The use of data-driven insight in ambidextrous digital transformation: How do resource orchestration, organizational strategic decision-making, and organizational agility matter?

Abstract

Drawing on the literature about digital transformation and ambidexterity, our study conceptualizes ambidextrous digital transformation and investigates the relevant antecedents. We apply and advance the business intelligence and analytics theory and the resource management theory in the context of digital transformation by integrating them together. In particular, we develop and verify a research model on how data-driven insight contributes to ambidextrous digital transformation. Based on data drawn from 312 firms undergoing digital transformation in China, our findings indicate distinct effects of data-driven insight exerted on efficiency transformation and value transformation with resource orchestration as a partial mediator, and the contingent role of diverse organizational strategic decision-making and organizational agility. Our study extends existing literature by conceptualizing and developing a two-component construct of ambidextrous digital transformation and revealing how the critical organizational capabilities and behaviors underlying it work together. Our findings will stir up academic interest and curiosity to further unravel the ambidextrous path of digital transformation, and have managerial implications for managers and authorities committed to promote digital transformation and prosper digital economy.