Organisational ambidexterity and innovation: a systematic review and unified model of ‘CODEC’ management priorities

Organisational ambidexterity (OA) is a capability that boosts innovation outcomes, behaviour, and culture for corporations. Due to changing organisational landscapes and the fragmented nature of OA management studies of innovation, appraisals of OA literature are needed to offer frontiers for future OA research and practice. This article reviews current literature on OA for innovation. Using a systematic review of 460 peer-reviewed journal articles from 2005 to 2024, the article captures current research trends (investigated domains, countries, and adopted theories and methodologies), research topics, and management themes. Review findings on management themes aid in proposing an integrated model of ‘CODEC’ priorities on: (i) Cultivating ambidextrous cultures conscious of environmental factors (ii) Orchestrating ambidextrous capabilities for knowledge and competitiveness, (iii) Delivering ambidextrous performance premised on products and markets, (iv), Ensuring ambidextrous governance that considers contingencies, and (v) Creating ambidextrous networks oriented towards entrepreneurial endeavours. The article concludes with suggestions on a set of methodological, theoretical, conceptual, and topical areas for future research.