In this article focus is set on competences as productive resources in firms. The concept of competence is defined, and central properties of competences outlined. Thereafter the notion of the competence portfolio of the f i r m is introduced and ways of extending the portfolio through external alliances delineated. This leads to a discussion of the relationship between individual and collective competences on the one hand and competence mobility and competitive advantage on the other. Finally, implications for practice are highlighted through contrasting a traditional perspective on management of competence resources with an alternative, future-oriented perspective.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.