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The elephant in the room of dynamic capabilities: Bringing two diverging conversations together
Author(s) -
Peteraf Margaret,
Di Stefano Giada,
Verona Gianmario
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
strategic management journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 11.035
H-Index - 286
eISSN - 1097-0266
pISSN - 0143-2095
DOI - 10.1002/smj.2078
Subject(s) - construct (python library) , dialog box , dilemma , contingency , field (mathematics) , conversation , computer science , epistemology , core (optical fiber) , sociology , knowledge management , data science , communication , telecommunications , world wide web , philosophy , mathematics , pure mathematics , programming language
A critical issue has been absent from the conversation on dynamic capabilities: the two seminal papers represent not only different but contradictory understandings of the construct's core elements. Here, we explore the reasons for this, using author cocitation analysis to inform our analysis. Our findings suggest that the field is being socially constructed on the basis of two separate domains of knowledge and that underlying structural impediments have impeded dialog across the domains. In light of this evidence, then, we take up the challenge to find a solution to this dilemma. By employing a contingency‐based approach, we show that there are ways to unify the field that rely, paradoxically, on integrating the two contradictory views, while still preserving the assumptions that led to their differences . Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.