Authors : Simone Sehnem, Darlan Roman, Alyne Sehnem and Nelson Santos Machado
Abstract: The study aims to reveal insights into the contribution of the resource-based view to the analysis of competitive advantage. The study employs a VRIO (valuable, rare, inimitable and organizational) model for the theoretical conception of constructs related to the resource-based view and competitive advantage. A case study was undertaken in a credit union, incorporating interviews at two levels of organizational management strategic and tactical as well as a questionnaire administered with two managers to identify relevant resources and a review of secondary data consisting of company documents. The study found that only one resource may be considered a generator of sustainable competitive advantage: human capital training. This was considered by the three sources to be valuable, rare, costly to imitate and exploited by the company. Two types of physical capital resources were considered to be generators of temporary competitive advantage: financial capacity and location. These appear in at least two sources, defined as rare and valuable and expensive to copy. Therefore, the organization gains a competitive edge guided by limited resources, namely human and physical capital. These findings provide important insights for the development of further studies, systematizing the resource-based view in a research agenda. This research has implications for academics, practitioners and policy makers. Explains the strategic assets that generate competitive advantage and which are essential for the survival of the company. The realization of the value of human resources for the company studied, emphasizes the importance and necessity of ensuring the satisfaction of the people and investing in training for obtaining sustainable competitive advantage. The study seeks to build and extend the existing state of research on the resource-based view and provides insights useful for its development.
Simone Sehnem, Darlan Roman, Alyne Sehnem and Nelson Santos Machado, 2016. Competitive Advantage in a Credit Cooperative: The Role of Resources. International Business Management, 10: 2768-2779.