Title: Team working within organisations: a theoretical approach drawing on the resource-based view of the firm

Authors: Fernando Martin-Alcazar, Pedro Romero-Fernandez, Gonzalo Sanchez-Gardey, Jose Sanchez-Perez

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, University of Cadiz, Avda. Duque de Najera, 8. 11102 Cadiz, Spain. ' Faculty of Economics, University of Cadiz, Avda. Duque de Najera, 8. 11102 Cadiz, Spain. ' Faculty of Economics, University of Cadiz, Avda. Duque de Najera, 8. 11102 Cadiz, Spain. ' Faculty of Economics, University of Cadiz, Avda. Duque de Najera, 8. 11102 Cadiz, Spain

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to analyse the strategic importance of team working, a structural and organisational choice that is rapidly gaining importance within businesses. To do so, the article draws on the Resource-based View (RBV) of the Firm, a recurrent paradigm in this field of research, which helps to describe the conditions under which a capability can be considered a sustainable source of competitive advantage. In the first part of the paper, the main elements of this integrative approach will be outlined. Afterwards, these theoretical arguments will be applied to the phenomenon of team working, in order to explore its strategic implications. Finally a model will be proposed to try to summarise the main constructs and relationships identified.

Keywords: teamwork; human resources; resource-based view; RBV; strategy; work teams.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2009.021553

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2009 Vol.9 No.1, pp.1 - 18

Published online: 30 Nov 2008 *

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