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Justifying the Origin of Real Options and their Difficult Evaluation in Strategic Management

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  • Thierry Burger-Helmchen

Abstract

I explore and review the introduction of real options in strategic management studies. My aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the origin of the real options. By distinguishing between shadow and real options and implementing entrepreneurship in the traditional option valuation framework, I obtain a more exhaustive representation of the strategic decision processes in the firm. I explain the creation of a real option as an entrepreneurial process, one which transforms inventive ideas into profitable innovation. This constitutes a step toward an option-based theory of the firm by describing the emergence of a firm’s options and the strategic building of new competencies for exercising these options. In addition, this approach offers a parallel understanding of why the real options theory is less often used in practice than in theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Thierry Burger-Helmchen, 2007. "Justifying the Origin of Real Options and their Difficult Evaluation in Strategic Management," Schmalenbach Business Review (sbr), LMU Munich School of Management, vol. 59(4), pages 387-405, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sbr:abstra:v:59:y:2007:i:4:p:387-405
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dynamic Capabilities; Entrepreneurship; Real Options; Theory of the Firm;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L29 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Other
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • M19 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Other

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