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Dynamic capabilities: evolving organisations in evolving (technological) systems

Author

Listed:
  • Riccardo Leoncini

    (Department of Economics, University of Bologna)

  • Sandro Montresor

    (University of Bologna)

  • Giovanna Vertova

    (Department of Economics, University of Bergamo)

Abstract

This paper aims at exploring the nature and the determinants of the dynamic capabilities of the firm: a notion which, while increasingly more fashionable, remains still conceptually diffuse. Through a critical review of the massive and heterogeneous literature which refers, either explicitly or implicitly, to dynamic capabilities in explaining the dynamic performances of the firm, the paper detects a certain gap between an organizational and an environmental kind of approach to the issue. The nature of the firm and that of the firm environment are in fact focused on alternatively, thus implying a dynamic capabilities analysis which turns out to be biased. The pros and the cons of a combined approach, which tries to integrate the two, are shown and contrasted to a more satisfactory approach, which deal with the firm as a system operating within an institutional setting of techno-economic relationships, i.e. a technological system.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Leoncini & Sandro Montresor & Giovanna Vertova, 2003. "Dynamic capabilities: evolving organisations in evolving (technological) systems," Working Papers (-2012) 0304, University of Bergamo, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:brg:wpaper:0304
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fiorenza BELUSSI & Luciano PILOTTI, 2006. "Eterogeneità delle imprese e varietà dei modelli organizzativi. Conoscenze, risorse, relazioni, e istituzioni: verso una prospettiva integrata della teoria dell’impresa," Departmental Working Papers 2006-27, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dynamic capabilities; firm organization; firm environment; technological systems;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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