조직학습 프로세스에서 활용과 탐험의 조합과 균형에 관한 실증연구

Exploration and exploitation proposed by March (1991) have been reviewed and empirically studied in the overall field of management. Nonetheless, the previous studies of the ambidexerity of exploration and exploitation have shown mixed results. A variety of review studies have been conducted to find the reasons for the mixed results in exploration and exploitation studies. Therefore, in this paper, we will carry out empirical studies to apply the criticism based on the improvement methods derived from the previous review studies. Based on the various guidelines presented in the review study, this paper examines how the balance or combination of exploration and exploitation affects performance. It is a very necessary research topic when the organization is constantly preparing for disruptive innovation and emphasizing innovation balancing exploration and exploitation. Specifically, this study examines 1) whether the effect of exploration and exploitation on performance is changed when applying exploration and exploitation as input or output; 2) whether the combination or balance of exploration and exploitation has a different effect on performance. We judged that the sample suitable for this study was patent data, and carried out our research using US patent industry data. In-house patents are the result of an organization innovation and the result of in-house knowledge activities that show the organization's learning capabilities. In addition, the citation process to create a patent shows what learning activities the company has done for new knowledge. In addition, patent data are suitable for showing how exploration and exploitation are utilized within the organization. Patent data also can be objective data that excludes researchers' intention rather than survey data in measuring exploration and exploitation. Thus, the use of US firm patent data can be an objective research method to apply the assumptions of exploration and exploitation for this study. The analysis results using US patent industry data shows that understanding exploration and exploitation as input or output have different effects on firm performance. In the case of invention, both balance and combination of exploration and exploitation have a positive effect on performance. On the other hand, the balance of exploration and exploitation appears to have a negative impact on achievement of organizational performance. By showing the nature of exploration and exploitation and the different applications within the organization, this study can provide theoretical and practical guidelines on how to maintain exploration and exploitation within the organization. This paper can provide the theoretical implications to solve the mixed results in the previous research by suggesting the key factors to be considered in the research of exploration and exploitation. Specifically, if we are to research exploration and exploration, researchers should be able to understand how constructs and congruence of exploration and exploitation is applied differently. Depending on the assumptions and conditions presented, exploration and exploration results may appear different. In addition, in this study, there is a practical contribution that can give specific guidelines for learning models for innovation in companies when companies try to participate in innovation activities through exploration and exploitation. Although the knowledge search process of balancing or combination of exploration and exploitation does not have a positive effect on the performance, it is necessary to understand that these two activities are necessary in the result of knowledge search.