JOURNAL ARTICLENelly Musau · Ruth Muli · Grace Ndethi · Mugambi Zachary
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2026
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This paper examines the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Theory of Firm Heterogeneity to clarify their theoretical boundaries and enhance their explanatory power. It addresses key limitations of RBV, including endogeneity, tautological reasoning, and limited attention to contextual influences, and examines how digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) reshape strategic resources and firm heterogeneity. The study employs a systematic review of the strategic management literature. It synthesises the core assumptions of RBV with insights from firm heterogeneity, evolutionary theory, and capability-based perspectives to assess how internal resources, contextual factors, and technological capabilities shape competitive advantage. The review indicates that RBV and the Theory of Firm Heterogeneity provide complementary explanations of persistent performance differences among firms. Competitive advantage depends not only on heterogeneous resources but also on firms' ability to adapt, integrate, and deploy these resources in response to changing environmental and institutional conditions. Digital transformation and AI further amplify firm heterogeneity by creating differences in technological capabilities and innovation capacity. The paper advances the strategic management literature by integrating RBV with the Theory of Firm Heterogeneity, offering a more comprehensive explanation of sustained competitive advantage. It demonstrates how digital technologies and AI reshape strategic resources and identifies future research opportunities in contextual influences, capability development, and technology-driven competitive advantage.
DOI 10.20525/ijrbs.v15i4.52160 Crossref citations0 OpenAlex citations
JOURNAL ARTICLESaba Hafeez · Ding Xiu-Hao
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2026
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The research aims to explore the impact of digital platform integration and reconstruction capabilities on organizational agility (mediator) and ESG performance of small and medium size enterprises of Pakistan. The study also examines the moderating role of technology uncertainty between digital platform capabilities and organizational agility that further leads to ESG performance. Data is collected from 300 firms while industries include; IT, Manufacturing, Textiles, Electronics, and Automobile in eight big cities of Pakistan and the respondents are middle and senior managers. Data was analyzed using the software; SPSS (reliability analysis) and R Studio (version 4.5.2), Structural Equation modeling (SEM) and regression Analysis. The study used Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capability Theory to see the role of digital platform capabilities, organization agility and uncertain technology conditions’ on ESG. The findings of this research are that such organizations with agility perform better on the ESG dimensions. First, this study takes a capability perspective to explore the impact of digital platform integration and reconstruction capability on Organizational agility, which extends the related studies taking digital perspective. Second, the inner mechanism between organizational agility and firm ESG performance is revealed where organizational agility works as a bridge for ESG performance. Third, the relationship between digital platform capabilities and organizational agility is exposed by the moderation of technology uncertainty. Where technology uncertainty positively moderates the relationship between digital platform capabilities and organizational agility.
DOI 10.20525/ijrbs.v15i2.48320 Crossref citations0 OpenAlex citations
JOURNAL ARTICLEFiona Awino · James M. Kilika
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2026
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The study focused on assessing how the level of adoption of four Absorptive Capacity(AC) dimensions as a driver of strategic technological change has contributed to sustainable performance of firms operating in the insurance sector in Kenya. The conceptualization of the study was informed by the postulates of three theoretical frameworks; the Model of Absorptive capacity, Resource Based View( RBV) and Knowledge Based view (KBV) with four hypotheses testing the effect of each of the four dimensions of AC on sustainable performance of the insurance firms. A descriptive survey design was adopted to obtain data from a target sample of 224 respondents representing heads of units actively involved in roles associated with AC in 56 Insurance firms. The study registered a response rate of 83% with the respondents demonstrating demographic characteristics indicating adequate industry work experience and education levels. The dimensions of Absorptive Capacity aligning to strategy implementation and strategic choice were adopted to a higher extent compared to those aligning to strategic thinking aspects touching on strategy formulation. Though all the four dimensions had a significant positive effect on sustainable performance, those aligning towards strategic choice and implementation had a higher effect on sustainable performance than those aligning towards strategic thinking. The study concluded that the four dimensions of AC are suitable drivers of strategic technological change in the manner in which their attributes speak to the three strategic management processes of strategic planning(formulation), choice and implementation. The study calls on future research to extend the implications of the findings reported by providing more plausible explanations to the dilemmas revolving around the low adoption of the AC dimensions aligning towards strategic thinking and its subsequent effect on sustainable performance using objective data on the dimensions of AC.
DOI 10.20525/ijrbs.v15i2.47960 Crossref citations0 OpenAlex citations
JOURNAL ARTICLESofiane Founès · Sami Boudabbous
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2025
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This study investigates the impact of knowledge management on innovation in Tunisia's banking sector through a survey of salaried executives. The results indicate a strong positive relationship, emphasizing that key components—knowledge acquisition, application, and sharing—drive both administrative and technical innovation. Effective knowledge management allows organizations to adapt to market trends and enhance business processes. Knowledge sharing fosters an innovative environment for idea creation. Therefore, organizations, especially banks aiming to boost innovation, should prioritize sustainable knowledge management to gain a competitive edge and become more agile in a fluctuating economy.
DOI 10.20525/ijrbs.v14i7.43300 Crossref citations0 OpenAlex citations
JOURNAL ARTICLEAnjar Priyono · Syadiyah Abdul Shukor · Abdul Moin · Norasikin Salikin
International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy · 2025
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This research analyses how a service firm develops an ecosystem and serves as the orchestrator. A unique coffee shop in a mountainous area was used as the subject because it has abundant resources to become an orchestrator and various distinctive traits. A single case study design was selected to enable researchers to analyse depth and rich data, covering all participants within the ecosystem. Using a holistic case study design enables investigators to explore complex interplays of ecosystem participants. This study demonstrates that a firm uses elements of dynamic capabilities to manage the evolving process of ecosystem dynamics, starting from the initial formation of the ecosystem to the maturity stage. Our analysis identifies what derivative capabilities can be created from each element of dynamic capabilities and how these derivative capabilities are employed for developing and managing partners involved in the ecosystem. This study establishes a contribution by examining a coffee shop, representing a small service firm, and its evolution into an ecosystem orchestrator role - an under-explored setting in prevailing orchestration literature concentrated on large platform corporations. Single case studies are often criticized because their generalizability is thin and their findings are narrow. However, this weakness has led to the advantage of presenting insights in detail and depth.
DOI 10.36096/ijbes.v7i1.7330 Crossref citations0 OpenAlex citations
JOURNAL ARTICLERoselyn Mwaura · Maina Muchara · Maureen Kangu
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2024
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Abstract
Resources and capabilities in SMEs are only advantageous when the SMEs have the potential to execute the right strategies and processes. SMEs must analyze their business environments and understand the resources available to operate efficiently and effectively and achieve a sustained performance. This study is the subject of the influence of valuable resources on performance of SMEs. This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The target population for this study comprised of 121, 680 SMEs. The research used stratified random sampling technique. The sample size of this study was 399 SMEs. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Findings showed that there was a positive significant correlation between valuable resource and SMEs performance (r=.270; p<.01). According to the linear regression analysis valuable resources account for 7.3% of SMEs performance. According to the regression coefficients, one-unit increase in valuable resources improved SMEs performance by 0.269 units (? = 0.269). The t-statistics results showed that t = 4.778, p<0.05. Therefore, there was enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis and conclude that valuable resources have a statistically significant influence on SMEs Performance. The study concluded that valuable resource has a significant relationship with SMEs Performance. Valuable resources have a statistically significant influence on SMEs Performance. Increasing valuable resources in an SMEs will help the enterprise register higher performance.
Key Words: Organizational Resources, Valuable Resources, Performance
DOI 10.20525/ijrbs.v13i5.35360 Crossref citations0 OpenAlex citations
JOURNAL ARTICLENgunga Joseph Karimi · Kyalo Teresia Ngina · M. Gichuhi David
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2023
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The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of capital mobilization on the operational outcomes of medium-sized hotels located in urban areas of Kenya. The research was grounded in the framework of dynamic capability theory. The study employed a pragmatic research paradigm that utilized mixed methodologies and employed a contemporaneous triangulation research methodology. The sample consisted of 534 medium-sized hotels. The researchers employed a stratified random sampling methodology to ascertain a sample size of 229 hotels. The research was grounded in the theoretical framework of the natural resource-based perspective. In order to examine the goal hypothesis, the researchers calculated the beta coefficient and conducted a t-test to assess the association between capital mobilization and the performance of medium hotels in Kenya. The significance level for this test was set at 5%. The null hypothesis was rejected based on the statistically significant estimated beta value (0.698, p = 0.000), indicating a confirmed substantial association between capital mobilization and the performance of medium hotels in urban areas of Kenya. The performance of a firm is influenced by the amalgamation of employees' knowledge and abilities, which are integrated through various processes and procedures. This integration not only shapes the structure of the organization but also facilitates the generation of value. The study suggests that it would be beneficial to focus on implementing lean-green practices during capital growth, as these practices have been shown to align with improved performance. Additionally, it is recommended to place greater emphasis on incorporating the concept of 5S into entrepreneurship courses at all levels of education.
DOI 10.20525/ijrbs.v12i8.28010 Crossref citations0 OpenAlex citations
JOURNAL ARTICLEOumayma Bedraoui · Imad Ait Lhassan
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science · 2022
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Introducing new goods and services, processes, marketing, and organizational practices are central to economic growth. The link between innovation and performance has been the focus of attention in several studies in recent decades. This paper aims to extend the literature by examining the personal effects of innovations on firm performance for a sample of 112 hotel establishments in Morocco. The research results suggest that the five innovation practices positively influence firm performance financially in terms of revenue, firm profit and RevPAR, and non-financially in terms of improvements in occupancy, social climate and organizational practices of the firm.
DOI 10.20525/ijrbs.v11i9.22150 Crossref citations1 OpenAlex citations