Ambidexterity: Size matters! Reflexive climate and organizational TMS’s influence and the contingent effect of size

Previous research has implicitly assumed that integration mechanisms are universally applicable to achieve ambidexterity. However, when pursuing ambidexterity, organizations of different sizes face different challenges when they attempt to foster integration, that is, cooperation and coordination. Therefore, we investigate whether small organizations can use a reflexive climate “to feel big”, and large organizations can use a transactive memory system “to feel small”. Using a sample of 101 companies in six industries, we show that both mechanisms positively affect ambidexterity. As hypothesized, a reflexive climate is more effective for small organizations. A transactive memory system, however, seems effective regardless of size.