Ambidextrous practices in public service organizations: innovation and optimization tensions in Dutch water authorities

Abstract

For public service organizations (PSOs) it is essential to be able to simultaneously optimize and innovate policies, processes and services. This article explores how PSOs shape these dual practices by examining optimization and innovation practices in eight Dutch regional water authorities (RWAs) using focus groups. It uncovers mutually reinforcing differences in culture, strategy and management leading to different ambidextrous configurations. In low ambidextrous RWAs a legalistic taskorientation goes along with a transactional management style and focus on optimization only. In high ambidextrous RWAs a societal value-orientation, integrative strategies, and a more transformational management style lead to more embedded innovation practices.

Structural ambidexterity in higher education: excellence education as a testing ground for educational innovations

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Community-based initiatives in the Dutch water domain: the challenge of double helix alignment

“…Many mechanisms inspired by new public management are widespread among the water boards, such as benchmarking, output budgeting and performance indicators. A recent survey (Gieske, Duijn, & Van Buuren, 2019) shows that most water boards are especially adept at optimizing their existing qualities, while they are less capable of developing new competencies.…”

Towards a servitization of innovation networks: a mapping

“…Thus, a field of "Service Innovation Studies" has enriched the traditional field of "Innovation Studies" that focuses on technological and industrial innovation (Gallouj and Djellal 2015;Djellal and Gallouj 2018a). An additional step forward in reducing the innovation gap has been achieved by taking into account the innovation dynamics and the dynamic capabilities in public services (Moore and Hartley 2008;Windrum and Koch 2008;De Vries et al 2015;Osborne and Brown 2013;Miles 2013;Potts and Kastelle 2010;Fuglsang and Sundbo 2016;Fuglsang et al 2014;Piening 2013;Jordan 2014;Arundel et al 2019;Gieske et al 2019).…”