An analysis of the organizational resources that uphold competitive advantage

Abstract

This study aims to identify the relation between valuable, inimitable, rare and organizable resources, and sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) in two organizations. To carry out this work, two organizations were selected: Coamo Agroindustrial Cooperativa, an agribusiness co-operative, and Cristófoli Equipamentos de Biossegurança Ltda, an industry in the field of biosafety equipment. A case study of both was conducted, using descriptive and qualitative procedures, with the help of the management of the two companies, at both the strategic and the tactical levels. The study started with the survey and identification of those who, among the people involved in the strategic process, were willing to take part in the research and in interviews. The study showed that the sources of resources that were identified by the organizations and that turned them into potential generators of competitive advantage performed better than those of their competition, based on the results achieved, which ensured the sustainability of both enterprises. At Coamo, the data indicated that the outstanding, competitive advantage in generating resources could be of a financial, physical, human or organizational nature. As for Cristófoli, the resources that stood out were the physical and the human ones. The authors concluded that the two organizations, based on an appropriate combination of their resources, employ different means of gaining competitive advantage, such as physical resources, corporate reputation, and organizational and human capital resources, all of which result from the structure and operating policy of each company.