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Dynamic Capabilities and Their Characteristic Qualities: Insights from a Lab Experiment

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  • Jutta Wollersheim

    (Technische Universität München, Lehrstuhl für Strategie und Organisation, D-80333 München, Germany)

  • Koen H. Heimeriks

    (TIAS Business School, Tilburg University, NL-5037AB Tilburg, Netherlands)

Abstract

Despite the prominence of dynamic capabilities in the strategy and organization literatures, we still lack an empirically grounded understanding of the construct. Featuring an extended version of an established card game, our study uses an experiment to induce dynamic capabilities in the laboratory. Our findings reveal that (a) more efficient use of resources, (b) increasing efficiency of coordination, (c) reliance on more appropriate action sequences, and (d) greater deliberation in action are characteristic qualities of dynamic capabilities. Beyond empirically identifying dynamic capabilities, we offer implications for dynamic capabilities and transfer theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Jutta Wollersheim & Koen H. Heimeriks, 2016. "Dynamic Capabilities and Their Characteristic Qualities: Insights from a Lab Experiment," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(2), pages 233-248, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:27:y:2016:i:2:p:233-248
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2016.1053
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