Alhanshi, M A M (2019) Examining the management of strategic resources in projects. PhD thesis, University of Hull, UK.
Abstract
The resource-based theory theme concerns the exploitation of resources at organization level. However, the utilization of resources can be realized by the unique exploitation of those resources at the level of individual projects, supported by specific organizational dynamic and project capabilities in an innovative environment. In addition, project management as an application of knowledge and skills is a resource that can be utilized and could be a source of competitive advantage. This thesis seeks to explore how organizations might improve their performance and sustain their business by managing effectively their strategic resources at project level. The main underlying theory used in this thesis is the resource-based theory. Strategic resources are identified by four main characteristics. A strategic resource should be: valuable, rare, inimitable and should be supported by the organization Accordingly, the thesis aims to explore the possibility of applying the resource-based theory at project level. The methodology involved the use of both qualitative research, using semi-structured interviews and focus groups, and quantitative technique, using questionnaires. The data were all collected from petroleum industry organizations based in United Arab Emirates and Oman; petroleum industry (Projects team/department) and were analyzed using interpretations of the interview extracts and statistical questionnaires. The results show that at project level, the valuable and organizational support characteristics of strategic resources are valid and positively related to competitive advantage, both being affected by dynamic capabilities and innovative environment, while the rareness and inimitability characteristics showed less evolution. The results suggest a trend of replacing these with two other characteristics, namely unique exploitation and timely availability of resources. In addition, the results show a positive relationship between strategic resources and organizational/project performance. Finally, the thesis proposes a framework for the project-based resource characteristics which is expected to increase project success and become a source of competitive advantage for an organization. The possibility of generalizing the outcome to projects in other industry sectors and countries is also discussed. The implication of the findings is that, for organizations at project level, the main characteristics of strategic resources are that they are valuable, organizationally supported, can be uniquely exploited and are readily available. Those characteristics are better achieved in projects depending on two main factors: the dynamic capabilities of the organization and projects, and an innovative environment. Having strategic resources with these accompanying factors impacts the success of projects and, accordingly, organizational performance and its sustainability.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Williams, T M |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | dynamic capabilities; resource-based theory; competitive advantage; performance; project success; skills; strategic resource; sustainability; focus group; interview; qualitative research; project performance; Oman; United Arab Emirates |
| Index terms: | project management, project performance, organizational performance, strategic resource, exploitation, Oman, project success, competitive advantage, United Arab Emirates, questionnaire, qualitative research, dynamic capability, methodology, evolution, resource-based theory, focus group, industry sector, interview |
| Subjects: | environmental science, Geography, research methods, market analysis, research design and methodology, data collection methods, project management theory and practice, economics, management, performance measurement, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Project Management, Sustainability, Quality Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here