IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jadmsc/v13y2023i8p187-d1216711.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Asymmetric Vacillation in the FMCG Industry: A Case Comparison of Procter & Gamble and Unilever

Author

Listed:
  • Jisoo Kang

    (Ewha School of Business, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea)

  • Seungyeon Lee

    (Ewha School of Business, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
    Samsung Biologics, Incheon 21987, Republic of Korea)

  • Seungho Choi

    (Ewha School of Business, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

While existing studies regarding organizational vacillation theory have focused on examining how vacillation may lead to ambidexterity, few studies have focused on how vacillation itself happens and whether it happens symmetrically or not. To bridge this research gap, this paper analyzed organizational vacillation over time with two canonical cases while examining patterns of organizational structure over time. Unlike previous studies that only revealed the existence of vacillation between centralization and decentralization, this study revealed that vacillation is observed with an asymmetric ratio of duration in the business world by finding that each company within the same industry spends a greater portion of time in a certain organizational structure than the other. By analyzing these changes throughout the business history, this study found that organizational vacillation happens asymmetrically while alternatively shifting between centralization and decentralization. Based on the case study result, this study draws propositions that can enable future researchers to advance theoretical and empirical understanding toward asymmetric vacillation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jisoo Kang & Seungyeon Lee & Seungho Choi, 2023. "Asymmetric Vacillation in the FMCG Industry: A Case Comparison of Procter & Gamble and Unilever," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:13:y:2023:i:8:p:187-:d:1216711
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/8/187/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/13/8/187/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jack A. Nickerson & Todd R. Zenger, 2002. "Being Efficiently Fickle: A Dynamic Theory of Organizational Choice," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(5), pages 547-566, October.
    2. Jingoo Kang & Ribuga Kang & Sang‐Joon Kim, 2017. "An empirical examination of vacillation theory," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(6), pages 1356-1370, June.
    3. Alexander Zimmermann & Sebastian Raisch & Laura B. Cardinal, 2018. "Managing Persistent Tensions on the Frontline: A Configurational Perspective on Ambidexterity," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(5), pages 739-769, July.
    4. Constantine Andriopoulos & Marianne W. Lewis, 2009. "Exploitation-Exploration Tensions and Organizational Ambidexterity: Managing Paradoxes of Innovation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 696-717, August.
    5. Cummings, Stephen, 1995. "Centralization and decentralization: The neverending story of separation and betrayal," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 11(2), pages 103-117, June.
    6. Sebastian Raisch & Julian Birkinshaw & Gilbert Probst & Michael L. Tushman, 2009. "Organizational Ambidexterity: Balancing Exploitation and Exploration for Sustained Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 685-695, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jingoo Kang & Sang‐Joon Kim, 2020. "Performance implications of incremental transition and discontinuous jump between exploration and exploitation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(6), pages 1083-1111, June.
    2. Olga Kassotaki, 2022. "Review of Organizational Ambidexterity Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    3. Carolina Rojas-Córdova & Amanda J. Williamson & Julio A. Pertuze & Gustavo Calvo, 2023. "Why one strategy does not fit all: a systematic review on exploration–exploitation in different organizational archetypes," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2251-2295, October.
    4. Jan Ossenbrink & Joern Hoppmann & Volker H. Hoffmann, 2019. "Hybrid Ambidexterity: How the Environment Shapes Incumbents’ Use of Structural and Contextual Approaches," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(6), pages 1319-1348, November.
    5. Jan Ossenbrink & Joern Hoppmann, 2019. "Polytope Conditioning and Linear Convergence of the Frank–Wolfe Algorithm," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 44(1), pages 1319-1348, February.
    6. Gomes, Paulo J. & Silva, Graça Miranda & Sarkis, Joseph, 2020. "Exploring the relationship between quality ambidexterity and sustainable production," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    7. Frédéric C. Godart & Andrew V. Shipilov & Kim Claes, 2014. "Making the Most of the Revolving Door: The Impact of Outward Personnel Mobility Networks on Organizational Creativity," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(2), pages 377-400, April.
    8. François Constant & Richard Calvi & Thomas Johnsen, 2020. "Managing tensions between exploitative and exploratory innovation through purchasing function ambidexterity Managing tensions between exploitative and exploratory innovation through purchasing functio," Post-Print hal-02891790, HAL.
    9. Shuxin Zhong & Xiaoyang Zhao & Juan Song, 2023. "MNEs’ Ambidexterity Strategies and Moral Conflicts: The Case of Google in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(4), pages 781-796, September.
    10. Shuwaikh, Fatima & Brintte, Souad & Khemiri, Sabrina, 2022. "The impact of dynamic ambidexterity on the performance of organizations: Evidence from corporate venture capital investing in North America," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 991-1009.
    11. Katsuki Aoki & Miriam Wilhelm, 2017. "The Role of Ambidexterity in Managing Buyer–Supplier Relationships: The Toyota Case," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(6), pages 1080-1097, December.
    12. Johannes Luger & Sebastian Raisch & Markus Schimmer, 2018. "Dynamic Balancing of Exploration and Exploitation: The Contingent Benefits of Ambidexterity," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 449-470, June.
    13. Arman Avadikyan & Gilles Lambert & Christophe Lerch, 2016. "A Multi-Level Perspective on Ambidexterity: The Case of a Synchrotron Research Facility," Working Papers of BETA 2016-44, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    14. Ali, Abdul & Mancha, Ruben & Pachamanova, Dessislava, 2018. "Correcting analytics maturity myopia," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 211-219.
    15. Kirsti Iivonen, 2018. "Defensive Responses to Strategic Sustainability Paradoxes: Have Your Coke and Drink It Too!," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 309-327, March.
    16. Michael Yao-Ping Peng & Zhaohua Zhang & Hsin-Yi Yen & Shu-Mi Yang, 2019. "Dynamic Capabilities and Firm Performance in the High-Tech Industry: Quadratic and Moderating Effects under Differing Ambidexterity Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-15, September.
    17. Giarratana, Marco S. & Cesaroni, Fabrizio, 2010. "US market entry by Spanish pharmaceutical firms," DEE - Working Papers. Business Economics. WB wb101103, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía de la Empresa.
    18. Al-Atwi, Amer Ali & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Khan, Zaheer, 2021. "Micro-foundations of organizational design and sustainability: The mediating role of learning ambidexterity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).
    19. Kristina Stoiber & Kurt Matzler & Julia Hautz, 2023. "Ambidextrous structures paving the way for disruptive business models: a conceptual framework," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1439-1485, May.
    20. Nicolai J. Foss & Peter G. Klein, 2023. "Why Managers Matter matters: replies and reflections," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 12(1), pages 51-57, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:13:y:2023:i:8:p:187-:d:1216711. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.