Improving acquisition outcomes with contextual ambidexterity

Researchers often point to a need to improve acquisition outcomes and lessen organizational turmoil from integration. We contend that contextual ambidexterity may improve acquisition outcomes by providing an integrated solution to economic and social tensions in acquisitions that enable managers to confront the competing needs of task and human integration. Building on contextual ambidexterity, we extend existing research on task and human integration in acquisitions. We emphasize the role of an integration manager and integration mechanisms in enabling contextual ambidexterity for sucessful acquisition integration. Last, we identify implications for research and practice.