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A Modern Resource Based Approach to Unrelated Diversification

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  • Desmond W. Ng

Abstract

abstract For over three decades, the questions of how and why an organization diversifies into related and unrelated businesses have drawn the attention of strategy scholars. However, explanations of unrelated diversification have been less than clear. A conceptual model of unrelated diversification is thus proposed. In drawing on Penrose's (1959) resource based approach, unrelated diversification is explained by an organization's ‘three pillars’, which consist of its strength of dynamic capabilities, absorptive capacity, and weak ties. The role of the three pillars is to discover new resource applications or uses in conditions of market failure that are characterized by ‘incomplete’ markets. A novel feature of this model is that an organization can diversify more broadly than predicted by Penrose (1959) and other modern resource‐based approaches (Teece et al., 1997). Furthermore, unrelated diversification can be beneficial. This study also offers suggestions to measure the three pillars; its contributions and implications are discussed as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Desmond W. Ng, 2007. "A Modern Resource Based Approach to Unrelated Diversification," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 1481-1502, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:44:y:2007:i:8:p:1481-1502
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2007.00719.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Francisco Javier Forcadell & Elisa Aracil & Fernando Ubeda, 2020. "Using reputation for corporate sustainability to tackle banks digitalization challenges," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2181-2193, September.
    2. Ng, Desmond W., 2011. "Thinking Outside the Box: An Absorptive Capacity Approach to the Product Development Process," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 14(3), pages 1-28, September.
    3. Kim, Jungho & Lee, Chang-Yang & Cho, Yunok, 2016. "Technological diversification, core-technology competence, and firm growth," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 113-124.
    4. Eum, Wonsub & Lee, Jeong-Dong, 2022. "The co-evolution of production and technological capabilities during industrial development," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 454-469.
    5. Darmani, Anna, 2015. "Renewable energy investors in Sweden: A cross-subsector analysis of dynamic capabilities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 46-57.
    6. Ljubownikow, Grigorij & Ang, Siah Hwee, 2020. "Competition, diversification and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 81-94.
    7. Wenbin Sun & Zhihua Ding & Xiaobo Xu, 2021. "A new look at returns of information technology: firms’ diversification to IT service market and firm value," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 13-31, March.
    8. Antonio Gálvan & Julio Pindado & Chabela De La Torre, 2014. "Diversification: A Value-Creating or Value-Destroying Strategy? Evidence from the Eurozone Countries," Journal of Financial Management, Markets and Institutions, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 43-64, July.
    9. Hien Tran & Enrico Santarelli & Enrico Zaninotto, 2015. "Efficiency or bounded rationality? Drivers of firm diversification strategies in Vietnam," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 983-1010, November.
    10. Srivardhini K. Jha & Nachiket Bhawe & P. Satish, 2021. "Scaling Social Enterprises through Product Diversification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Peng, Mike W. & Su, Weichieh, 2014. "Cross-listing and the scope of the firm," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 42-50.
    12. Hu, Tiancheng & Guo, Rui & Ning, Lutao, 2022. "Intangible assets and foreign ownership in international joint ventures: The moderating role of related and unrelated industrial agglomeration," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    13. Altintas, Gulsun & Ambrosini, Véronique & Gudergan, Siegfried, 2022. "MNE dynamic capabilities in (un)related diversification," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    14. Dzhagityan, Eduard, 2012. "The effect of ex post risks on post-M&A performance efficiency," MPRA Paper 63147, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Adrian Lüthge, 2020. "The concept of relatedness in diversification research: review and synthesis," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 1-35, February.
    16. Ioanna Deligianni & Irini Voudouris & Spyros Lioukas, 2017. "Do Effectuation Processes Shape the Relationship between Product Diversification and Performance in New Ventures?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(3), pages 349-377, May.
    17. Young Sik Cho, 2013. "The Effect of Business Diversification on a Firm¡¯s Performance, Depending on Its Dynamic Capabilities and Market Dynamism," Journal of Management and Strategy, Journal of Management and Strategy, Sciedu Press, vol. 4(3), pages 1-8, August.
    18. Rasaq Alabi Olanrewaju, 2016. "Backward Integration: A Panacea for Rural Development in Nigeria," Academic Journal of Economic Studies, Faculty of Finance, Banking and Accountancy Bucharest,"Dimitrie Cantemir" Christian University Bucharest, vol. 2(4), pages 38-56, December.
    19. Lahcene Makhloufi & Abderrazak Ahmed Laghouag & Tang Meirun & Fateh Belaid, 2022. "Impact of green entrepreneurship orientation on environmental performance: The natural resource‐based view and environmental policy perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 425-444, January.
    20. Darmani, Anna & Niesten, Eva & Hekkert, Marko, 2014. "Which Investors Drive the Development of Wind Energy?," INDEK Working Paper Series 2014/8, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Industrial Economics and Management.

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