MANAGERS’ PURSUIT OF AMBIDEXTERITY IN THE CONTEXT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IMPLEMENTATIONS: INSIGHTS INTO SITUATIONALLY INDUCED REGULATORY FOCUS

This study identifies a key cognitive mechanism through which information encountered by managers influences their pursuit of ambidexterity when implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in organisations. Additionally, it investigates the roles of managers’ understanding of technological environments and risk-taking strategies of their organisations in this relationship. We conducted three studies with managers at the above-middle level. The results indicate that managers with situationally induced promotion focus tend to have greater opportunity appraisal (Studies 1, 2, and 3) and pursuit of ambidexterity (Studies 2 and 3) compared to those with situationally induced prevention focus. Opportunity appraisal mediates the relationship between situationally induced regulatory focus and ambidexterity pursuit (Studies 2 and 3). Further, organisational risk-taking strategy moderates the links from situationally induced regulatory focus to opportunity appraisal to ambidexterity (Study 3). This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of the cognitive processes underlying managers’ pursuit of ambidexterity when facing technological uncertainty.