THE EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE ON INSTITUTIONAL DIVERGENCE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

A growing body of research in strategic management has focused on dynamic capabilities as a central source of firms' competitive advantage. The theoretical roots of dynamic capabilities can be found in many of the schools of thought identified by Mintzberg, Ahlstrand and Lampel (1998). In this paper, we identify three aspects of dynamic capabilities that, we believe, require more detailed attention: Process, cognitive and decision-based micro-foundations, and human agency. We explore each of these areas from an evolutionary perspective to emphasize the fact that dynamic capability is essentially an evolutionary construct. By highlighting the evolutionary implications of these areas, we add important detail to the way “evolution” has been used in this field of research.

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The Competitive Advantage of Regional Clusters: An Organizational—Evolutionary Perspective

Competition & Change ◽

10.1179/102452907x166836 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 3-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Udo Staber

Keyword(s):

Competitive Advantage ◽

Evolutionary Perspective ◽

Regional Clusters

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The integration of a Swedish minority in the hotel business culture: the case of Riva del Sole

Tourism Review ◽

10.1108/16605371211216378 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 51-60 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marco Valeri ◽

Silvia Baiocco

Keyword(s):

Competitive Advantage ◽

Business Strategy ◽

Qualitative Methodology ◽

Strategic Behavior ◽

Case Study Research ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Business Culture ◽

Evolutionary Perspective ◽

Content Type ◽

Novel Approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore whether the integration of minorities into the hotel industry stimulates innovation by promoting competitiveness in the tourism industry.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis uses the co‐evolutionary perspective of firms and the environment: firms co‐evolve with the environment in the search for competitive advantage. This paper follows the qualitative methodology of case study research.FindingsEmpirical evidence demonstrates that the Riva del Sole company has been able to grasp the tangible and intangible factors that distinguish the multifaceted Tuscan territory, and enhance them through its own business strategy, transforming them into a competitive advantage.Research limitations/implicationsThe interpretation of the survey is limited by being the observation of a single unit of analysis. Further improvements could result from the use of statistical models of analysis results, the use of analysis of information which emerged from the interviews on the strategic behavior of local actors and clients.Practical implicationsThe innovative offering of Swedish minority entrepreneurship (Riva del Sole) was the offering of a hotel service articulated on various inhabitable units that comprised the hotel and which were nourished by the typical resources of the territory, offering a hospitality service strong in experiential content and rich in local flavor.Originality/valueThe paper offers a novel approach (co‐evolutionary perspective between firms and the environment) to see and understand newly‐emerging dynamics in the tourism business sector.

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