Learning ambidexterity and innovation in creative industries. the role of enabling formalisation

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the impact of learning ambidexterity on innovation and tested the mediating effect of enabling formalisation on this relationship in creative industries. Polynomial regressions were used to test the hypothesised relationships on a sample consisting of 379 medium and large sized Romanian firms. The results demonstrate that the learning ambidexterity improves innovation, while enabling formalisation is mediating the effects of exploratory and exploitative learning capabilities on innovation. By examining the relationships between learning ambidexterity and innovation, it extends other studies findings. The paper contributes to deeper examination of formalisation on innovation outcomes by focusing on enabling formalisation. The study is performed in creative industries and in medium and large sized companies, usually poorly researched contexts in relation with learning ambidexterity. The study contributes to ambidexterity literature by focusing specifically on learning capability, a new type of organisational capability. Due to the relative lack of validated understanding of the learning ambidexterity impact on innovation, this study contributes to the development of theory explaining this interaction and its effects. Finally, the results demonstrate complementarity between exploratory and exploitative learning capabilities.