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Ambidextrous leadership: a meta-review applying static and dynamic multi-level perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Mueller

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

  • Birgit Renzl

    (Universität Stuttgart)

  • Matthias Georg Will

    (Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg)

Abstract

The ability to achieve ambidexterity is seen as an important prerequisite for sustaining competitive advantages in organizations. One means to this end is ambidextrous leadership, which, by definition, attempts to achieve an improved corporate outcome on the macro level through leadership behavior on the micro-level. We present here a meta-review of the field of ambidextrous leadership research that indicates that the studies therein lack explicit definition of the levels analyzed within this multi-level concept as well as links between these levels. We first address the development of static and dynamic multi-level models in management and sociological research. Second, we describe the multi-level characteristics of the concept of ambidextrous leadership. Third, we use the static and dynamic multi-level models to analyze how current research reflects different levels of ambidextrous leadership and the links between these levels. Based on our meta-review, we identify new areas for future investigation and we develop an agenda for systematizing leadership research by explicitly considering the micro and macro level of an organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Mueller & Birgit Renzl & Matthias Georg Will, 2020. "Ambidextrous leadership: a meta-review applying static and dynamic multi-level perspectives," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 37-59, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:14:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s11846-018-0297-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-018-0297-9
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bilal Ahmad & Da Liu & Mirza Huzaifa Asif & Muhammad Ashfaq & Muhammad Irfan, 2022. "Ambidextrous Leadership and Service Recovery Performance Under B2B Selling Context: An Examination Through Service Innovation Capability," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    3. Gökhan Akıncı & Lutfihak Alpkan & Bora Yıldız & Gaye Karacay, 2022. "The Link between Ambidextrous Leadership and Innovative Work Behavior in a Military Organization: The Moderating Role of Climate for Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Mohamed Mohiya & M. M. Sulphey, 2021. "Do Saudi Arabian Leaders Exhibit Ambidextrous Leadership: A Qualitative Examination," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, October.
    5. Fernandes, Cristina I. & Veiga, Pedro M. & Ferreira, João J. & Rammal, Hussain G. & Pereira, Vijay, 2022. "Assessing strategic leadership in organizations: Using bibliometric data to develop a holistic model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 646-655.
    6. Kristina Stoiber & Kurt Matzler & Julia Hautz, 2023. "Ambidextrous structures paving the way for disruptive business models: a conceptual framework," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1439-1485, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ambidextrous leadership; Multi-level concept; Micro-level; Macro level; Meta-review; Microfoundations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D - Microeconomics
    • D - Microeconomics
    • L - Industrial Organization
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation

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