Fostering Ambidextrous Innovation in Infrastructure Projects

Differentiation and Integration Tactics of Cross-Functional Teams

Journal article (2021)

Authors

Xinyue Zhang Tongji University
Yun Le Tongji University
Y. Liu Integral Design & Management - CEG
Mingqiang Liu Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated Tongji Univ. and Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital
Research Group
Integral Design & Management (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 Xinyue Zhang, Yun Le, Y. Liu, Mingqiang Liu
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002060
Ambidextrous innovation Cross-functional team Expertise integration Task conflict Team autonomy support Team diversity
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Materials- Mechanics- Management & Design

Research Group

Integral Design & Management

Abstract

In infrastructure project practice, balancing and maximizing the combined effect of exploratory and exploitative innovation have attracted increasing attention, but it is still unclear how to foster ambidextrous innovation in infrastructure projects. To address this gap, we draw on the differentiation-integration framework of ambidexterity theory to deconstruct tactics for fostering ambidextrous innovation in infrastructure projects. A total of 313 observations were collected from infrastructure under construction, and the path hypotheses were tested by hierarchical regression. The findings suggest that in infrastructure projects, task conflict and expertise integration of diverse cross-functional teams provide powerful and complementary tactics for fostering ambidextrous innovation. The moderating effect of team autonomy support on the impact of team diversity on differentiation and integration tactics presents three different results. This study not only enriches the literature on how to foster ambidextrous innovation in infrastructure projects but also expands the ambidexterity research at the cross-functional team level and in infrastructure project contexts.