The normative imperatives of business and marketing strategy: Grounding strategy in resource-advantage theory

Abstract

Determining the strategic thrust of the firm, it may be argued, is the principal task of top management. This task is aided by recent theories of business and marketing strategy, including the normative imperatives based on industry factors, resource factors, competences, market orientation, and relationship marketing. Choosing wisely from among the various theories of strategy requires an accurate understanding of the contexts of competition. This article argues that resource-advantage theory, an evolutionary, disequilibrium-provoking process theory of competition, provides that understanding. That is, resource-advantage theory grounds theories of business and marketing strategy.