Abstract Starting from the internal and external relationship network of firms in which ambidextrous innovation is embedded, this study summarizes the research lineage, theoretical findings, and recent advances in the field of ambidextrous innovation and board social capital, constructs the theoretical model of “internal/external board social capital-exploitative innovation/exploratory innovation-ambidextrous balance”, and reveals the influence mechanism of board social capital on ambidextrous innovation. The results reveal the intrinsic mechanism of board social capital affecting ambidextrous innovation and suggest that the interactive integration of internal and external board social capital is an important organizational path to achieve ambidextrous innovation. In addition, it also identifies the potential situational factors affecting the relationship between board social capital and corporate innovation from the viewpoints of organizational endowment and group interaction process. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between board social capital and corporate innovation, provides new insights into the research framework of antecedent factors of ambidextrous innovation, and extends the theoretical boundaries of the ambidextrous domain.
