Heesang Lee, 2018. "Strategic entrepreneurship and competitive advantage of established firms: evidence from the digital TV industry," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 883-925, December.
    16. Yuan, Chun & Xue, Doudou & He, Xin, 2021. "A balancing strategy for ambidextrous learning, dynamic capabilities, and business model design, the opposite moderating effects of environmental dynamism," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    17. Marina Estrada-Cruz & Noelia Rodriguez-Hernández & Antonio J. Verdú-Jover & Jose Maria Gómez-Gras, 0. "The effect of competitive intensity on the relationship between strategic entrepreneurship and organizational results," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    18. Lysander Weiss & Dominik Kanbach, 2022. "Toward an integrated framework of corporate venturing for organizational ambidexterity as a dynamic capability," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(4), pages 1129-1170, December.
    19. Björn Michaelis & Shalini Rogbeer & Lars Schweizer & Zafer Özleblebici, 2021. "Clarifying the boundary conditions of value creation within dynamic capabilities framework: a grafting approach," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1797-1820, August.
    20. Maren Schlömer & Hendrik Wilhelm & Indre Maurer & Frank Wallau, 2013. "Die Wirkung dynamischer Fähigkeiten auf die Effektivität und Effizienz operativer Prozesse," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 65(3), pages 214-243, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:9:p:2581-:d:228286. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.