Back to results

School of Management Studies

A resource-based view of the firm : a path dependency investigation into the sources of sustainable competitive advantage : an empirical study of the University of Rhodesia, 1945-1980

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This study examined the development of the University of Rhodesia (UR) and identified a pattern that developed in a path dependent way. Path dependency captures the notion that choices, that are made when an institution is being formed, tend to have a continuing and lasting influence on the institution far into the future. It is the tendency for a step in one direction to encourage the next step to be in a similar direction, thus keeping the development of an organisation in the same path. Studies have criticised the resource-based view of the firm (RBV) and path dependency concepts as being under-theorised and under-served empirically. This study examined and clarified factors that were crucial in the emergence of UR, and helped to perpetuate its dominance over time.

Degree

thesis:*
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
School of Management Studies
Year dc:date.issued
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Mutowo, Maurice K
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • April, Kurt

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11274
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/11274

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Cape Town
Base URL
open.uct.ac.za/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Mutowo, Maurice K. A resource-based view of the firm : a path dependency investigation into the sources of sustainable competitive advantage : an empirical study of the University of Rhodesia, 1945-1980. School of Management Studies, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11274