The Power of the BlackBerry

Research in Motion couldn’t have asked for a better product endorsement than a research effort coming out of the Australian School of Business and Sydney University which claims that its popular email device, the BlackBerry, can increasingly “make or break a business.”

Research authors Judi MacCormick and Kristine Dery spent time exploring how the smartphone device can help businesses achieve what a press release claims is the “newest Holy Grail” — organizational ambidexterity, or OA for short.

The researchers define OA a company’s ability to balance often conflicting internal and external demands at the same time as balancing the need for flexibility and control.

MacCormick reports businesses that successfully juggle multiple “climates,” which includes involvement, adaptability, consistency and mission perform better.

In simple terms, multitasking pays off and can pay off big.

At least that’s my interpretation, though given I have no formal business degree, I could be wrong.

But I don’t think I am.

It seems that the way a BlackBerry is used can have a significant impact on boosting a company’s weak areas such as market or employee focus.

Yet too much BlackBerry can be a bad thing. {This part of the research, I’m guessing, would not be welcome news to RIM}.

The researchers say connectivity can go sour — especially when bosses expect employees to be as on-call 24×7.

“Positive climates of involvement and adaptability can quickly turn into over-involvement, addiction, and diffusion ��� where your sense of control becomes watered-down because you are in constant contact,” states MacCormick in a press release.

But that doesn’t mean IT or corporate leaders should ban BlackBerry use, warns MacCormick.

I’m definitely sure RIM would agree with that research consensus.