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Chapter 8
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4884-5.ch008
Managing Knowledge through
Dynamic Capabilities
ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to provide an insight into the interaction of innovation and learning through
an integrative view of knowledge management and dynamic capabilities approaches. Firstly, theoreti-
cal foundations of the dynamic capabilities perspective and knowledge management are presented. The
chapter further explores the existing theoretical linkages between knowledge management and the dy-
namic capabilities approach, as well as their potential impact on organizational performance, within
the framework of human resource practices, relevant for achieving successful knowledge transfer. The
existing theoretical foundations are used to provide a generalization, leading to an integrative theoreti-
cal model, which should serve as a basis for further empirical verifcation.
DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES
IN AN ORGANIZATION
According to Teece, Pisano and Shuen (1997),
a dynamic capability refers to an organizational
ability Alpha ability to integrate, build and trans-
form internal and external competencies. They
can help an organization to achieve innovative
forms of competitive advantage by responding
to changes in the environment. Eisenhardt and
Martin (2000) define dynamic capabilities in a
similar manner, i.e. in the context of achieving
organizational change, aligned to the external
pressure: namely, these capabilities are perceived
as business processes that use resources – specifi-
cally the processes of integrating, restructuring,
acquiring and releasing resources – to adapt or
create market changes. Dynamic capabilities
are especially helpful in explaining the sources
of competitive advantage in extremely volatile
markets (Macher, Mowery, 2009).
Dynamic capabilities are determined by or-
ganizational and managerial processes, positions
and paths. The organizational and managerial
processes refer to routines, i.e. current practices in
an organization, such as coordination, integration,
Niksa Alfirevic
University of Split, Croatia
Anita Talaja
University of Split, Croatia