Attaining Ambidexterity in Construction Organisations through Digitalisation

Aghimien, Douglas; Montalvo, Luis Zapata; Osunsanmi, Temidayo; Aigbavboa, Clinton; Taki, Ahmad

Abstract

In an ever-changing construction environment shaped by pervasive digital technologies, the role of digitalisation in ensuring effective exploitation and exploration (ambidexterity) of available opportunities cannot be overlooked. Leveraging digital technologies is crucial to attaining ambidextrous construction organisations and their continuous success. However, while studies have emanated on the ways of attaining ambidexterity within organisations in diverse sectors, construction has received little attention. Therefore, through a review of existing literature, this study unearths the role of digitalisation in improving the ambidexterity of construction organisations. A bibliometric and narrative review of existing works on digitalisation and organisational ambidexterity was conducted using bibliographic data gathered from the Scopus database. The findings revealed that while not much exists on the digital technologies needed in improving organisations’ ambidexterity, organisations that strive for digital transformation stand a better chance to explore future opportunities while exploiting the currently available resources to make maximum profit. The study contributes theoretically to the existing discourse on the development of construction organisations and provides guidance for attaining ambidextrous construction organisations through digitalisation. In addition, the study suggests possible directions for future research on construction organisations’ ambidexterity – an area that has gained little attention within the construction domain.

Citation

Aghimien, D., Montalvo, L. Z., Osunsanmi, T., Aigbavboa, C., & Taki, A. (2024). Attaining Ambidexterity in Construction Organisations through Digitalisation. In T. Omotayo, O. Ogunmakinde, T. Egbelakin, & A. Sojobi (Eds.), Innovations, Disruptions and Future Trends in the Global Construction Industry (215-232). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003372233-19

• Acceptance Date: Apr 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 7, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: May 5, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2025
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 215-232
• Series Title: Spon Research
• Series Number: 1940‑7653
• Book Title: Innovations, Disruptions and Future Trends in the Global Construction Industry
• Chapter Number: 15
• ISBN: 9781032435794, 9781032444482
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003372233-19
• Publisher URL: https://www.routledge.com/Innovations-Disruptions-and-Future-Trends-in-the-Global-Construction-/Egbelakin-Ogunmakinde-Omotayo-Sojobi/p/book/9781032435794