Nicole Sprafke (Ph.D. student) Institute of Work Science Ruhr-Universität Bochum Nicole.Sprafke@rub.de Uta Wilkens (Prof. Dr.) Institute of Work Science Ruhr-Universität Bochum Uta.Wilkens@rub.de Full Paper Submission to 30 th EGOS Colloquium Rotterdam, July 3–5, 2014 Examining dynamic capabilities with an actor-centered measurement approach and instrument Sub-theme 05: Strategizing Practices and Resources: Unpacking the Micro-Foundations and Dynamics of Resource Allocation, Deployment, Development and Perception Abstract Strategic management research increasingly seeks to identify processes and activities that constitute dynamic capabilities. At this juncture, researchers try to open the ‘black box’ of a complex, causal ambiguous construct. In our study, we propose a quantitative measurement approach that uses an action-based operationalization to get to the core of actions and interactions that underpin dynamic capabilities. We develop an actor-centered measurement instrument that addresses individual and organizational capabilities alike. We argue that surveying employees provides a reliable and parsimonious way of analyzing the collective mind of organizational members which is supposed to be an adequate method to deal with the causal ambiguity argument. We present psychometric properties that are tested in a sample of 486 employees in five organizations. We find dynamic capabilities as a higher-order construct that corresponds to individual capabilities. Particularly, we identify a set of four dimensions, (1) cooperation, (2) reflection and adaptation, (3) creative-problem solving and (4) dealing with complexity, that describe activities in order to reconfigure the organizational resource base. Finally, we highlight possibilities for the practical use of the instrument.