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By doing so, they challenge incumbents to maintain the exploration of existing revenue sources while simultaneously exploring new paths for a digital future. While firms have always faced the challenge of pursuing exploitative and explorative activities, the change that comes with the adaption of digital technologies seems so fundamental that many companies find themselves unable to implement both within the existing organization. In practice, this leads many incumbents to separate the exploration of digital business into dedicated units. However, there is a lack of research on how this separation can contribute to digitally transform the overall organization. In the following, we use the example of an established German insurer to investigate concrete mechanisms to manage the exploration-exploitation-tension against the backdrop of digital transformation."> <meta name="bepress_citation_conference_title" content="AMCIS 2021 Proceedings"> <meta name="bepress_citation_author" content="Schiffer, Sara"> <meta name="bepress_citation_author_institution" content="WWU Münster"> <meta name="bepress_citation_title" content="Structural Ambidexterity as an Approach for an Incumbents Digital Transformation"> <meta name="bepress_citation_date" content="2021"> <meta name="bepress_citation_pdf_url" content="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1278&context=amcis2021"> <meta name="bepress_citation_abstract_html_url" content="https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021/org_transform/org_transform/6"> <meta name="bepress_citation_online_date" content="2021/6/5"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">  <meta 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Transformation & Information Systems (SIG ORSA)</a></h2> <div id="sub"> <div id="alpha"> <div id='title' class='element'> <h1><a href='https://aisel.aisnet.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1278&context=amcis2021'>Structural Ambidexterity as an Approach for an Incumbents Digital Transformation</a></h1> </div> <div class='clear'></div> <div id='authors' class='element'> <h2 class='visually-hidden'>Presenter Information</h2> <p class="author"><a href='https://aisel.aisnet.org/do/search/?q=bp_author_id%3A%22bdf3d9fc-d76c-46d6-bfe2-567813a269d9%22%20OR%20%28author%3A%22Sara%20Schiffer%22%20AND%20-bp_author_id%3A%5B%2A%20TO%20%2A%5D%29&start=0&context=509156'><strong>Sara Schiffer</strong>, <em>WWU Münster</em></a><a rel="nofollow" href="https://network.bepress.com/api/follow/subscribe?user=MDQwMjYwZDFjN2Y5ZWQxMA%3D%3D&institution=NWQ1NzUyN2I3ZmY0OTU5NQ%3D%3D&format=html" data-follow-set="user:MDQwMjYwZDFjN2Y5ZWQxMA== institution:NWQ1NzUyN2I3ZmY0OTU5NQ==" title="Follow Sara Schiffer" 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By doing so, they challenge incumbents to maintain the exploration of existing revenue sources while simultaneously exploring new paths for a digital future. While firms have always faced the challenge of pursuing exploitative and explorative activities, the change that comes with the adaption of digital technologies seems so fundamental that many companies find themselves unable to implement both within the existing organization. In practice, this leads many incumbents to separate the exploration of digital business into dedicated units. However, there is a lack of research on how this separation can contribute to digitally transform the overall organization. In the following, we use the example of an established German insurer to investigate concrete mechanisms to manage the exploration-exploitation-tension against the backdrop of digital transformation.</p> </div> <div class='clear'></div> <div id='recommended_citation' class='element'> <h2 class='field-heading'>Recommended Citation</h2> <p> Schiffer, Sara, "Structural Ambidexterity as an Approach for an Incumbents Digital Transformation" (2021). <em>AMCIS 2021 Proceedings</em>. 6. <br> https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021/org_transform/org_transform/6 </p> </div> <div class='clear'></div> </div> </div> <div id='beta_7-3'>     <div class="aside download-button"> <a id="pdf" class="btn" href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1278&context=amcis2021" title="PDF (315 KB) opens in new window" target="_blank" > <i class="icon-download-alt" aria-hidden="true"></i> Download </a> </div>         <div id="article-stats" class="aside hidden"> <p class="article-downloads-wrapper hidden"><span id="article-downloads"></span> DOWNLOADS</p> <p class="article-stats-date hidden">Since June 05, 2021</p> <p class="article-plum-metrics"> <a href="https://plu.mx/plum/a/?repo_url=https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021/org_transform/org_transform/6" class="plumx-plum-print-popup plum-bigben-theme" data-badge="true" data-hide-when-empty="true" ></a> </p> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.plu.mx/widget-popup.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/assets/scripts/article-downloads.pack.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> insertDownloads(23209823); </script>  <script> // bind to event when PlumX widget loads jQuery('body').bind('plum:widget-load', function(e){ // if Plum badge is visible if (jQuery('.PlumX-Popup').length) { // remove 'hidden' class jQuery('#article-stats').removeClass('hidden'); jQuery('.article-stats-date').addClass('plum-border'); } }); // bind to event when page loads jQuery(window).bind('load',function(e){ // if DC downloads are visible if (jQuery('#article-downloads').text().length > 0) { // add border to aside jQuery('#article-stats').removeClass('hidden'); } }); </script>  <script> $(function() { // This is the handler for Plum popup engagement on mouseover $("#article-stats").on("mouseover", "a.plx-wrapping-print-link", function(event) { // Send the event to Amplitude amplitude.getInstance().logEvent("plumPopupMouseover"); }); // This is the handler for Plum badge and 'see details' link clickthrough $("#article-stats").on("click", "div.ppp-container.ppp-small.ppp-badge", function(event) { // Send the event to Amplitude amplitude.getInstance().logEvent("plumDetailsClick"); }); // This is the handler for AddThis link clickthrough $(".addthis_toolbox").on("click", "a", function(event) { // Send the event to Amplitude amplitude.getInstance().logEvent("addThisClick"); }); // This is the handler for AddThis link clickthrough $(".aside.download-button").on("click", "a", function(event) { // Send the event to Amplitude amplitude.getInstance().logEvent("downloadClick"); }); }); </script>  <script> $(function() { // Download button click event tracker for PDFs $(".aside.download-button").on("click", "a#pdf", function(event) { pageDataTracker.trackEvent('navigationClick', { link: { location: 'aside download-button', name: 'pdf' } }); }); // Download button click event tracker for native files $(".aside.download-button").on("click", "a#native", function(event) { pageDataTracker.trackEvent('navigationClick', { link: { location: 'aside download-button', name: 'native' } }); }); }); </script>     <div id="share" class="aside"> <h2>Share</h2> <div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_24 a2a_default_style"> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a> <a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a> <a class="a2a_button_whatsapp"></a> <a class="a2a_button_email"></a> <a class="a2a_dd"></a> <script async src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script> </div> </div>      <span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Faisel.aisnet.org%2Famcis2021%2Forg_transform%2Forg_transform%2F6&rft.atitle=Structural%20Ambidexterity%20as%20an%20Approach%20for%20an%20Incumbents%20Digital%20Transformation&rft.aufirst=Sara&rft.aulast=Schiffer&rft.jtitle=AMCIS%202021%20Proceedings&rft.date=2021-08-09">COinS</span>    </div> <div class='clear'> </div> <div id="hcalendar" class="vevent ignore"> <abbr class="dtstart" title="2021-08-09T000000">Aug 9th, 12:00 AM</abbr> <p class="summary">Structural Ambidexterity as an Approach for an Incumbents Digital Transformation</p> <p class="description"><p>Digital technologies are penetrating all areas of social and economic life - to a much greater extent than traditional information technologies. By doing so, they challenge incumbents to maintain the exploration of existing revenue sources while simultaneously exploring new paths for a digital future. While firms have always faced the challenge of pursuing exploitative and explorative activities, the change that comes with the adaption of digital technologies seems so fundamental that many companies find themselves unable to implement both within the existing organization. In practice, this leads many incumbents to separate the exploration of digital business into dedicated units. However, there is a lack of research on how this separation can contribute to digitally transform the overall organization. In the following, we use the example of an established German insurer to investigate concrete mechanisms to manage the exploration-exploitation-tension against the backdrop of digital transformation.</p> </p> </div>  <div id='custom-fields'> <p>When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/discussion_code_conduct.html" target="_blank" >here</a>.</p> <script> var idcomments_acct = 'c768cb5f201ce9fcc6d9dbcea6b968df'; var idcomments_post_id; var idcomments_post_url; </script> <span id="IDCommentsPostTitle" style="display:none"></span> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.intensedebate.com/js/genericCommentWrapperV2.js'></script> </div>     </div> <div class="verticalalign"> </div> <div class="clear"> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar">   <h2>AMCIS 2021</h2> <ul class="sb-custom-event"> <li class="sb-registration"> <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021/registration.html" > AIS VCS 2021 Register Here </a> </li> </ul>   <h2>Search</h2> <form method='get' action='https://aisel.aisnet.org/do/search/' id="sidebar-search"> <label for="search" accesskey="4"> Enter search terms: </label> <div> <span class="border"> <input type="text" name='q' class="search" id="search"> </span> <input type="submit" value="Search" class="searchbutton" style="font-size:11px;"> </div> <label for="context" class="visually-hidden"> Select context to search: </label> <div> <span class="border"> <select name="fq" id="context"> <option value='virtual_ancestor_link:"https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021"'>in this collection</option> <option value='virtual_ancestor_link:"https://aisel.aisnet.org"'>in this repository</option> <option value='virtual_ancestor_link:"http:/"'>across all repositories</option> </select> </span> </div> </form> <p class="advanced"> <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/do/search/advanced/?fq=virtual_ancestor_link:%22https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021%22" > Advanced Search </a> </p>   <ul id="side-notify"> <li class="notify"> <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021/announcements.html" title="Email or RSS Notifications" > Notify me via email or <acronym title="Really Simple Syndication">RSS</acronym> </a> </li> </ul>       <h2>Browse</h2> <ul id="side-browse"> <li><a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2021/topdownloads.html" title="Recent Additions" >Most Popular Papers</a></li> <li class="collections"><a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/communities.html" title="Browse by All Content" >All Content</a></li> <li class="author"><a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/authors.html" title="Browse by Author" >Authors</a></li> </ul> <h2>Author Corner</h2> <ul id="side-author"> <li class="faq"> <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/faq.html" title="eLibrary FAQ" > eLibrary FAQ </a> </li> </ul>   <h2>Links</h2> <ul id="homepage-links"> <li class="sb-homepage"> <a href="https://aisnet.org/page/AMCISPage" title="amcis Home Page" > More AMCIS Information is Here </a> </li> </ul>        <div id="sb-custom"> <ul class="sb-custom-ul"> <li class="sb-custom-li"> <a href="https://aisnet.org/page/MembershipBenefits" >Join AIS</a> </li> </ul> </div>    <div class="verticalalign"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer" role="contentinfo"> <div id="bepress"> <a href="https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/digital-commons" title="Elsevier - Digital Commons" > <em>Elsevier - Digital Commons</em> </a> </div>  <p> <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org" title="Home page" accesskey="1" >Home</a> | <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/about.html" title="About" >About</a> | <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/faq.html" title="FAQ" >FAQ</a> | <a href="/cgi/myaccount.cgi?context=" title="My Account Page" accesskey="3" >My Account</a> | <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/accessibility.html" title="Accessibility Statement" accesskey="0" >Accessibility Statement</a> </p> <p> <a class="secondary-link" href="https://www.bepress.com/privacy" title="Privacy Policy" >Privacy</a> <a class="secondary-link" href="https://www.bepress.com/copyright" title="Copyright Policy" >Copyright</a> </p> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-5499681-7', 'auto'); ga('create', 'UA-19199428-1', 'auto', {'name': 'newTracker'}); // Admin tracker. ga('send', 'pageview'); ga('newTracker.send', 'pageview'); // Send page view for admin tracker. </script>  <script type='text/javascript' src='/assets/scripts/bpbootstrap-20160726.pack.js'></script><script type='text/javascript'>BPBootstrap.init({appendCookie:''})</script></body></html>