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Managing Innovation Paradox in the Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Ambidextrous Capability in a Focal Firm

Author

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  • Delin Zeng

    (School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Jingbo Hu

    (School of Business Administration, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Taohua Ouyang

    (School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China)

Abstract

To achieve sustainable development, focal firms should balance two paradoxical kinds of innovation activities: exploitative and exploratory ones. Published works found that ambidexterity is an effective way to resolve paradoxical tensions, but few in-depth studies have been conducted to explore the innovation paradox of focal firms in the innovation ecosystem from an ambidextrous capability perspective. This paper takes China Spacesat Co., Ltd. as the case to study focal firms’ management of innovation paradoxes in the sustainable innovation ecosystem and finds that: (1) Sustainable innovation is an ecosystem in which focal firms’ internal functional departments, including the product department, technical center, and Makers’ groups, cooperate with external organizations, including component suppliers, scientific research institutes, and government departments, closely and complementarily; (2) In the exploitative and exploratory innovations of complex products, focal firms in the sustainable innovation ecosystem mainly confront three paradoxes: profit drive vs. breakthroughs in the strategic intent of sustainable innovation of the profit-driven model, tight vs. loose coupling of sustainable innovation, and sustainable innovation driven by discipline vs. that by passion; (3) Focal firms in the innovation ecosystem resolve these three innovation paradoxes with structural, contextual, and coordinated ambidextrous capabilities, and build innovation paradox management mechanisms with three steps in sequence, namely by establishing dual sustainable strategic innovation units, strengthening sustainable organizational ties between the internal and external, while co-creating and sharing innovation values, and, finally, promoting the formation and development of their sustainable innovation ecosystem. This paper complements and enriches the innovation ecosystem and ambidextrous capability theory, providing significant practical guidance to the sustainable development of aerospace enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Delin Zeng & Jingbo Hu & Taohua Ouyang, 2017. "Managing Innovation Paradox in the Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Ambidextrous Capability in a Focal Firm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:11:p:2091-:d:118778
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    2. Xin Cao & Taohua Ouyang & Puzant Balozian & Sixuan Zhang, 2020. "The Role of Managerial Cognitive Capability in Developing a Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Xiaomi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-27, September.
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    5. Agata Sudolska & Andrzej Lis & Monika Chodorek, 2019. "Research Profiling for Responsible and Sustainable Innovations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-31, November.
    6. Ying Guo & LiFang Wang & Yanyu Chen, 2020. "Green Entrepreneurial Orientation and Green Innovation: The Mediating Effect of Supply Chain Learning," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440198, January.
    7. 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.
    8. Simeoni, Francesca & Brunetti, Federico & Mion, Giorgio & Baratta, Rossella, 2020. "Ambidextrous organizations for sustainable development: The case of fair-trade systems," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 549-560.
    9. Thayla Zomer & Paulo Savaget, 2023. "Disentangling Decarbonisation Ambidexterity: An Analysis of European Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Guerrero, Maribel, 2021. "Ambidexterity and Entrepreneurship Studies: A Literature Review and Research Agenda," Foundations and Trends(R) in Entrepreneurship, now publishers, vol. 17(5-6), pages 436-650, June.
    11. Shimei Jiang & Yimei Hu & Ziyuan Wang, 2019. "Core Firm Based View on the Mechanism of Constructing an Enterprise Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Haier Group," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-26, June.
    12. Valentina Cillo & Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli & Lorenzo Ardito & Manlio Del Giudice, 2019. "Understanding sustainable innovation: A systematic literature review," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(5), pages 1012-1025, September.
    13. Larissa Oliveira‐Duarte & Diane Aparecida Reis & Andre Leme Fleury & Rosana Aparecida Vasques & Homero Fonseca Filho & Mikko Koria & Julia Baruque‐Ramos, 2021. "Innovation Ecosystem framework directed to Sustainable Development Goal #17 partnerships implementation," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(5), pages 1018-1036, September.
    14. Joana Costa & João C.O. Matias, 2020. "Open Innovation 4.0 as an Enhancer of Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-19, October.
    15. Ling Ding & Di Cao & Taohua Ouyang & Jin-xi Wu, 2018. "Promoting the Development of Enterprise Niche: Case Study on China’s Organizational Ambidexterity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.
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    17. Abdelkader Baaziz, 2018. "Towards a new paradigm of “coopetitiveness” in emerging countries: Case of the Algerian Entrepreneurial Ecosystems," Post-Print hal-01917642, HAL.

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