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Title Identifying sources of heterogeneity for empirically deriving strategic types: A constrained finite-mixture structural-equation methodology
ID_Doc 66273
Authors DeSarbo, WS; Di Benedetto, CA; Jedidi, K; Song, M
Title Identifying sources of heterogeneity for empirically deriving strategic types: A constrained finite-mixture structural-equation methodology
Year 2006
Published Management Science, 52, 6
DOI 10.1287/mnsc.1060.0529
Abstract The resource-based view (RBV) of the firm suggests that strategic deployment of capabilities allows strategic business units (SBUs) to exploit distinctive competencies and create sustainable competitive advantage. Following the RBV, we propose a new predictive methodology for deriving typologies of SBUs that accommodates heterogeneity among SBUs with respect to their strategic capabilities, how effectively they are employed, and performance. Statistically, we devise a constrained finite-mixture structural-equation procedure that simultaneously accounts for firm capabilities, performance outcomes, and the relationships between them. The procedure allows for a comprehensive modeling and grouping of entities, and simultaneously provides a diagnosis of the sources of heterogeneity via the flexibility of estimating a series of nested models. Managerially, our proposed methodology is grounded in the strategic type and RBV literature and can capture the effects of environmental and industry-specific factors. Using data obtained from 216 SBUs in the United States for illustration, the results show that our derived four mixed-type solution dominates the four-group, Prospectors-Analyzers-Defenders-Reactors classification as well as a number of other nested model solutions in terms of objective statistical fit criteria for this data set, suggesting a more contingency-driven strategic stance adopted by these SBUs. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and managerial benefits of an improved methodology for empirically deriving strategic typologies.
Author Keywords competitive strategy; strategic types; effectiveness performance; structural-equation models; finite mixtures; latent class models
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
EID WOS:000237884000007
WoS Category Management; Operations Research & Management Science
Research Area Business & Economics; Operations Research & Management Science
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