Title: The impact of dynamic capabilities on competitive advantage: an empirical study of firms in the customs clearing and freight forwarding industry in Zimbabwe

Authors: Trust Mutsvanga

Addresses: Zimbabwe Republic Police General Headquarters, P.O. Box CY 34, Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract: Although the impact of dynamic capabilities on competitive advantage has been subjected to recurrent scrutiny in both theoretical and empirical studies, there is however still no consensus. In addition, such studies have been skewed towards developed countries. This study cures both the geographical gap and the disagreement among researchers by testing the relationship between dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage from a third world perspective. Based on a survey of 70 firms in the customs clearing and freight forwarding industry in Zimbabwe, this study finds that dynamic capabilities are the holy grail of competitive advantage. This significant linkage reduces the scarcity of empirical support to the relationship between dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage.

Keywords: dynamic capabilities; competitive advantage; VUCA; sensing capabilities; seizing capabilities; reconfiguration capabilities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSM.2021.117859

International Journal of Sustainable Strategic Management, 2021 Vol.9 No.1, pp.34 - 50

Received: 03 Sep 2019
Accepted: 07 Sep 2020
Published online: 04 Oct 2021 *