2025.1
Strategic Resource Management
Code
ENST52089
Syllabus
Understanding what competitive advantage is, under the Resource-Based View / Resource-Based Theory - RBV (RBV/RBT) approach. Characterization and identification of resources and strategic capabilities that make up the strategies for generating competitive advantage. Differences of this approach in relation to others in the area of Strategic Management. Relevant points and criticisms directed at RBV/RBT. Extensions of RBV/RBT (Knowledge-based view, practice-based view, etc.).
Assessment criteria
Class participation 20%
Group presentation 20%
Weekly evaluation 60%
For each week, you are to come prepared to discuss the papers and other related themes in class. There will be group discussions, class discussions and possibly other types of interactions - they do count for the class participation percentage of the grading. In addition, the quality of your participation will be noted - see the class participation notes in the end of this page.
Also, for each week there will be an evaluation on your reading, without access to your notes or papers/chapters themselves - so please read them accordingly.
During weeks 3 to 8 you will be split in groups and each group is responsible to present the reading to class. This will be a group activity and points will be deducted in case there is evidence of members working separately (mismatching presentation styles, etc).
Week 01 - Intro to Strategic Resource Management
Grading system
Research proposal requirements
Class participation
Weekly assignment
Warm-up activity:
Can we define strategy? Strategic Management?
⇒https://globadvantage.ipleiria.pt/files/2012/08/nota-de-aula_definicoes-de-estrategia.pdf
Week 02 - Strategic Management - Development and broad theories
Reading list:
Faulkner, D. O., & Campbell, A. (Eds.). (2006). The Oxford handbook of strategy: a strategy overview and competitive strategy. Oxford University Press. (CHAPTERS 1 & 2)
Bracker, J. (1980). The historical development of the strategic management concept. Academy of management review, 5(2), 219-224.
Nag, R., Hambrick, D. C., & Chen, M. J. (2007). What is strategic management, really? Inductive derivation of a consensus definition of the field. Strategic management journal, 28(9), 935-955.
Research proposal (editorials):
That's interesting!
Setting the hook
Week 03 - Fundamental issues in strategy
Reading list:
Nag, R., Hambrick, D. C., & Chen, M. J. (2007). What is strategic management, really? Inductive derivation of a consensus definition of the field. Strategic management journal, 28(9), 935-955.
Rumelt, R. P., Schendel, D. E., & Teece, D. J. (1994). Fundamental issues in strategy: A research agenda: Harvard business school press. Boston, MA. (CHAPTERS 1 & 2)
Teece, D. J. (2020). Fundamental issues in strategy: Time to reassess. Strategic Management Review, 1(1), 103-144.
Research proposal:
Working title
Basic abstract (structured)
Keywords choice and strategy
Week 04 - Strategic management before RBV/RBT
Reading list:
Porter, M. E. (1981). The contributions of industrial organization to strategic management. Academy of management review, 6(4), 609-620.
Shrivastava, P. (1986). Is strategic management ideological?. Journal of management, 12(3), 363-377.
Bettis, R. A. (1991). Strategic management and the straightjacket: An editorial essay. Organization Science, 2(3), 315-319.
Rumelt, R. P., Schendel, D., & Teece, D. J. (1991). Strategic management and economics. Strategic management journal, 12(S2), 5-29.
Hoopes, D., & Madsen, T. L. (2022). A Dynamic Theory of the Strategic Firm. Strategic Management Review, 3(2), 235-264.
⚠️These are only indicative of what happened in Strategic Management before the RBV/RBT paradigm. You should bring other resources to your discussion.
Research proposal:
Introduction
Week 05 - Origins of RBV/RBT
Reading list:
Barney, J. B. (1986). Strategic factor markets: Expectations, luck, and business strategy. Management science, 32(10), 1231-1241.
Barney, J. B. (1986). Types of competition and the theory of strategy: Toward an integrative framework. Academy of management review, 11(4), 791-800.
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of management, 17(1), 99-120.
Conner, K. R. (1991). A historical comparison of resource-based theory and five schools of thought within industrial organization economics: do we have a new theory of the firm?. Journal of management, 17(1), 121-154.
Research proposal:
Literature review types
Week 06 - RBV/RBT developmental phase
Reading list:
Amit, R., & Schoemaker, P. J. (1993). Strategic assets and organizational rent. Strategic management journal, 14(1), 33-46.
Barney, J. B., & Arikan, A. M. (2005). The resource-based view: origins and implications. The Blackwell handbook of strategic management, 123-182.
Barney, J., Wright, M., & Ketchen Jr, D. J. (2001). The resource-based view of the firm: Ten years after 1991. Journal of management, 27(6), 625-641.
Ketokivi, M. (2016). Point–counterpoint: Resource heterogeneity, performance, and competitive advantage. Journal of Operations Management, 41(1), 75-76.
Research proposal:
Hypothesis development
Week 07 - RBV/RBT consolidation phase
Reading list:
Acedo, F. J., Barroso, C., & Galan, J. L. (2006). The resource-based theory: dissemination and main trends. Strategic management journal, 27(7), 621-636.
Crook, T. R., Ketchen Jr, D. J., Combs, J. G., & Todd, S. Y. (2008). Strategic resources and performance: a meta-analysis. Strategic management journal, 29(11), 1141-1154.
Leiblein, M. J. (2011). What do resource-and capability-based theories propose?. Journal of management, 37(4), 909-932.
Maritan, C. A., & Peteraf, M. A. (2011). Invited editorial: Building a bridge between resource acquisition and resource accumulation. Journal of management, 37(5), 1374-1389.
Research proposal:
Methodology / Materials and methods
Week 08 - RBV/RBT consolidation phase
Reading list:
Dosi, G., Nelson, R. R., & Winter, S. G. (Eds.). (2000). The nature and dynamics of organizational capabilities. Oxford university press. (Introduction)
Helfat, C. E., & Peteraf, M. A. (2003). The dynamic resource-based view: Capability lifecycles. Strategic management journal, 24(10), 997-1010.
Jacobides, M. G., & Winter, S. G. (2012). Capabilities: Structure, agency, and evolution. Organization Science, 23(5), 1365-1381.
Helfat, C. E., & Martin, J. A. (2015). Dynamic managerial capabilities: Review and assessment of managerial impact on strategic change. Journal of management, 41(5), 1281-1312.
Bingham, C. B., Heimeriks, K. H., Schijven, M., & Gates, S. (2015). Concurrent learning: How firms develop multiple dynamic capabilities in parallel. Strategic Management Journal, 36(12), 1802-1825.
Research proposal:
Expected results
Class participation / weekly assignments
Throughout this semester, you are going to be exposed to a variety of papers and book chapters dealing with the core concepts of Strategic Resource Management. You are expected to study the papers (and not only skim over the contents) and participate in their discussion.
For each class (except for the first one), you are expected to be ready to conduct a thorough discussion of the paper - the instructor may choose one student randomly to be the coordinator of the session. You will be evaluated on the papers/chapters to be read.
The following are a list of questions that will help you fully analyze the papers, critique them and synthesize their content, approaches, results and contributions. In addition, you are expected to provide your own personal understanding of the papers as well as any personal discoveries found.
The following points may guide you in studying the materials (these were developed by Prof. Makadok, Purdue University):
1) What is the topic of the paper? What is the paper about?
2) What is the central argument of the paper?
3) If the paper aims to make a theoretical or conceptual contribution, then:
a) What is the theory?
b) What is the theoretical paradigm?
c) What are the relevant units and levels of analysis?
d) What are the relevant independent and dependent variables in the analysis?
e) What causal mechanism or mechanisms connect the independent variables to the dependent variables? What are the assumptions underlying that causal connection?
f) Is the theory internally consistent? If not, where are the inconsistencies?
g) What interesting (or at least non-obvious) predictions does the theory make?
h) How does the theory relate to other theories? Does it contradict, support, reinforce, extend, constrain, enlarge, or diminish other perspectives?
i) Is the theory useful? To whom (e.g., researchers or practitioners), and for what?
j) What important theoretical questions remain unanswered?
k) Do you find the theory persuasive? Why or why not?
4) If the paper aims to make an empirical contribution, then:
a) What motivated the study?
b) What is the empirical research question?
c) Are the hypotheses appropriate to addressing the research question?
d) Are the theoretical constructs appropriate for testing the hypotheses?
e) Are the variables appropriate operationalizations of the theoretical constructs?
f) How were alternative explanations controlled for?
g) How were other influences on statistical outcomes controlled for?
h) How was internal and external validity treated?
i) Is the research design appropriate? Could another design have produced more accurate, precise, or powerful results?
j) Are the conclusions and interpretations consistent with the empirical evidence presented?
k) Are the empirical results useful? To whom (e.g., researchers or practitioners), and for what?
l) What important empirical questions remain unanswered?
m) Do you find the evidence persuasive? Why or why not?
You do not have to answer all of these questions, but you should become increasingly aware of them when reading the papers/chapters. You should develop a keen eye for detail and critique and these questions are definitely going to help you in doing so.
