Resources and capabilities underpin organizations and allow firms to enact their strategy. They also separate firms from one another. If you pose different resources to your competitors, you can undertake different activities and give customers specific reasons to come to your firms over those of your competitors.
This collection of articles unpacks the importance of resources and capabilities to organizational success – including different resources that are important for firms, ways of acquiring, and barriers to other firms being able to imitate your resources.
Latest Articles on Resources and Capabilities
Internal firm analysis: Understanding a firm’s resources and capabilities
Internal firm analysis – considering the resources and capabilities of the company – is an important component of strategic analysis. This article explores reasons for examining the firm’s internal resources.
What is the Resource-Based View of the firm?
This article unpacks the Resource-Based View of the firm – explaining its difference from other strategic perspectives and its importance to management.
The build, borrow, buy framework: Developing new capabilities
This article explores alternative approaches to gaining access to resources – internal development (build), partnering with other firms (borrow), or acquiring another company (buy).
5 Important resources and capabilities for startup organizations
Resources underpin your organization – this article explores five of the most important resources for startup organizations.
Lights out manufacturing: The capabilities needed to succeed
This article explores some of the key resources and capabilities needed to be successful in fully automated manufacturing.
Connecting the 4P Marketing Mix with your Business Strategy
This article explores how the 4Ps -product, place, price and promotion – connects in with other key strategic decisions a firm needs to take.
Internal consistency: The benefits of consistency between your resources
This article explores some of the key benefits that come from internal consistency – the alignment between different activity choices of the firm.
Internal resource development: When it makes sense to develop resources internally
This article explores the benefits and disadvantages of developing new resources and capabilities internally within an organization.
What is competitive parity?
This article explores what is meant by competitive parity – and why firms may not be able to gain a competitive advantage over others
What is the VRIO framework?
This article unpacks the VRIO framework – and why it is important to consider whether resources are valuable, rare, hard imitate, or substitute, and the organization is organized to support the resource.
When resources and capabilities lead to organizational rigidities
Why do some firms that have strong capabilities sometimes fail? This article explores how strong resources and capabilities can turn into rigidities for firms.
The importance of signaling for startups: Why signals can help gain resources
This article explores the role of signals in gaining resources for your company – from investments and new customers to attracting employees.
The difference between tangible and intangible resources
A company is underpinned by a combination of tangible and intangible resources. This article explores the difference between the two forms of resources.
Do you have the resources and capabilities to diversify?
Whether you have the necessary resources and capabilities is important to consider before diversification. This article explores why it is important to assess your capabilities before expanding.
What is a “hard to substitute” resource?
This article explores the meaning behind being hard to substitute, and how it differs from hard to imitate
What are dynamic capabilities?
This article explores dynamic capabilities – those capabilities associated with adapting and changing the firm.
The capabilities required to succeed at mass customization
From clear communication channels to automated order systems and manufacturing, this article explores the underlying capabilities required to successfully implement mass customization.
What is resource heterogeneity?
This article explores the mean of resource heterogeneity – a key assumption of the Resource Based View of the firm.
The importance of internal firm analysis: 3 Reasons why it is important to examine internal resources and capabilities
Internal firm analysis is important for understanding and developing firm resources – this firm explores 3 key reasons for looking internally within the firm.
What is a sustainable competitive advantage?
What makes a competitive advantage sustainable? Learn what a sustainable competitive advantage is, and why they are important for firm success.
Internal firm analysis: Understanding a firm’s resources and capabilities
Internal firm analysis – considering the resources and capabilities of the company – is an important component of strategic analysis. This article explores reasons for examining the firm’s internal resources.
What is the Resource-Based View of the firm?
This article unpacks the Resource-Based View of the firm – explaining its difference from other strategic perspectives and its importance to management.
The build, borrow, buy framework: Developing new capabilities
This article explores alternative approaches to gaining access to resources – internal development (build), partnering with other firms (borrow), or acquiring another company (buy).
5 Important resources and capabilities for startup organizations
Resources underpin your organization – this article explores five of the most important resources for startup organizations.
Lights out manufacturing: The capabilities needed to succeed
This article explores some of the key resources and capabilities needed to be successful in fully automated manufacturing.
Connecting the 4P Marketing Mix with your Business Strategy
This article explores how the 4Ps -product, place, price and promotion – connects in with other key strategic decisions a firm needs to take.
Internal consistency: The benefits of consistency between your resources
This article explores some of the key benefits that come from internal consistency – the alignment between different activity choices of the firm.
Internal resource development: When it makes sense to develop resources internally
This article explores the benefits and disadvantages of developing new resources and capabilities internally within an organization.
What is competitive parity?
This article explores what is meant by competitive parity – and why firms may not be able to gain a competitive advantage over others
What is the VRIO framework?
This article unpacks the VRIO framework – and why it is important to consider whether resources are valuable, rare, hard imitate, or substitute, and the organization is organized to support the resource.
When resources and capabilities lead to organizational rigidities
Why do some firms that have strong capabilities sometimes fail? This article explores how strong resources and capabilities can turn into rigidities for firms.
The importance of signaling for startups: Why signals can help gain resources
This article explores the role of signals in gaining resources for your company – from investments and new customers to attracting employees.
The difference between tangible and intangible resources
A company is underpinned by a combination of tangible and intangible resources. This article explores the difference between the two forms of resources.
Do you have the resources and capabilities to diversify?
Whether you have the necessary resources and capabilities is important to consider before diversification. This article explores why it is important to assess your capabilities before expanding.
What is a “hard to substitute” resource?
This article explores the meaning behind being hard to substitute, and how it differs from hard to imitate
What are dynamic capabilities?
This article explores dynamic capabilities – those capabilities associated with adapting and changing the firm.
The capabilities required to succeed at mass customization
From clear communication channels to automated order systems and manufacturing, this article explores the underlying capabilities required to successfully implement mass customization.
What is resource heterogeneity?
This article explores the mean of resource heterogeneity – a key assumption of the Resource Based View of the firm.
The importance of internal firm analysis: 3 Reasons why it is important to examine internal resources and capabilities
Internal firm analysis is important for understanding and developing firm resources – this firm explores 3 key reasons for looking internally within the firm.
What is a sustainable competitive advantage?
What makes a competitive advantage sustainable? Learn what a sustainable competitive advantage is, and why they are important for firm success.