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Revisando La Teoria De La Firma

Author

Listed:
  • JORGE TARZIJÁN M

    (Escuela de Administración, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)

Abstract

This article reviews the main theories of the firm from the strategic management perspective. A theory of the firm intents to explain the nature and scope of a firm. We conclude that the different theories of the firm can be classified following the Coase guidelines, that explain the existence of a firm, and its degree of integration as a trade off between the transaction costs of buying in the market and the coordination costs of producing inside the firm. An important conclusion arising from the analysis is the key role of the complementarity among assets, processes and activities, in the determination of the scope and limits of a firm. According to this result, an important challenge for the strategic management of a company is to determine which one is the combination of activities that maximizes the company´s value.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Tarziján M, 2003. "Revisando La Teoria De La Firma," Abante, Escuela de Administracion. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile., vol. 6(2), pages 149-177.
    • Handle: RePEc:pch:abante:v:6:y:2003:i:2:p:149-177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Theory of the firm; Complementary assets; Strategic management;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights

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