Transcending the barriers to ambidexterity: An exploratory study of australian CIOs

Bradley Kalgovas, Christine Van Toorn, Kieran Conboy

Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/ProceedingConference Publicationpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This research in progress paper explores the barriers that CIOs experience in creating an IS Function which balances the competing and conflicting activities of strategic innovation (exploration) and incremental improvement (exploitation) to support the organisation in obtaining a position of sustainable competitive advantage. Drawing on the perceptions of the CIO role being complex, evolutionary, pressured and tense and incorporating the theory of Ambidexterity, we illustrate how CIOs encounter significant challenges in creating an IS Function which effectively engages in and balances strategic innovation and incremental improvement opportunities. Our analysis identified ten barriers to exploration, thirteen barriers to exploitation and two barriers which prevent CIOs from balancing exploratory and exploitative activities in the desired manner.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationECIS 2014 Proceedings - 22nd European Conference on Information Systems
PublisherAssociation for Information Systems
ISBN (Print)9780991556700
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes
Event22nd European Conference on Information Systems, ECIS 2014 - Tel Aviv, Israel
Duration: 9 Jun 201411 Jun 2014

Publication series

NameECIS 2014 Proceedings - 22nd European Conference on Information Systems

Conference

Conference22nd European Conference on Information Systems, ECIS 2014
Country/TerritoryIsrael
CityTel Aviv
Period9/06/1411/06/14

Keywords

  • Ambidexterity
  • Barriers
  • Chief information officer
  • IS function performance
  • IS leadership
  • Strategic innovation

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