International Papers Published on Resource-Based View: General Characteristics and the Way Resources are Treated on the Research with Smaller Organizations

Abstract

Since the 80s, the Resource-based View (RBV) has been one of the main theories of strategic management. The volume and the complexity of RBV publications challenge the researcher to understand its general characteristics. As the theory is mainly based on the analysis of large organizations, the researcher is also challenged to understand how resources are treated on researches that deal with smaller organizations. Analysing texts published in some of the most important international academic journals, this paper aims to present indicators that show how the field has been developed. The analyses rely on statistical and textual data. The results suggest the wide prevalence of quantitative methods and the choice by large organizations as object of study. The research with smaller organizations is then analysed. The research guidelines are presented, as well as the way the resources are treated. The paper contributes thus to the comprehension of the field configuration and displays concomitantly suggestions for its extension.