Understanding the Micro-Foundations of Substantive and Dynamic Capabilities: The Role of Personality

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 (1) ◽  
pp. 16034
Author(s):  
Robin De Cock ◽  
Bart Clarysse ◽  
Maw-Der Foo
Author(s):  
Alex Kevill ◽  
Kiran Trehan ◽  
Mark Easterby-Smith

This article combines two popular, yet separate concepts: dynamic capabilities and self-efficacy. Both are concerned with ability/capability and offer potentially valuable synergies. As such, our in-depth qualitative study based in three micro-enterprises in the United Kingdom investigates, ‘what role(s) may owner-manager perceived self-efficacy play as a micro-foundation of dynamic capabilities in micro-enterprises?’ Our findings show that perceived self-efficacy can influence dynamic capability enactment in multifaceted ways and even suggest that in some cases, perceived self-efficacy is a crucial component of dynamic capabilities, without which there may be no such capability. These insights help open up the black box of dynamic capabilities by contributing important knowledge to the growing body of research into the micro-foundations of such capabilities. Furthermore, our study illuminates the importance of idiosyncratic micro-foundations of dynamic capabilities in micro-enterprises and expands extant knowledge of the potential effects of self-efficacy in the small business and entrepreneurship domain.


Author(s):  
Alex Kevill ◽  
Kiran Trehan ◽  
Shelley Harrington ◽  
Selen Kars-Unluoglu

This article analyses how dynamic capabilities are enacted in micro-enterprises and what role different parties and managerial time allocation play in this enactment. Drawing upon three in-depth case studies of micro-enterprises, we make three theoretical contributions. First, after arguing that micro-enterprises are likely to enact individual- or group-level dynamic managerial capabilities rather than organisation-level dynamic capabilities, we counter Teece’s warnings about the vulnerable nature of dynamic managerial capabilities. Second, we identify that how managers allocate their own time, is a core micro-foundation of dynamic managerial capabilities; we illustrate that failure to allocate time to capability enactment can lead to capability vulnerability. Finally, we introduce the notion of ‘self-damaging dynamic managerial capabilities’ – these being capabilities that damage established micro-foundations.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matin Mohaghegh ◽  
Andreas Größler

PurposeAdopting the dynamic capability perspective, this study aims at exploring which problem-solving capabilities result in fundamental solutions with a potentially low likelihood for problems to recur. This can also shed light on why, despite many attempts, process improvement programs often fail to produce such long-term solutions.Design/methodology/approachA case study is carried out to inductively describe and classify problem-solving in companies and to indicate why problem-solving efforts are typically bounded to short-term solutions. The empirical findings are triangulated with findings from the extant literature.FindingsFirst, the authors propose three problem-solving modes with different characteristics and potential impacts on operational performance: intuitive problem-solving, semi-structured problem-solving and systematic problem-solving. Second, by emphasizing dynamic capabilities' micro-foundations and with the focus on learning mechanisms, the authors show that, among these modes, only systematic problem-solving can serve as a dynamic capability with fundamental solutions. Third, based on insights from the case study, the authors address behavioral and organizational impediments that curb dynamic capabilities and limit systematic problem-solving adoption.Originality/valueThis study is an empirically informed attempt to understand systematic problem-solving as a dynamic capability. The authors uncover the micro-foundations and the learning mechanisms through which systematic problem-solving becomes a dynamic capability. By highlighting problem-solving orientation as a hardly investigated dimension of improvement programs, the authors show that a mixture of a static problem-solving approach and a set of impediments at both individual and organizational levels is the major reason of failures of improvement programs over time.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iacopo Rubbio ◽  
Manfredi Bruccoleri ◽  
Astrid Pietrosi ◽  
Barbara Ragonese

PurposeIn the healthcare management domain, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the role of resilience practices in improving patient safety. The purpose of this paper is to understand the capabilities that enable healthcare resilience and how digital technologies can support these capabilities.Design/methodology/approachWithin- and cross-case research methodology was used to study resilience mechanisms and capabilities in healthcare and to understand how digital health technologies impact healthcare resilience. The authors analyze data from two Italian hospitals through the lens of the operational failure literature and anchor the findings to the theory of dynamic capabilities.FindingsFive different dynamic capabilities emerged as crucial for managing operational failure. Furthermore, in relation to these capabilities, medical, organizational and patient-related knowledge surfaced as major enablers. Finally, the findings allowed the authors to better explain the role of knowledge in healthcare resilience and how digital technologies boost this role.Practical implicationsWhen trying to promote a culture of patient safety, the research suggests healthcare managers should focus on promoting and enhancing resilience capabilities. Furthermore, when evaluating the role of digital technologies, healthcare managers should consider their importance in enabling these dynamic capabilities.Originality/valueAlthough operations management (OM) research points to resilience as a crucial behavior in the supply chain, this is the first research that investigates the concept of resilience in healthcare systems from an OM perspective, with only a few authors having studied similar concepts, such as “workaround” practices.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip T. Roundy ◽  
Dutch Fayard

In pursuit of the beneficial outcomes of entrepreneurship, governments and regional development organisations enact policies to stimulate entrepreneurial activity. A growing focus of policymakers in emerging and developed economies is the promotion of entrepreneurial ecosystems: the interconnected system of forces that generate and sustain regional entrepreneurship. Despite intense interest in entrepreneurial ecosystems, the topic is under-theorised. Studies draw attention to the positive effects of entrepreneurial ecosystems on the creation and functioning of early-stage ventures; however, the specific mechanisms through which ecosystems influence entrepreneurs are not clear. To address this issue, we build on dynamic capabilities theory to create a theoretical framework that identifies a set of forces through which ecosystems influence entrepreneurship. We propose that in vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems entrepreneurs are more able to sense, seize and reconfigure resources and opportunities. Our theory contributes to entrepreneurship research, has implications for policymakers and practitioners, and suggests directions for future studies.


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