Investigating the Factors Affecting ambidexterity in Higher Education and Driving-Dependence Power Analysis Using Interpretive-Structural Modeling

An ambidextrous educational organization is able to both take advantage of the existing competencies and explore new relevant opportunities, which empowers the organization to promote its efficiency and competitiveness. For this purpose, creating appropriate models of the factors affecting ambidexterity can increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the educational organization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting ambidexterity in higher education and driving-dependence power analysis using interpretive-structural modeling with the aim of designing and presenting a model for ambidexterity in higher education. The population of this study included all managers of educational organizations in Tabriz city in 2019-20. The participants of this study included 382 managers from these educational organizations who were selected by two-stage cluster random sampling. Valid and reliable questionnaires as well as a researcher-made questionnaire were used to collect the data. The present study had a descriptive correlational design, and the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Findings showed that structural and procedural factors influence, and are influenced by, the ambidexterity of educational organizations. Overall, the results of the study showed the importance of the model designed for managers at micro and macro educational structures in Tabriz, which can be used to enhance ambidexterity in their units.