"Mastering the Dual Art of Ambidextrous Management: Innovating and Optimizing in the Professional World."
Marcus Vinicius Pinto MSc (PcD) Professor
Consultor de tecnologia de informa??o especialista em Inteligência Artificial, Governan?a de Dados e Arquitetura de Informa??o. Conhe?a meus livros na Amazon!
WHAT IS AMBIDEXTROUS MANAGEMENT?
Ambidextrous management, also known as bimanual management, is a management concept that balances the exploration of new business opportunities and technologies (innovation, experimentation, and flexibility) with the exploitation of existing resources and capabilities (efficiency, productivity, and stability).
This concept advises companies to create a structure that allows for the exploration of new ideas while continuing to explore and improve what they already do well. In essence, it's the ability of an organization to effectively manage and balance both innovative initiatives (research, development, ideation) and efficiency (operations, established processes) at the same time.
It's akin to “being left-handed and right-handed at the same time,” hence the name “ambidextrous,” meaning handling opposite but complementary demands to ensure success both in the short and the long term.
Ambidextrous administration refers to the organizational capacity to efficiently manage both the exploration—seeking new knowledge and innovations—and the exploitation, i.e., the use and improvement of existing knowledge.
Here are some examples of organizations that have succeeded with this approach:
1. Google: The tech giant is possibly one of the most compelling examples of ambidextrous administration. The company not only develops its core product - the search engine - but also fosters innovation by allowing employees to dedicate 20% of their time to new ideas, leading to successful products like Google Maps, Google News, and Gmail.
2. Toyota: Another good example is Toyota. The company excels in developing continuous improvement processes (exploitation) while also consistently innovating (exploration) to create new products and technologies.
3. Amazon: Beginning as an online bookstore and then exploring and dominating the e-commerce market, Amazon has become a model for other companies. Simultaneously, the company also explores new technologies and markets, such as video streaming, smart voice assistants, and, more recently, drone delivery.
The practice of balancing effectiveness in exploring new ideas and innovations with efficiency in exploiting existing processes, known as ambidextrous administration, has been part of the success of some modern Brazilian companies.
Let's look at some examples:
1. Magazine Luiza: One of the largest retailers in Brazil, Magazine Luiza made a successful transition to e-commerce while maintaining optimized physical store operations. The company balances continuous innovation in its online business, with initiatives like "Parceiro Magalu" and super apps, with the efficient exploitation of its physical store network.
2. Nubank: Starting with a no-annual-fee credit card managed through a mobile app, Nubank has effectively exploited this product offering while also innovating, expanding its range of services to include digital accounts, personal loans, and other financial services.
3. Stone: Card acquirer Stone Payments began with a value proposition focused on transparency and customer service, fully exploiting these features. However, the company has also been investing in innovation and diversifying its services, including acquiring, payment gateways, management software, and e-commerce solutions.
These examples highlight that when ambidextrous administration is well executed, it can result in organizations that are more resilient and adaptable, capable of effectively exploiting existing processes while pursuing continuous innovation.
Managing to explore innovations while perfecting what is already done well, ambidextrous administration, is a practice that can sometimes lead to failure.
Below are recent examples in Brazil:
1. Avianca Brasil: This airline tried to quickly expand its operations to compete with other large Brazilian airlines but failed, in part, because it could not perfect its existing operations to keep up with this rapid expansion. Amid a financial crisis, the company declared bankruptcy in 2018.
2. Saraiva: One of the largest bookstore chains in Brazil tried to transform its business model from physical retail to digital without properly managing the decline of its physical stores. Despite having a strong online presence, the accumulated debts from closing physical stores led the company to file for judicial recovery in 2018.
3. BRF (Brasil Foods): In 2018, BRF, one of the largest food companies in Brazil, went through a tough time. Attempting to expand its business globally, the company faced problems with product quality. The crisis culminated with the European Union’s embargo on BRF products, significantly harming its financial performance.
The examples reinforce that to successfully execute ambidextrous management, organizations need to carefully balance the exploration of new opportunities with the exploitation of existing strengths.
IN PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Ambidextrous management in professional life is a fascinating concept that captures the essence of successfully balancing and managing the duality present in the modern workplace.
领英推荐
The term "ambidextrous" is often used to describe the ability of an organization to efficiently exploit existing competencies while also exploring new opportunities.
When applied to individual career management, it refers to the skill of managing and enhancing both efficiency and productivity in the current role as well as innovation and adaptability for future career challenges and opportunities.
In this context, ambidexterity becomes a metaphor for professionals who strive to optimize their current abilities and skills while remaining open and flexible to changes and opportunities that arise in an ever-evolving job market.
Ambidextrous life management demands a set of competencies and a mindset that allows an individual to be strong and resilient in the face of specific job demands while also being receptive and proactive towards the unknown.
A key to ambidextrous life management is ongoing development: being committed to constant learning and skill enhancement. This may mean delving deeper into a field of expertise – exploiting efficiency – while investing time in learning new technologies, languages, or interpersonal skills – exploring innovation.
Another aspect is the ability to maintain diverse and constructive networks, which not only strengthen the individual's current position but also open doors to new horizons. Strategic networking is essential, as it provides access to both resources and support for effectively performing current tasks and to new ideas and collaboration opportunities.
Furthermore, ambidextrous management involves emotional equilibrium and well-being. This means maintaining good mental and physical health to deal with daily demands while also cultivating resilience and the capacity to quickly adapt to new situations and changing contexts.
In practice, ambidextrous management in professional life can manifest in a professional capable of focusing on tasks that require attention and meticulousness and, at other times, shifting to a more creative and innovative mode of thinking essential for problem-solving and generating new ideas.
Watch the video, click the bell icon, and become a subscriber to the channel! The content is not to be missed!
I invite you to sign up for my weekly newsletter. Unmissable content! https://bit.ly/3RQTBs4
Best regards, Prof. Marc?o! Member of LinkedIn for Creator. Manager of the PROFESSIONAL REALIZATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP group https://lnkd.in/dwaMMy57 - Join us and make a difference!
Next Trend Realty LLC./wwwHar.com/Chester-Swanson/agent_cbswan
9 个月Thanks for Sharing.