Sustainable competitive advantage or temporary competitive advantage

Tim O’Shannassy

104 citations0/0 files storedJournal of strategy and management

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Innovation and Knowledge Management Business Strategies and Innovation Management and Organizational Practices

Abstract

Purpose Competitive advantage is an important construct in the strategy discipline. The purpose of this paper is to explore an appropriate definition of competitive advantage, seek to identify sources of competitive advantage for firms and improve understanding of why in many industries for many firms competitive advantage is only a temporary outcome due to the influence of environmental uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach The paper undertakes a synthesis of classic and contemporary insights into competitive advantage in the literature to assist the development of several research propositions. Findings By introducing the perceived environmental uncertainty construct to discussion on the relationship between firm resources, competitive advantage and organization performance, understanding of sustained competitive advantage and temporary competitive advantage is enhanced. Research limitations/implications Through the development of the research propositions the paper helps to clarify terminology and provide several suggestions for future research. Practical implications The findings contribute to the evolution of strategic management practice by giving some insight to practitioners as to when and where firm resources may be useful by explaining these links between environmental uncertainty, firm resources, competitive advantage, and organization performance. A brief illustration of these connections in the context of BHP Billiton Limited is provided to link theory to practice. Originality/value Competitive advantage remains a poorly understood construct in the strategy literature and the subject of much discussion. This paper sets out to clarify understanding and stimulate debate in an area that is not well understood.

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References

1984Case Study Research: Design and Methods 1991Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage 2004Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage 1984A resource‐based view of the firm 2008Qualitative Data Analysis 1985Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance 1992The balanced scorecard : measures that drive performance 1992The balanced scorecard--measures that drive performance.

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2013Revisiting the concept of competitive advantage 2020Between Sustainable and Temporary Competitive Advantages in the Unstable Business Environment 2019Value and rareness of resources and capabilities as sources of competitive advantage and superior performance 2021Radical innovation, incremental innovation, and competitive advantage, the moderating role of technological intensity: evidence from the manufacturing sector in Jordan 2021Antecedents of strategic thinking and its impact on competitive advantage 2021

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