COMPETENCE · Identification, evaluation, and transfer of competences through mergers-and-acquisitions: a knowledge-based perspective

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

These days the transition to a knowledge economy becomes increasingly observable. The topic is one thematic priority nominated by the EU's 6th Framework program. Contemporary strategic and organisational research describes organisational competences (OC) built on knowledge as the most important factors for gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. A specific Knowledge-based View (KbV) gains in importance.While the impact of OC in competitive environment is well analysed, development processes through M&A are widely neglected. The interdisciplinary research project on hand intends to develop an integrative model of OC resulting from empirical research. It integrates affiliated concepts dealing with absorptive capacity and dynamic capabilities and it is anchored in KbV. OC enhance an organisation's ability for collective actions.Central characteristics are rules, consolidated in organisational learning processes. Systems of rules are formulated predominantly in a tacit manner and they can be conceived as organisational knowledge. Rules are 'learned' by employees unconsciously during socialisation processes in order to enable collective action. The latter is observable as routines. M&A, as the most important alternative to acquire OC on organisational level, provide excellent cases to develop an in-depth understanding of them and related questions as their identification, evaluation and subsequent transfer.The following results are expected: 1st a framework for OC explaining their emergence and development; 2nd applicable methods for identification and evaluation of OC as basis for their transfer; 3rd an understanding of competence transfer's guiding mechanism, focussing on the role of absorptive capacity and dynamic capabilities. Methodologically, case study research based on qualitative interviews will be used. This enables the re-construction of M&A processes and an in-depth view on identification, strategic evaluation, and subsequent transfer of OC.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• COPENHAGEN BUSINESS SCHOOL · FREDERIKSBERGCoordinatorDenmark

Links

• View on CORDIS