Reconfigurable Resources Research Articles

Perspectives on dynamic capabilities and ambidexterity in born-global companies: Theoretical framing, review and research agenda

While research on born-global firms has been subject to broad review, little is known about their dynamic capabilities and the connection of these firms with ambidexterity. To fill this void, we critically examine the extant dynamic capabilities and ambidexterity in born-global firms research from 1996 to 2022. We systematically review 74 articles interconnected with the accumulated but fragmented knowledge on this theme and chart important shortcomings in the existing research. To focus future academic debate and discussion, we therefore propose an integrated conceptual framework that merges this dispersed body of literature, which comprises four core and interconnected themes – knowledge and internationalisation, entrepreneurial orientation, strategy and performance, web resources, and innovation, capabilities and ambidexterity. In doing so, we uncover the role played by dynamic capabilities and the importance of ambidexterity in the adoption, modification or reconfiguration of born-global firm resources. Our review also reveals future research paths hereby identified to support and guide academics and researchers seeking new fields of study and correspondingly demonstrates the need to deepen studies approaching the dynamic capabilities and ambidexterity in these companies.

Adaptive governance and resilience of global value chains: A framework for sustaining the performance of developing-country suppliers during exogenous shocks

We draw from the composition-based view of firms to develop and test a framework of the influence of adaptive governance and resilience on the performance of a sample (n = 292) of Bangladeshi suppliers embedded in apparel global value chains (GVCs) at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results confirm that adaptive governance provides the necessary conditions for suppliers to strengthen their resilience and sustain their performance during exogenous shocks. Results also show that suppliers disruption orientation and resource reconfiguration capabilities play important contingency roles on the extent to which resilience transforms adaptive governance into performance. The implications of our findings and directions for future research on GVC governance and performance in the context of exogenous shocks are fully discussed.

Resource and Cognitive Perspectives: Unraveling the Influence Mechanism of Project Governance on Organizational Resilience in Infrastructure Projects

The tendency of infrastructure projects to be complex, large-scale, and long-term prompts temporary project organizations’ need to have resilience to deal with various risks, uncertainties, and crises. The resource and cognitive capacity of stakeholders are key factors in infrastructure project governance and crisis response in the face of shock generation. Moreover, previous studies on organizational resilience of infrastructure projects have lacked exploration from project governance perspectives. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate the influence of contractual and relational governance on the organizational resilience of infrastructure projects from the perspectives of resource reconfiguration and organizational cognition. Firstly, this study established a conceptual model through a theoretical background and hypotheses development. Then, a questionnaire was designed for participants in the infrastructure projects to collect data on the respective effects of each variable. A total of 519 complete responses to the questionnaire were collected, and a path model was developed to quantitatively measure the impact of contractual and relational governance on organizational resilience using the partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Finally, the model was validated using reliability and validity testing, hypotheses testing, and mediating effect testing. The results of the study showed that the contractual and relational governance can enhance the level of organizational resilience. Resource reconfiguration and organizational cognition play a mediating role in the relationship between project governance and organizational resilience. This study extends the theoretical research on the impact of project governance on organizational resilience, and deepens the intrinsic link between the two from the perspective of resource reconfiguration and organizational cognition, so as to provide effective theoretical guidance for crisis response and sustainable operation of infrastructure projects.

On the Value of Data in Industrial Services: How to Optimize Value Creation by Reconfiguration of Operant Resources

The background to this article is a quantitative model for data-driven value creation that conceptually explains a holistic approach to finding optimal data-driven service configurations along the customer lifecycle by modeling both provider and customer value and identifying the optimum on the Pareto front. This model, which provides an artifact for service optimization in an iterative design process, is characterized by different inputs that model the costs and benefits of providers and customers depending on different intensities of data usage for services in the respective phases of the lifecycle. In this article, we analyse empirical industrial service configurations by applying the quantitative model and derive insights for optimizing value creation. The analysis shows that this optimization leads to solutions that are not simply achieved by maximizing the intensity of data usage of individual services, but by specifically optimizing the reconfiguration of operant resources along the lifecycle. This enables an overall optimization in a designoriented, iterative approach that differs significantly from standard models that target ascending levels of intensity and maturity of digitization.

OptiDJS+: A Next-Generation Enhanced Dynamic Johnson Sequencing Algorithm for Efficient Resource Scheduling in Distributed Overloading within Cloud Computing Environment

The continuously evolving world of cloud computing presents new challenges in resource allocation as dispersed systems struggle with overloaded conditions. In this regard, we introduce OptiDJS+, a cutting-edge enhanced dynamic Johnson sequencing algorithm made to successfully handle resource scheduling challenges in cloud computing settings. With a solid foundation in the dynamic Johnson sequencing algorithm, OptiDJS+ builds upon it to suit the demands of modern cloud infrastructures. OptiDJS+ makes use of sophisticated optimization algorithms, heuristic approaches, and adaptive mechanisms to improve resource allocation, workload distribution, and task scheduling. To obtain the best performance, this strategy uses historical data, dynamic resource reconfiguration, and adaptation to changing workloads. It accomplishes this by utilizing real-time monitoring and machine learning. It takes factors like load balance and make-up into account. We outline the design philosophies, implementation specifics, and empirical assessments of OptiDJS+ in this work. Through rigorous testing and benchmarking against cutting-edge scheduling algorithms, we show the better performance and resilience of OptiDJS+ in terms of reaction times, resource utilization, and scalability. The outcomes underline its success in reducing resource contention and raising service quality generally in cloud computing environments. In contexts where there is distributed overloading, OptiDJS+ offers a significant advancement in the search for effective resource scheduling solutions. Its versatility, optimization skills, and improved decision-making procedures make it a viable tool for tackling the resource allocation issues that cloud service providers and consumers encounter daily. We think that OptiDJS+ opens the way for more dependable and effective cloud computing ecosystems, assisting in the full realization of cloud technologies’ promises across a range of application areas. In order to use the OptiDJS+ Johnson sequencing algorithm for cloud computing task scheduling, we provide a two-step procedure. After examining the links between the jobs, we generate a Gantt chart. The Gantt chart graph is then changed into a two-machine OptiDJS+ Johnson sequencing problem by assigning tasks to servers. The OptiDJS+ dynamic Johnson sequencing approach is then used to minimize the time span and find the best sequence of operations on each server. Through extensive simulations and testing, we evaluate the performance of our proposed OptiDJS+ dynamic Johnson sequencing approach with two servers to that of current scheduling techniques. The results demonstrate that our technique greatly improves performance in terms of makespan reduction and resource utilization. The recommended approach also demonstrates its ability to scale and is effective at resolving challenging work scheduling problems in cloud computing environments.

A performative perspective on sensing, seizing, and transforming in small- and medium-sized enterprises

ABSTRACT This study investigates organizational sensing, seizing, and transforming, which are critical activities in developing and exercising dynamic capabilities (DCs)––an organization’s capacity to reconfigure its resources in response to a changing environment. Previous research on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has predominantly focused on well-established business processes that are considered functional DCs, including product development, portfolio planning, and customer management, highlighting their role in facilitating resource reconfiguration. However, these studies implicitly assume the existence of functional DCs, without explaining what contributes to their development. We build on recent theoretical arguments emphasizing the performative dimensions of the DC construct and examine how SME practitioners sense and seize opportunities and threats, and subsequently transform their resources and operations. Our findings highlight a series of practices employed in ongoing social interactions to develop functional DCs or reconfigure established routines. These practices are situated in social interaction contexts characterized by distinct modes of communication, including resonance, generativity, and call for action. By offering a communicative explanation of the performance and dynamization of sensing, seizing, and transforming, this study underscores the pivotal role of interpersonal dynamics in facilitating resource reconfiguration.

User involvement and value co-creation in well-being ecosystems

PurposeThis article aims to examine how users' involvement in value co-creation influences the development and orchestration of well-being ecosystems to help tackle complex societal challenges. This research contributes to the public management literature and answers recent calls to investigate novel public service governances by discussing users' involvement and value co-creation for novel well-being solutions.Design/methodology/approachThe authors empirically explore this phenomenon through a case study of a complex ecosystem addressing increased well-being, focussing on the formative evaluation stage of a longitudinal evaluation of Sweden's first support centre for people affected by cancer. Following an abductive reasoning and action research approach, the authors critically discuss the potential of user involvement for the development of well-being ecosystems and outline preconditions for the success of such approaches.FindingsThe empirical results indicate that resource reconfiguration of multi-actor collaborations provides a platform for value co-creation, innovative health services and availability of resources. Common themes include the need for multi-actor collaborations to reconfigure heterogeneous resources; actors' adaptive change capabilities; the role of governance mechanisms to align the diverse well-being ecosystem components, and the engagement of essential actors.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough using a longitudinal case study approach has revealed stimulating insights, additional data collection, multiple cases and quantitative studies are prompted. Also, the authors focus on one country but the characteristics of users' involvement for value co-creation in innovative well-being ecosystems might vary between countries.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study demonstrate the value of cancer-affected individuals, with “lived experiences”, acting as sources for social innovation, and drivers of well-being ecosystem development. The findings also suggest that participating actors in the ecosystem should utilise wider knowledge and experience to tackle complex societal challenges associated with well-being.Social implicationsPolicymakers should encourage the formation of well-being ecosystems with diverse actors and resources that can help patients navigate health challenges. The findings especially show the potential of starting from the user's needs and life situation when the ambition is to integrate and innovate in fragmented systems.Originality/valueThe proposed model proposes that having a user-led focus on innovating new solutions can play an important role in the development of well-being ecosystems.

Leveraging Digital Empowerment for Green Product Innovation: Unraveling the Mediating Role of Resource Integration and Reconfiguration in Chinese Manufacturing Enterprises

The rapid digital transformation and the imperative for sustainable practices have made it crucial for Chinese manufacturing enterprises to adapt and achieve green product innovation by effectively utilizing digital technologies. This study takes a resource-based perspective from strategic management and develops a chain mediation model to examine how Chinese manufacturing enterprises can achieve green product innovation through digital empowerment. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 229 managers, and a multiple mediation model was employed to test the hypotheses. The findings highlight that a higher level of digital business intensity positively influences green product innovation, with resource integration playing a significant mediating role. However, the mediating effect of resource reconfiguration is found to be non-significant. Furthermore, there exists a sequential chain mediation effect of resource integration and resource reconfiguration in the relationship between digital business intensity and green product innovation. To ensure successful green product innovation, Chinese manufacturing enterprises need to focus on accumulating R&D experience and knowledge through resource integration, enabling them to identify latent market demand and develop corresponding green products. This approach facilitates an organic fusion of incremental and breakthrough innovation. The study contributes to the advancement of management paradigms driven by digitalization and the theory of green product innovation, offering valuable insights for Chinese manufacturing enterprises seeking to achieve green innovation through the effective utilization of digital technologies. Additionally, it provides practical implications for enhancing the adaptability of Chinese manufacturing enterprises to market demand and promoting the adoption of “dual carbon” practices.

Breaking away from servitization paradox to improve manufacturing enterprises' service innovation performance: the roles of market orientation and service supply chain dynamic capability

PurposeBased on the dynamic capability theory, our study tries to explore the mediator mechanism of service supply chain dynamic capability between market orientation and service innovation performance, as well as the boundary conditions in which service supply chain dynamic capability plays a role, in order to reveal the key elements and their mechanisms for manufacturing enterprises to improve service performance.Design/methodology/approachWith a total of 317 valid questionnaires, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the research model and hypotheses.FindingsThe empirical results confirm that the three types of service supply chain dynamic capability (environment insight capability, resource integration capability and resource reconfiguration capability) can partially mediate the relationship between firm market orientation (responsive and proactive market orientations) and service innovation performance. In addition, supply chain collaboration has different types of moderator effects on the relationship between the three types of service supply chain dynamic capability and service innovation performance.Originality/valueThis research discovers that market orientation and dynamic capability are the key factors leading to high service performance and reveals the mediating role of service supply chain dynamic capability between market orientation and service innovation performance. Moreover, this research explores the moderating role of supply chain collaboration in service supply chain resource reconfiguration capability and service innovation performance.

Indexical (re)ordering and commodification of linguistic resources during the December Revolution in Sudan

In this essay, we analyze the processes through which the actors of the December Revolution in Sudan—being themselves revolutionary activists or counterrevolutionary promoters—use language for political and economic purposes. Based on an ethnographic analysis of both oral and written language practices, the study describes the metasemiotic changes that occurred during the last Sudanese uprising, against the background of the language-related ideological struggles, and it analyzes them through their embeddedness within local sociocultural patterns. By focusing on the processes of indexical (re)ordering and language commodification, the study eventually shows how a phase of political crisis can generate metasemiotic reconfigurations of the revolutionary linguistic resources in order to render them more suitable for the market economy and/or to produce political consensus.

Impact of digital technology usage on firm resilience: a dynamic capability perspective

PurposeWhile the usage of digital technology can bring many operational improvements for firms, it is unclear whether it can effectively improve firm resilience to deal with supply chain disruptions caused by emergencies such as COVID-19. From a dynamic capability perspective, this study aims to investigate how digital technology usage can improve firm resilience in a rapidly changing and turbulent environment.Design/methodology/approachBased on the survey sample of 237 Chinese firms, the stepwise regression approach was used to examine the proposed research hypotheses.FindingsThe empirical evidence shows that digital technology usage has a U-shaped effect on firm resilience, and that effect is fully achieved by first affecting market acuity and then promoting resource reconfiguration. Moreover, the authors further found that the U-shaped association between digital technology usage and firm resilience is derived from the U-shaped association between digital technology usage and market acuity.Originality/valueThis study enriches the resilience literature by revealing the mechanism of digital technology usage’s effects rather than focusing on the role of specific digital technologies. This study also provides guidance for firms to develop effective digital technology usage strategies.

Reconfigurations of Human Resources Following Negative Performance Feedback

Reconfigurations of Human Resources Following Negative Performance Feedback

Exploring servitization and digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises: evidence from an industrial internet platform in China

Servitization is vital to manufacturing enterprises’ competitive advantages and financial performance in contemporary digitalisation environments. Enterprises are increasingly relying on industrial Internet platforms to satisfy potential customers’ needs as well as to create superior value, but the literature has neglected to explain how enterprises can leverage such digital platform to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of servitization. This study aims at describing how the industrial Internet platform can enable servitization of manufacturers. Based upon the meta-theoretical foundations of service-dominant logic, we identify the ‘sense and respond’ servitization strategy enabled by the industrial Internet platform. By performing a questionnaire survey, we find that the industrial Internet platform approach based on the connectivity and compatibility architecture can enable manufacturers to improve the efficiency of resource integration and resource reconfiguration, which facilitates the implementation of servitization via market perception . We argue that the industrial Internet platform affects an organisation’s ability to sense the market and resource management actions; these operational resource actions are a significant antecedent of the servitization strategy.

Managing COVID-19 disruption: the response of express couriers and lessons learned to improve resilience

Purpose Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led most companies to redefine their sales channels, pushing toward e-Commerce. This increase in the online sales of products resulted in significant pressure on the logistics sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how express couriers responded to the pandemic period and allowed for business continuity.Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study involving five express couriers was conducted. Collected information was coded, then a framework is proposed to discuss the results with the support of the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities view concepts.Findings The study highlights how couriers leveraged most of their resources to respond to the pandemic threat. Four recurrent continuity enablers to foster the reconfiguration of resources were identified. Specifically, the study points out the key role of employees, digital technologies, visibility and knowledge as enablers that played a crucial role toward continuity. In addition, valuable lessons learned by practitioners to foster resilience in future disruption are highlighted.Originality/value Concerning academia, the present research aims to be among the first ones to provide empirical and practical insights on the impact of COVID-19 among express couriers. Considering practitioners, it identifies lessons learned that could be applied to the sector in future disruption.

Understanding the Link between Post‐Acquisition Resource Reconfiguration and Technology Out‐Licensing

AbstractWe develop a novel framework to explain how the unique properties of out‐licensing enable R&D reconfiguration in the context of technology acquisitions. Out‐licensing is an attractive R&D strategy following acquisitions as it expands opportunities for resource reconfiguration to outside the organization by using external partners while at the same time allowing firms to continue to benefit from the technology, both financially and strategically. We also propose that the positive relationship between technology acquisitions and out‐licensing is weaker when firms cannot determine the full value potential of their R&D due to uncertainty or when they have high availability of short‐term financial slack resources. Using a sample of bio‐pharmaceutical firms, the result of a 2SLS fixed‐effect regression that accounts for the potential endogeneity of technology acquisitions provides support for our theoretical framework.

FORMATION OF A RATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR MANAGING THE DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES OF THE ENTERPRISE'S HUMAN RESOURCES POTENTIAL

The purpose of the study is to substantiate the methodological decision-making tools for the formation of a rational management structure of the dynamic capabilities of the company's personnel potential. It has been scientifically substantiated and proven that the formation of a rational management structure for the dynamic capabilities of the company's personnel potential is based on the development of a dynamic model of their assessment. The model is presented taking into account the integration of the dynamic capabilities of the enterprise, its personnel and processes business environment’s transformation.The research uses the methods of system analysis and logical generalizations, the statistical concept of dynamic capabilities, the methods of the theory of active systems, the theory of hierarchical games, financial mathematics, and the theory of optimal control of continuous and discrete systems. Updated directions of the managing formation process of a rational structure of the company's personnel potential.The proposed model for assessing the dynamic capabilities of the company's personnel potential allows for optimizing the utility function of personnel resources. Optimizing the usefulness of human resources takes place on the basis of determining the level of their dynamic capabilities to integrate, create and change the configuration of internal and external competencies to achieve sustainable competitiveness of the enterprise.The model for assessing the dynamic capabilities of the company's personnel resources determines the competencies of personnel, business systems and strategies for its development. The use of the proposed model to determine the dynamic capabilities of the enterprise regarding the reconfiguration of available human resources allows us to focus on the relevant behavioural aspects of enterprise managers and limitations, taking into account the exchange between the internal and external environment.

Inter-Unit Executive Redeployment in Multiunit Firms: Evidence from Korean Business Groups

Building on the literature on resource reconfiguration theory, we formulate a new theoretical framework that explains how executive redeployment within a diversified firm transfers different types of human capital embodied in executives to different units facing specific business challenges. In the empirical context of Korean business groups, we find that executives with unit-specific human capital, like turnaround experience, competitive experience, and international expansion experience, are redeployed to units with corresponding business challenges like financial difficulties, intensifying competition, and early-stage international expansion, respectively. We also show that executives with unit-generic human capital, like corporate management practices and interunit coordination experiences, are redeployed to younger units seeking to establish corporate-level policies and practices. Additional analyses also show that the value of firm-specific human capital in driving the redeployment of executives is contingent on their functional orientation and seniority.Funding: S.-J. Chang appreciates financial support from the Lim Kim San Chair Professorship from National University of Singapore and Techno SK Chair Professorship from KAIST. Y.-C. Kim is also grateful for financial support from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea [NRF-2022S1A5A2A01044597].Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.20.14525 .

Inter-Unit Executive Redeployment in Multiunit Firms: Evidence from Korean Business Groups

Building on the literature on resource reconfiguration theory, we formulate a new theoretical framework that explains how executive redeployment within a diversified firm transfers different types of human capital embodied in executives to different units facing specific business challenges. In the empirical context of Korean business groups, we find that executives with unit-specific human capital, like turnaround experience, competitive experience, and international expansion experience, are redeployed to units with corresponding business challenges like financial difficulties, intensifying competition, and early-stage international expansion, respectively. We also show that executives with unit-generic human capital, like corporate management practices and interunit coordination experiences, are redeployed to younger units seeking to establish corporate-level policies and practices. Additional analyses also show that the value of firm-specific human capital in driving the redeployment of executives is contingent on their functional orientation and seniority. Funding: S.-J. Chang appreciates financial support from the Lim Kim San Chair Professorship from National University of Singapore and Techno SK Chair Professorship from KAIST. Y.-C. Kim is also grateful for financial support from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea [NRF-2022S1A5A2A01044597]. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2020.14525 .

Humanistic approaches to change: Entrepreneurship and transformation

Social transformation is core to the idea of entrepreneurship, yet it plays a minor role in entrepreneurship research. We explore humanistic approaches to change by building on the Schumpeterian perspective of transformation/creative destruction and expanding it in three critical ways. First, we argue that entrepreneurship and history should engage methodologically with transformation ‘as a perspective’ taken by the researcher or observer. Second, we contend that to explore the process of entrepreneurial transformation historically, it is necessary to engage in a broader conceptualisation of temporality. Third, we posit that to fully grasp transformation, we ought to study not just the reconfiguration of material resources that Schumpeter has proposed but also the immaterial (intellectual and imaginative) re-evaluations that trigger social transformation, thus focussing on the semantics of transformation. The articles in this Special Issue explore entrepreneurship and transformation through these three lenses, making social transformation more central to historical entrepreneurship research.

A Deep Learning-Driven Self-Conscious Distributed Cyber-Physical System for Renewable Energy Communities.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming various domains, including smart energy management, by enabling the integration of complex digital and physical components in distributed cyber-physical systems (DCPSs). The design of DCPSs has so far been focused on performance-related, non-functional requirements. However, with the growing power consumption and computation expenses, sustainability is becoming an important aspect to consider. This has led to the concept of energy-aware DCPSs, which integrate conventional non-functional requirements with additional attributes for sustainability, such as energy consumption. This research activity aimed to investigate and develop energy-aware architectural models and edge/cloud computing technologies to design next-generation, AI-enabled (and, specifically, deep-learning-enhanced), self-conscious IoT-extended DCPSs. Our key contributions include energy-aware edge-to-cloud architectural models and technologies, the orchestration of a (possibly federated) edge-to-cloud infrastructure, abstractions and unified models for distributed heterogeneous virtualized resources, innovative machine learning algorithms for the dynamic reallocation and reconfiguration of energy resources, and the management of energy communities. The proposed solution was validated through case studies on optimizing renewable energy communities (RECs), or energy-aware DCPSs, which are particularly challenging due to their unique requirements and constraints; in more detail, in this work, we aim to define the optimal implementation of an energy-aware DCPS. Moreover, smart grids play a crucial role in developing energy-aware DCPSs, providing a flexible and efficient power system integrating renewable energy sources, microgrids, and other distributed energy resources. The proposed energy-aware DCPSs contribute to the development of smart grids by providing a sustainable, self-consistent, and efficient way to manage energy distribution and consumption. The performance demonstrates our approach's effectiveness for consumption and production (based on RMSE and MAE metrics). Our research supports the transition towards a more sustainable future, where communities adopting REC principles become key players in the energy landscape.