Influence of ambidexterity approaches on project success within the aviation industry in Kenya. A Case study of Wajir international Airport Rehabilatation projects

Abstract

Aviation sector in 21st century is faced with the need to exploit internal resources and explore new strategies to modernize and meet the dynamic changes in the global aviation industry. This study was on the influence of ambidexterity on project success within the aviation industry in Kenya. Specifically, the study examined the influence of sequential, structural and contextual ambidexterity on project success within the aviation industry in Kenya using Wajir International Airport rehabilitation project as a proxy for aviation industry in Kenya. Moreover, the study was underpinned on the dynamic capabilities theory and supplemented by the resource-based theory and organizational theory. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect primary data on drop and pick method with a target population of 214 respondents. A pilot study was conducted to test the reliability of the questionnaires using Cronbach’s alpha. The study used stratified probability sampling in the selecting 67 employees working in Wajir airport. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics; mean standard deviation, frequencies, and percentages. In addition to inferential statistics involved Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Analyzed data was presented in charts, figures and tables and interpretation of the same provided. The study findings were that sequential ambidexterity (high knowledge transfers, individual factors, switching firm’s capabilities, project strategies, firm’s unique capacities, absorptive capacities and technological resources) had very strong positive significant influence project success in the aviation sector. In addition, the results revealed that structural ambidexterity (organization structural separation, structural differentiation, structural integration, structural alignment, setting up new department and separating project team) had very strong positive significant influence on aviation industry projects’ success. Finally, the study findings depicted that contextual ambidexterity (creation of shared vision, process designing, job enrichment, top management supports, designing cultural values, employee’s discipline and employee’s trust) had a stronger positive significance showing it influenced aviation industry success. The study recommend management should create an environment with high knowledge transfers so as to encourage exploring or exploiting firm’s resources, organization structure should use various business units in exploring and exploiting resources and finally organizations should encourage creation of shared vision, flow of information and enhance job enrichment in order to attain project success.