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Human Resources As Strategic Assets: An Evolutionary Resource‐Based Theory

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  • Frank Mueller

Abstract

The paper proposes an evolutionary approach to strategic human resources. This means that, first of all, truly valuable strategic assets are unlikely to result directly from senior management policies. Rather, what is truly valuable is the ‘social architecture’ that results from ongoing skill formation activities, forms of spontaneous co‐operation, the tacit knowledge that accumulates as the unplanned side‐effect of intentional corporate behaviour. Thus, corporate prosperity not seldom rests in the social architecture that has emerged slowly and incrementally over time, and may even predate the tenure of current senior management. Given the low visibility of such spontaneous co‐operation, it is even more likely to be resistant to easy imitation and therefore a valuable strategic asset.

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  • Frank Mueller, 1996. "Human Resources As Strategic Assets: An Evolutionary Resource‐Based Theory," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(6), pages 757-785, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:33:y:1996:i:6:p:757-785
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.1996.tb00171.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Odagiri, Hiroyuki, 1994. "Growth through Competition, Competition through Growth: Strategic Management and the Economy in Japan," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198288732.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paauwe, J. & Boselie, J.P.P.E.F., 2002. "Challenging (Strategic) Human Resource management Theory," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2002-40-ORG, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    2. Fearfull, Anne & Carter, Chris & Sy, Aida & Tinker, Tony, 2008. "Invisible influence, tangible trap: The clerical conundrum," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 19(8), pages 1177-1196.
    3. Mueller, Frank, 2018. "Taking Goffman seriously: Developing Strategy-as-Practice," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 16-30.
    4. Anand, Amitabh & Dalmasso, Audrey & Vessal, Saeedeh Rezaee & Parameswar, Nakul & Rajasekar, James & Dhal, Manoranjan, 2023. "The effect of job security, insecurity, and burnout on employee organizational commitment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. Anand, Smriti & Hasan, Iftekhar & Sharma, Priyanka & Wang, Haizhi, 2017. "Enforceability of non-complete agreements: When does state stifle productivity?," Bank of Finland Research Discussion Papers 24/2017, Bank of Finland.
    6. Ricart, Joan E. & Rodríguez, Miguel A. & Sanchez, Pablo, 2002. "Sustainable development and sustainability of competitive advantage: A dynamic and sustainable view of the firm," IESE Research Papers D/462, IESE Business School.
    7. Steven Toms, 2010. "Value, profit and risk: accounting and the resource‐based view of the firm," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(5), pages 647-670, June.
    8. Orr, Linda M. & Bush, Victoria D. & Vorhies, Douglas W., 2011. "Leveraging firm-level marketing capabilities with marketing employee development," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1074-1081, October.
    9. Harvey, Michael & Reiche, B. Sebastian & Moeller, Miriam, 2011. "Developing effective global relationships through staffing with inpatriate managers: The role of interpersonal trust," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 150-161, June.
    10. Som Sekhar Bhattacharyya & Praveen Nemana, 2024. "Effect of Demonetization on Advertising, Research & Development and Human Resource Intensities and its Impact on Firm’s Performance," Vision, , vol. 28(3), pages 361-373, June.
    11. Kamoche, Ken, 1997. "Managing human resources in Africa: Strategic, organizational and epistemological issues," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 6(5), pages 537-558, October.
    12. Anand, Smriti & Hasan, Iftekhar & Sharma, Priyanka & Wang, Haizhi, 2017. "Enforceability of non-complete agreements : When does state stifle productivity?," Research Discussion Papers 24/2017, Bank of Finland.
    13. Khwaja Abdul Naim Latifi & Seunghoo Lim, 2019. "Strategic Human Resource Management in the Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum: A Network Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-19, July.
    14. Berné, Carmen & García-González, Margarita & García-Uceda, María E. & Múgica, José M., 2015. "The effect of ICT on relationship enhancement and performance in tourism channels," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 188-198.
    15. Paauwe, J. & Boselie, J.P.P.E.F., 2004. ""Best Practices…in spite of Performance" Just a matter of Imitation?," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2004-070-ORG, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    16. Reginald A. Litz & Alice C. Stewart, 2000. "Research Note: Trade Name Franchise Membership as a Human Resource Management Strategy: Does Buying Group Training Deliver ‘True Value’ for Small Retailers?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 25(1), pages 125-135, October.
    17. Juani Swart & Nicholas Kinnie & John Purcell, 2004. "Human Resource Advantage in the Networked Organisation," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 15(3), pages 288-305.
    18. repec:zbw:bofrdp:2017_024 is not listed on IDEAS

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