An exploratory study examining the role of personality traits on individual ambidexterity

An exploratory study examining the role of personality traits on individual ambidexterity

Tumkur Venkatesh, Aishwarya (TU Delft Technology, Policy and Management)

Verburg, R.M. (mentor)
van de Poel, I.R. (graduation committee)
Pachos-Fokialis, N. (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Management of Technology (MoT)

2021-08-25

The study aims to add to the existing knowledge base on individual ambidexterity by adopting a trait-based approach. As this area of individual ambidexterity is still comparatively new, limited study has been undertaken on the internal factors that determine individual ambidexterity. Further the study addresses the degree to which personality traits may influence ambidexterity in individuals. I investigate the influence of three personality traits on individual ambidexterity. The personality traits understudy are: Openness, conscientiousness and extraversion. For the purpose of this thesis, a mixed method approach was adopted, with semi-structured interviews and a survey. Results from the semi-structured interviews indicated internal factors that explain the link between personality traits and individual ambidexterity. For the quantitative study, a survey was conducted with a sample of 116 employees, working in the coffee sector in the Netherlands. This research examined the mediating roles of self efficacy, team player, and affective commitment, on the relationship between personality traits and individual ambidexterity. Results of this thesis showed that openness to new experiences, conscientiousness and extraversion positively relate to individual ambidexterity, and as a result, revealed that internal factors can be used to determine individual ambidexterity. Next to these findings, self efficacy mediates the relationship between conscientiousness and individual ambidexterity, and team player mediates the relationship between extraversion and individual ambidexterity. Contrary to our expectations, affective commitment did not mediate the relationship between openness to experience and individual ambidexterity. The findings of this thesis provide recommendations for future study and add to our definition of the construct of individual ambidexterity, which is useful in both theoretical and practical aspects.

Individual ambidexterity
Personality traits
Affective commitment
Self efficacy
Team player
Exploration
Exploitation
mixed methods

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b5bd507b-b5df-4ae5-b890-b4445415be47

Student theses

master thesis

© 2021 Aishwarya Tumkur Venkatesh