A Study On Sustainability Of Competitive Advantages Of The Firm In The Networked Economy

The dissertation, with sustainability of competitive advantage of the firm as subject matter and the times of network economy as research background, is an attempt to employ theories of the firm strategy for a theoretical analysis framework of sustainable competitive advantages (SCAs). The prototype of the framework derives directly from one of the most typical academic issues known as RBV, The Cornerstones of Competitive Advantage: A resource-based view, written by Margaret A. Peteraf in 1993 and published in premier periodical of the field of the firm strategy, Strategic Management Journal, on the ground of which four requirements for SCAs are taken into account respectively. Discussions of such requirements both enrich application scope of original documents and widen application scope of competitive advantages to various theories for the firm strategy and to institutional backgrounds of Chinese firms. It is suggestive that while such requirements for SCAs are ensured by contemporary theories of management, vivid cases are added up to related chapters in order to enlighten the topic of those chapters. Moreover, innovation is taken as the dynamic mechanism for such classic requirements of SCAs. Finally relationship structure and corporate trustworthiness are deduced from the study as continues requirements for research conclusions.The thesis consists of seven sections. The former two sections are primarily concerned with subject matter, thinking dimensions, literature reviews and deductions of analysis framework, among which it is discussed implications of competitive advantage, basic constitutes of network economy as research background, connections between the firm strategy and economic contexts and substantial analysis of key file and concluded with sustainability of competitive advantage involving the both sides of creation and maintaining of the advantages, and driving forces are not only such requirements but dynamic mechanisms. Therefore, the analysis framework is composed of origin, availability, necessary conditions and dynamic mechanism as well as conclusion and illuminations.The section there discussed heterogeneity of resources available to the firm, which is the first sufficient requirement given by the document for sustainability of competitive advantage. It is found out after analyses that this condition is indeed vital requirement for the firm to keep on its competitive advantage over time. However, it is apparent to be used in the applications to the Chinese firms, to the Chinese State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) underwent the waves of economic reform is only necessary not sufficient conditions to gain SCAs. Without this requirement, it is not such thing as competitive advantage.Section four is for availability of competitive advantage of the firm, issue of immobility of resources. The implication of such immobility is in effect a behavior pattern, which makes firms in the course of asymmetry of market information and organizational capabilities in the competitive process. Such asymmetry determines that competitive advantages are for the long term instead of short-term market operation. However, how to make this asymmetry is the key discussed in the section. As the firm possesses requirement of immobility of resources, dynamic characteristics is begun to appear. Thus single generation of competitive advantage is transferred to how to maintain competitive advantage. In addition, combined with Chinese firms, it is discussed about for the SOEs how to gain and maintain their competitive advantage.Sections five is exclusive for ex ant and ex post limited competitions, the two necessary conditions by the key document on SCAs. In fact, satisfactions of the two conditions is so hard in exercising, overlapping with previous discussed heterogeneity and immobility of resources. Post limited competition is about how the firm makes gained competitive advantage not be eroded within the short time; as a result, it is necessary to limit competition. But such competition is not easier to acco...