TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how public cultural organizations use ambidextrous design to balance exploitation and exploration given their organizational structure that mainly stimulates exploitation.Design/methodology/approach The authors use an abductive methodology and, perform an in-depth comparative case study. The data sample consists of two Belgian public cultural centers located in the Flemish area. In all, 21 semi-structured interviews where analyzed using Nvivo.Findings Results show, first, that although both cases have the same formal organization chart, their informal structure differs. Second, both cases have a different point of view toward exploitation and exploration. Third, no “pure” ambidextrous designs were found. Finally, the paper formulates theoretical propositions for ambidexterity and public sector research.Research limitations/implications Limitations of this paper are threefold. First, the authors only compared two cases, so generalization of the findings is limited. Second, although the authors managed to make contributions to ambidexterity and public sector research, theory building is not finished. Finally, researchers have to improve empirical evidence focusing on which design elements lead toward ambidextrous public organizations.Originality/value This paper makes a threefold contribution to ambidexterity literature and public sector research. First, the focus on public sector organizations is a rarely taken approach in ambidexterity research. Second, the specific use of ambidextrous design attributes to the limited public sector research that has focused on ambidexterity. Third, the focus on small organizations with limited resources is a rarely taken focus in ambidexterity and public sector research.
VL  - 29
IS  - 7
SN  - 0951-3558
DO  - 10.1108/IJPSM-12-2015-0210
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-12-2015-0210
AU  - Cannaerts Nele
AU  - Segers Jesse
AU  - Henderickx Erik
PY  - 2016
Y1  - 2016/01/01
TI  - Ambidextrous design and public organizations: a comparative case study
T2  - International Journal of Public Sector Management
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 708
EP  - 724
Y2  - 2024/09/25
ER  -