Ambi? What??
How can organizations have multiple limbs or focus? But that's exactly what the markets today seem to demand. While a maturing market wants refinements in their products, other new segments are cropping up that demand attention to the detriment of the existing business. It is like we are being asked to eat ourselves to survive. That just does not make sense.
I once heard "You can't have your cake and eat it too." or "You can't have it both ways." But markets seem to be getting both. And that's the puzzling thing about today's business climate. The old rules don't seem to be working all the time. In fact, they seem to be working less and less over time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambidextrous_organization
The phrase came into use in the late 20th century and early part of the 21st century. There is a bit of confusion surrounding the idea of the Ambidextrous Organization and that's no wonder, it's a word with confusing and contradicting ideas. The very definition conjures up confusion since it refers to the ability to easily change focus and abilities. After decades of thinking about creating managerial focus and clear communication, someone comes up with the idea of bringing in a {hydra} of thoughts to give an organization advantages. How does that work? Can it work?
This seems to fly in the face of just about all the established and recognized management thought today. But does it really? Those who embody this unique trait of being able to use either hand equally well often possess remarkable communication skills and focus. They have a unique skill set that allows them to clearly differentiate skills and activities in a way others find hard to fathom. To those who can, it is natural, to others who don't have the skill and understanding, it is unnatural. But to survive means understanding how to change.
So this is the mental split facing us. Some organizations understand how to reconcile having multiple things competing at the same time, but both are being done successfully. In the old world of "either, or" that may not make sense, but I contend our new world has become "either, more."
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