Job autonomy, unscripted agility and ambidextrous innovation: analysis of Brazilian startups in times of the Covid-19 pandemic

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the influence of job autonomy and unscripted agility on ambidextrous innovation in startups in times of the Covid-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with founders and managers of Brazilian startups in the e-commerce segment, resulting in a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista de gestão 2021-07, Vol.28 (3), p.263-278
Main Authors: Frare, Anderson Betti, Beuren, Ilse Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
ambidextrous innovation
Behavior
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
covid-19 pandemic
Electronic commerce
Employees
Hypotheses
Innovations
job autonomy
organizational resilience
Pandemics
Startups
unscripted agility
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Summary:PurposeThis study aims to analyze the influence of job autonomy and unscripted agility on ambidextrous innovation in startups in times of the Covid-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted with founders and managers of Brazilian startups in the e-commerce segment, resulting in a sample of 84 startups. Symmetric (structural equation modeling) and asymmetric (fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis) analyses were performed. The variables' external financing and institutional ties were controlled.FindingsThe symmetric findings indicate that unscripted agility is a full mediator between job autonomy and ambidextrous innovation. The asymmetric findings offer two solutions for startups to achieve high ambidextrous innovation.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of the research for the literature are discussing elements associated with ambidextrous innovation, exploring the context of innovation in startups in times of crisis, specifically in the Covid-19 pandemic, and considering the role of resilience in startups.Practical implicationsThe study provides informational inputs to founders and managers of startups on how job autonomy and unscripted agility can propel incremental and radical innovations.Originality/valueThis study provides new insights and success factors into startups, based on the discussion of entrepreneurship in times of crisis, as in the case of the Covid-19 pandemic.
ISSN:1809-2276
2177-8736
DOI:10.1108/REGE-01-2021-0005