Table 3

Definitions of exploitation and exploration

ReferencesExploitationExploration
March (1991) Includes production, efficiency, selection, implementation, refinement and executionIncludes elements captured by terms such as search, variation, risk-taking,
experimentation, flexibility, discovery and innovation
Crossan et al. (1999) What has already been learned (feedback)New learning (feedforward)
Holmqvist (2004) Exploitation is about creating reliability inexperience and thrives on productivity and refinement.Exploration is concerned with creating a variety in experience and thrives on experimentation and free association
Lubatkin et al. (2006) Learning from a top-down processA bottom-up learning process
Gupta et al. (2006) Refining and using existing knowledgeInnovation, problem-solving and creating new knowledge
Vidgen and Wang (2009) Improvements in productivity, improvements in processes and product extensions and enhancementsInnovation and knowledge creation
Newell (2015) Available knowledge within an organization is accessed and the same mistakes are not repeatedUsing and creating new knowledge and producing new products, services, organizational arrangements or business models

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