Successful Exploration : Organisational Ambidexterity and Performance in News Media Firms

Purpose: This paper sheds light on the distinctive nature of entrepreneurial-oriented behaviours in news media firms. We reconsider conceptualisations of exploitation and exploration in the industry and seek to explore the extent to which they are related to organisational performance. Methodology: In a cross-sectional study, we draw on data from a longitudinal investigation into the decision making of news media executives worldwide. The study focuses on a correlational analysis of primary data collected from media executives across 107 countries. With a large sample size (N = 1438) and strict significance testing, we address the potential limitations of a purposive sampling strategy. Findings/Contribution: We find that firms that prioritise exploration higher than exploitation are more likely to be reporting financial success than those who do the opposite. We propose that the study contributes to the understanding of the impact of volatile times on the media industry, by suggesting that, even in the midst of considerable disruption, the exploration of new opportunities nevertheless has the potential to reap financial rewards. In so doing, it answers both the specific appeal for greater clarity of organisational ambidexterity measures, as well as calls to test and expand existing theory in various contexts, and to develop theory that is directly pertinent to media management science.Peer reviewe