A REFINEMENT OF THE SAND CONE MODEL: A CONTINGENCY FRAMEWORK

摘要

The role of cumulative capabilities in facilitating firms' sustainable performance, as illustrated by Ferdows and De Meyer's (1990) sand cone model, has gained acceptance from scholars over the past two decades. Despite proponents' claim that there is only one best sequence of capability accumulation, some empirical evidence has revealed other possibilities. This study provides a systematic framework of contingencies under which different sequences of capabilities could accumulate in organizations. Two levels of contingencies are proposed: environmental level (geographic regions/national culture, industry type, and product life cycle) and organizational level (firm size and type of ownership). Research implications are discussed.