Organizational Ambidexterity and Slack Resource Allocation in Mid-Market Manufacturing Firms: An Empirical Analysis of Operational Efficiency Trade-offs During Post-Pandemic Supply Chain Restructuring

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between organizational ambidexterity and slack resource allocation strategies in mid-market manufacturing firms navigating post-pandemic supply chain restructuring. Drawing on a mixed-methods design encompassing structured surveys administered to 312 operations managers across six OECD economies and longitudinal financial panel data (2020–2024), the research identifies statistically significant trade-offs between exploitative operational efficiency and explorative adaptive capacity. Structural equation modelling (SEM) reveals that firms maintaining moderate levels of resource slack demonstrate superior ambidextrous balance, measured via the Organizational Ambidexterity Index (OAI). Findings further indicate that centralized procurement governance negatively moderates the slack–performance relationship. These results provide actionable implications for C-suite decision-makers reconfiguring operational architectures in volatile, uncertainty-laden business environments.