Technological and design capabilities: is ambidexterity possible?

Abstract

Purpose

This study seeks to employ the capability‐based view to investigate the direct effect of an organization's development of technological and design capabilities on technology commercialization. It aims to use two indicators to test the claim of ambidexterity, i.e. that synchronizing the development of technological capabilities and design capabilities can enhance the performance of technology commercialization.

Design/methodology/approach

The research subjects consisted of R&D teams in Taiwan developing new high‐tech information and communications products; a total of 109 valid questionnaires were recovered. A hierarchical multiple regression model was used to perform hypothesis testing.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that both technological and design capabilities have a positive effect on technology commercialization results, and the contribution of design capabilities is greater than that of technological capabilities. The interaction of technological capabilities and design capabilities has a positive influence on the results of technology commercialization. A relative imbalance between technological and design capabilities has a negative effect on technology commercialization.

Originality/value

This study specifies that there are tensions between technological and design capabilities. However, an ambidextrous strategy involving the concurrent development of technological and design capabilities is suggested. Also the ambidexterity hypothesis is verified. This study consequently suggests that enterprises should simultaneously develop their technological and design capabilities, and seek to balance the allocation of management attention and resources between these two types of capabilities, if they wish to obtain optimal technology commercialization results.

Citation

Ho, Y., Fang, H. and Lin, J. (2011), "Technological and design capabilities: is ambidexterity possible?", Management Decision, Vol. 49 No. 2, pp. 208-225. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741111109124