How can companies balance innovation and day-to-day operations?
This is the core dilemma faced by leaders who want to remain competitive without compromising operational excellence.
The answer lies in organizational ambidexterity — a concept gaining traction among companies seeking sustainable innovation.
If your organization aims to scale innovative solutions without losing focus on its core business, this article is a must-read.
What is Organizational Ambidexterity?
Organizational ambidexterity is a company’s ability to operate efficiently in its current processes while simultaneously exploring new innovation opportunities.
The term comes from biology and refers to individuals who can use both hands equally well — in this context, it refers to the balance between maintaining what works and experimenting with what’s new.
There are three main types of ambidexterity:
- Structural: physically separates innovation teams from operational teams.
- Contextual: fosters a culture where employees alternate between exploratory and execution tasks.
- Sequential: alternates between periods focused on efficiency and periods focused on innovation.
Why is Organizational Ambidexterity Essential Today?
Companies that don’t innovate become obsolete.
But companies that focus only on innovation — without operational discipline — collapse.
Organizational ambidexterity solves this paradox. It allows companies to grow sustainably, mitigating risks and increasing adaptability.
In the context of digital transformation, this balance is vital — especially for large corporations like mining companies, banks, and hospital groups that must innovate in business models without neglecting current infrastructure.
Implementation Challenges
Adopting organizational ambidexterity requires:
- Leadership sponsorship: C-level commitment is essential.
- Strategic alignment: a clear purpose between innovation and operations.
- Agile governance models: with safe spaces for experimentation.
- Distinct indicators: different metrics for performance and innovation.
Many organizations fail by trying to measure innovation using the same KPIs as traditional business operations.
Ambidexterity + Open Innovation: A Powerful Combination
At The Bakery, we apply organizational ambidexterity alongside open innovation.
We design flexible structures that allow our clients to test disruptive solutions with startups and partners — without compromising the efficiency of their core processes.
Corporate Venture Building projects and the VIA, for instance, are created in parallel with the core business, with their own governance while remaining strategically aligned with the company’s objectives. This is ambidexterity in action.
Real-World Examples of Organizational Ambidexterity
1. Natura (Brazil)
Natura is a clear example of structural ambidexterity. While maintaining its core cosmetics operation with strong logistics excellence, it created innovation hubs such as Natura Startups, where it tests traceability technologies, sustainability solutions, and new digital channels, often in partnership with scale-ups and universities.
2. Embraer (Brazil)
Embraer splits its focus between traditional aviation engineering and Eve Air Mobility — a spin-off developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs). This is structural ambidexterity with independent governance, incubating the future alongside the core business.
3. Amazon (Global)
Amazon masters its logistics and retail core while aggressively investing in new business areas such as AWS (cloud services) and Amazon Go (autonomous stores). It is a textbook example of contextual ambidexterity, with a company culture that encourages constant experimentation across all areas.
4. Nestlé (Global)
In addition to its traditional food and beverage operations, Nestlé is investing in internal ventures focused on personalized nutrition and plant-based foods. This strategy was strengthened through the creation of Nestlé Health Science — an independent division focused on nutritional innovation.
5. Itaú Unibanco (Brazil)
Through the Itaú Cubo program, the bank promotes open innovation by collaborating with startups and fintechs without risking its traditional banking system. The clear separation between innovation and operational teams demonstrates a successful ambidextrous strategy.
Is Your Company Ready to Be Ambidextrous?
Organizational ambidexterity isn’t just an academic concept — it’s a critical competency for companies that want to innovate responsibly and grow consistently.
If your organization is looking for smart ways to innovate without sacrificing performance, we can help.
Talk to The Bakery’s experts and discover how to implement solutions that drive operational efficiency, cost reduction, and the creation of new businesses — all with strategic focus and real results.
