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Leveraging knowledge-based resources: The role of contracts

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  • Mouzas, Stefanos
  • Ford, David

Abstract

Every firm faces the challenge of leveraging valuable resources in the form of the intellectual assets, know-how and expertise of itself and others around it. They can only achieve this through interaction with other idiosyncratically capable firms. But through interaction, resources, activities and actors themselves evolve in relation to each other. In this situation of complex business interaction and uncertainty, the conditions under which the respective knowledge and expertise can be leveraged often need to be expressed and manifested as joint consent between the involved parties. Designing an agreed platform for using knowledge-based resources of others poses a real challenge for many companies because the knowledge that firms need to access is inherently indeterminate and continually evolving. This study addresses this issue by investigating the role of contracts in leveraging knowledge-based resources. The study builds on an interactive view of resource leveraging in general and on ideas on knowledge-based resources in particular (Håkansson et al., 2009). The paper reports on empirical research conducted between 2003 and 2007 that examined real-world contracts in manufacturer–retailer networks. The study draws conclusions on the role of contracts in leveraging knowledge-based resources and more widely on the dialectic nature of resource transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mouzas, Stefanos & Ford, David, 2012. "Leveraging knowledge-based resources: The role of contracts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 153-161.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:65:y:2012:i:2:p:153-161
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.05.015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mouzas, Stefanos, 2022. "What drives business transformation? Evidence from manufacturer-retailer networks," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 282-293.
    2. Huemer, Lars & Wang, Xiaobei, 2021. "Resource bundles and value creation: An analytical framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 720-728.
    3. Praxmarer-Carus, Sandra, 2014. "Why the proposal of a complex contract may harm or foster a partner's trust," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(7), pages 1421-1429.
    4. João Mota & Maximilian Christl & Luís Mota de Castro, 2015. "Dealing With The Non-Accomplishments Of Functional Specifications In The Context Of Buyer-Supplier Relationships: A Case Study In The Automotive Industry," Portuguese Journal of Management Studies, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, vol. 0(1), pages 19-42.
    5. Chen Chen & Xiumei Zhu & Jiayue Ao & Li Cai, 2013. "Governance Mechanisms and New Venture Performance in China," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 383-397, May.
    6. Silvestri, Raffaele & Bocconcelli, Roberta & Carloni, Elisa & Pagano, Alessandro, 2022. "Interorganizational R&D projects in clustering contexts: A resource interaction perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 343-355.
    7. Díaz-Chao, Ángel & Sainz-González, Jorge & Torrent-Sellens, Joan, 2016. "The competitiveness of small network-firm: A practical tool," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 1769-1774.
    8. Mouzas, Stefanos & Bauer, Florian, 2022. "Rethinking business performance in global value chains," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 679-689.
    9. Perdreau, Frédéric & Fréchet, Marc, 2022. "Learning, contractual capabilities, and contract duration changes in franchise networks," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    10. M. Eduarda Soares & António Damasceno Correia, 2015. "Cognitive Flexibility, Perception Of Integrity, And Risk Propensity As Antecedents Of Willingness To Engage In Integrative Negotiation," Portuguese Journal of Management Studies, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, vol. 0(2), pages 73-94.
    11. Annalisa Tunisini, 2015. "Percorsi di nascita e di sviluppo dei contratti di rete," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(2), pages 60-75.

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