Exploration or Exploitation？The Impact of Empowering Leadership on Ambidextrous Innovations for Medium-Sized Enterprises in China: The Moderating Role of Managerial Ties

Abstract

The study focuses on the impact of empowering leadership on the ambidextrous innovation of SMEs in emerging economies. There are two types of definitions for ambidextrous innovation on the strategic perspective, balance and trade-off. In this article, we only discuss trade-off for the ambidextrous innovation of enterprises. On the one hand, we studied the influence mechanism of the empowering leadership behavior of SMEs on the ambidextrous innovation of SMEs in emerging economies, with the sample in China. On the other hand, the paper also reveals the role of managerial ties of leaders on the empowering leadership and ambidextrous innovation. Through the questionnaire survey and data analysis, we concluded that the leader’s managerial ties could moderate the relationship between the empowering leadership and the SMEs' ambidextrous innovation willingness. The conclusions of this study provide a reference for the further development and reform of SMEs in China and other emerging economies.

Keywords: SME; Empowering leadership; Ambidextrous innovation; Managerial Ties

DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-16-05

Publication date:June 30^th 2019