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The Ressource-Based Tangle: Towards a Sustainable Explanation of Competitive Advantage

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  • Nicolai J Foss
  • Thorbjørn Knudsen

Abstract

The arguably dominant contemporary approach to the analysis of sustained competitive advantage is the resource-based view. Taking Barney (1991) and Peteraf (1993) as representative summary statements of the view, we argue that much resource-based research rests on partial, implicit and problematic assumptions, and that this has led to conclusions that are much less general than the proponents of the view believe. As an example, the widely cited value-rareness-inimitability or heterogeneity-immobility-ex post and ex ante limits to competition lists do not stand up to scrutiny. In general, the view suffers from a confusion of what are necessary conditions for the expression of sustained competitive advantage and what are additional conditions which only serve to give the expression of sustained competitive advantage a specific form. We argue that there are only two necessary conditions for the expression of sustained competitive advantage, namely uncertainty and immobility, and that all other conditions are additional.

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  • Nicolai J Foss & Thorbjørn Knudsen, "undated". "The Ressource-Based Tangle: Towards a Sustainable Explanation of Competitive Advantage," IVS/CBS Working Papers 00-1, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy, Copenhagen Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:ivs:iivswp:00-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Arup Barua & Alexandra Ioanid, 2021. "Synergistic Competitive Advantage - The Modern Appeal of RBV and IO Theory in the Mergers and Acquisitions," Bulgarian Economic Papers bep-2021-06, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski - Bulgaria // Center for Economic Theories and Policies at Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, revised Jul 2021.
    2. Stefan Ulrich Radtke & Horst M. Schellhaaß, 2010. "Einfluss der Digitalisierung auf den Stellenwert von Senderechten als Kernressource von Fernsehsendern," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 62(5), pages 482-502, August.
    3. Roland Bel, 2018. "A property rights theory of competitive advantage," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(6), pages 1678-1703, June.
    4. John Mugambwa Serumaga-Zake & John Andrew van der Poll, 2021. "Addressing the Impact of Fourth Industrial Revolution on South African Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-31, October.
    5. Kraaijenbrink, Jeroen & Spender, JC & Groen, Aard, 2009. "The resource-based view: A review and assessment of its critiques," MPRA Paper 21442, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Victoria O. Akpa & Babatunde H. Akinlabi & Priscilla T. Asikhia & Goodluck K. Nnorom, 2020. "Knowledge Management and Performance of Organizations: A Case Study of Selected Food and Beverage Firms," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 3-18.
    7. J. W. Stoelhorst, 2023. "Value, rent, and profit: A stakeholder resource‐based theory," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(6), pages 1488-1513, June.
    8. Michael Christensen & Thorbjørn Knudsen, 2006. "Organizational Design and Resource Evaluation," DRUID Working Papers 06-05, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    9. J. Michael Haynie & Dean A. Shepherd & Jeffery S. McMullen, 2009. "An Opportunity for Me? The Role of Resources in Opportunity Evaluation Decisions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 337-361, May.
    10. Phebo D. Wibbens, 2023. "A formal framework for the RBV: Resource dynamics as a Markov process," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(6), pages 1562-1586, June.
    11. Wilder Quintero-Quintero & Ana Beatriz Blanco-Ariza & Manuel Alfonso Garzón-Castrillón, 2021. "Intellectual Capital: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-23, October.
    12. Wolfgang H. Güttel & Stefan Konlechner & Barbara Müller, 2012. "Entscheidungsmuster und Veränderungsarchitekturen in Wandelprozessen: Eine Dynamic Capabilities-Perspektive," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 64(6), pages 630-654, September.
    13. Latukha, M. & Veselova, A. & Selivanovskikh, L., 2015. "Talent management practices in emerging market firms: Research agenda," Working Papers 6428, Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University.
    14. S Mupemhi & A Muposhi, 2018. "Organisational Factors Influencing E-business Adoption in Zimbabwe's Manufacturing Sector," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(2), pages 176-187.
    15. De Castro, Julio O. & Balkin, David B. & Shepherd, Dean A., 2008. "Can entrepreneurial firms benefit from product piracy?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 75-90, January.
    16. Stewart Johnston & Angela Paladino, 2007. "Knowledge management and involvement in innovations in MNC subsidiaries," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 281-302, March.
    17. Lillis, Bob & Sweeney, Mike, 2013. "Managing the fit between the views of competitive strategy and the strategic role of service operations," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 564-590.
    18. Nayak, Bishwajit & Bhattacharyya, Som Sekhar & Krishnamoorthy, Bala, 2022. "Exploring the black box of competitive advantage – An integrated bibliometric and chronological literature review approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 964-982.
    19. Möller Ulrich & McCaffrey Matthew, 2023. "Entrepreneurship and Firm Strategy: Integrating Resources, Capabilities, and Judgment through an Austrian Framework," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 13(4), pages 997-1031, October.
    20. Perren, Lew, 2013. "Strategic discourses of ‘competitive advantage’: Comparing social representation of causation in academia and practice," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 235-246.
    21. Giovanni Bronzetti & Romilda Mazzotta, 2015. "Business succession and Intellectual Capital Management in family firms," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(1), pages 45-72.
    22. Nicolaï Foss & Nils Stieglitz, 2012. "Modern Resource-based Theory(ies)," Chapters, in: Michael Dietrich & Jackie Krafft (ed.), Handbook on the Economics and Theory of the Firm, chapter 20, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    23. Tajeddini, Kayhan & Gamage, Thilini Chathurika & Tajdini, Javad & Qalati, Sikandar Ali & Siddiqui, Faiza, 2023. "Achieving sustained competitive advantage in retail and consumer service firms: The role of entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial bricolage," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    firm strategy; competitive advantage; resources;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L21 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Business Objectives of the Firm
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

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