Blackwell Reference Online

How do the resources and capabilities of organizations emerge, develop, and change over time? This Handbook brings together scholars of strategic management, economics, history, organizational theory, international business, and technology management in order to address this question.

Many of the contributions present new theoretical or empirical material, which enhance our understanding of how organizational resources and capabilities evolve. Others offer thought-provoking commentary on current streams of research. Several themes recur throughout the volume, including: the role of geographic location and social networks; the influence of managerial mindset; and the co-evolution of resources and capabilities with other factors, including products. The chapters are organized according to a time line of resource and capability evolution.

This body of work provides a firm basis for future research and practice, promoting a better understanding of why firms, industries, technologies, and even entire economies, succeed or fail.