S.O.L.V.E.S. is a book about exploring the tension between exploitation and exploration of

business capabilities within an organization. The primary academic underpinnings include the

theory of contextual ambidexterity. The most accepted definition of ambidexterity is a balance

between explorations and exploitation resulting in an organization being capable of exploiting

their existing competencies while simultaneously exploring new opportunities. James March

refers to this as the exploration of new possibilities and the exploitation of old certainties.

Exploitation includes such things as choice, refinement, production, selection, execution

efficiency and implementation. While exploration encompasses knowledge creation and

analysis of future opportunities. The book gives many examples of large organizations that have

explored successfully and some that have exploited to their ultimate detriment.