Technological ambidexterity in the management of national infrastructure programmes

Abstract

There is no gainsaying that domestic technological capability contributes immensely to a country's advancement. In India, sustained initiatives are being taken by different actors to provide extensive formal research training, laboratory equipment and related resources, resulting in globally well-recognized competence in the research/academic and formal industrial systems. However, more initiatives are called for to improve connectivity and to link technology generation directly to poverty reduction and sustainable development. Infrastructure projects are seldom considered as part of a technological learning process. But, infrastructure development represents an opportunity to start integrating technological and innovation considerations into identified development goals, and thus plays a dynamic role in economic growth. In recognition of the role played by infrastructure in inclusive growth, specific programmes have been initiated by the government targeted towards augmenting of irrigation potential, rural connectivity, safe drinking water availability, rural electrification, housing and rural telephony in the country. There are several challenges in improving the application of science, technology and innovation to infrastructure development, more so in as vast a country as India, with wide variations in technological needs across regions and peoples. Technological advances take place continually calling for ‘exploitation’ capabilities in developing meaningful solutions taking advantage of the new technological developments. Simultaneously, there is a need for ‘exploration’ of new technological solutions to meet identified needs. In a constantly changing environment, these pose contradictory requirements, calling for continual balance. Ambidexterity is used in the context of simultaneous exploration and exploitation. This article attempts to identify major challenges involved in balancing technological exploration and exploitation capabilities in the management of national programmes and suggests some interventions towards creation of ambidextrous capabilities to reconcile these paradoxical requirements.