Knowledge Networks and Organizational Resource Allocation as Antecedents for Managing Knowledge to Achieve Ambidexterity

Management research has increasingly explored knowledge management's (KM) role in achieving organizational ambidexterity (OA). Despite the number of empirical and theoretical studies, the literature lacks comprehensive research on factors that impact (facilitate or impede) the use of existing or new knowledge in exploration and exploitation to achieve organizational ambidexterity. To address this research gap, the authors conducted a systematic literature review to investigate and underscore similarities and generate new perspectives on how KM contributes to OA. As a result, this paper identifies knowledge networks and organizational resource allocation as antecedents of KM in pursuing OA and that the knowledge flow (intra-firm, interfirm, M&A) facilitates or impedes the impact of (KM) to achieve (OA). Based on the results, the paper proposes a conceptual framework that elucidates new insights into the relationship between KM and OA and future research opportunities across these domains.