
Management Papers
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
10-2003
Publication Source
Strategic Management Journal
Volume
24
Issue
10
Start Page
991
Last Page
995
DOI
10.1002/smj.318
Abstract
Defining ordinary or “zero- level” capabilities as those that permit a firm to “make a living” in the short term, one can define dynamic capabilities as those that operate to extend, modify or create ordinary capabilities. Logically, one can then proceed to elaborate a hierarchy of higher-order capabilities (Collis 1994). However, it is argued here that the strategic substance of capabilities involves patterning of activity, and that costly investments are typically required to create and sustain such patterning – for example, in product development. Firms can accomplish change without reliance on dynamic capability, by means here termed “ad hoc problem solving.” Whether higher order capabilities are created or not depends on the costs and benefits of the investments relative to ad hoc problem solving, and so does the “level of the game” at which strategic competition effectively occurs.
Copyright/Permission Statement
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Winter, S. G. (2003), Understanding dynamic capabilities. Strat. Mgmt. J., 24: 991–995., which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1002/smj.318. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving http://olabout.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-820227.html#terms.
Keywords
dynamic capabilities, change, cost-benefit, problem solving
Recommended Citation
Winter, S. G. (2003). Understanding Dynamic Capabilities. Strategic Management Journal, 24 (10), 991-995. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smj.318
Date Posted: 27 November 2017
This document has been peer reviewed.