Integration of exploitative and exploratory learning: Bureaucracy as a surprise enabler

Purpose: Extensive collaboration has become critical as increasing complexity of products and processes require firms to access specialized knowledge from diverse sources. Such knowledge provides a rich source of organizational learning that can be best captured and stored through the use of bureaucratic structures to facilitate the necessary large-scale coordination across the firm. Design/methodology/approach: This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings: Extensive collaboration has become critical as increasing complexity of products and processes require firms to access specialized knowledge from diverse sources. Such knowledge provides a rich source of organizational learning that can be best captured and stored through the use of bureaucratic structures to facilitate the necessary large-scale coordination across the firm. Originality/value: The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.