Understanding cross-sectoral innovations for urban water management through the lens of organizational ambidexterity

Understanding cross-sectoral innovations for urban water management through the lens of organizational ambidexterity

Nieuwenhuis, E.M. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering)
de Bruijn, J.A. (TU Delft Organisation & Governance)
Cuppen, Eefje (Universiteit Leiden; Rathenau Institute - KNAW)
Langeveld, J.G. (TU Delft Sanitary Engineering; Partners4UrbanWater)

2023

Urban water systems worldwide need integrated, cross-sectoral innovations to anticipate developments like climate change and population growth. Development and implementation of such innovations is challenging due to the operational and sectoral mindset of organizations in which these innovations take place. This study uses the concept of ambidexterity to get a better understanding of how organizations responsible for urban water management deal with the tension between operation and the need for innovation. We focused on Amsterdam and Rotterdam, two Dutch cities that are global frontrunners in urban water management. Combining a desk study with 25 semi-structured interviews, we found four mechanisms to manage innovation and operation tensions: network, hierarchical, process and human-resource mechnanisms. Different from the literature on ambidexterity, our empirical findings show that the connection between operation and innovation is dominated by networks rather than by executives. Hierarchical mechanisms could be used to complement this, catalyzing innovation or formalizing it.

innovations
Integrated urban water management
organizational ambidexterity
public service organizations
urban water systems integration

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:89173bbb-d421-46b9-9b3f-d43c64f0521c

https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2023.2251973

1573-062X

Urban Water Journal

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2023 E.M. Nieuwenhuis, J.A. de Bruijn, Eefje Cuppen, J.G. Langeveld