Ownership Competence

Strategic Management Journal, Forthcoming

42 Pages Posted: 18 Aug 2020

See all articles by Nicolai J. Foss

Nicolai J. Foss

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategy and Innovation

Peter G. Klein

Baylor University - Hankamer School of Business; Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Strategy and Management; Ludwig von Mises Institute

Lasse B. Lien

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)

Thomas Zellweger

University of St. Gallen - Center for Family Business; Babson College - Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship

Todd Zenger

University of Utah

Date Written: July 1, 2020

Abstract

Ownership is fundamental to firm strategy, organization, and governance. Standard ownership concepts—mainly derived from agency and incomplete contracting theories—focus on its incentive effects. However, these concepts and theories neglect ownership’s role as an instrument to match judgment about resource use and governance with the firm’s evolving environment under uncertainty. We develop the concept of ownership competence—the skill with which ownership is used as an instrument to create value—and decompose it into matching competence (what to own), governance competence (how to own), and timing competence (when to own). We describe how property rights of use, appropriation, and transfer relate to the three ownership competences and show how our theory offers a fresh perspective into the role of ownership for value generation.

Keywords: ownership, assets, theory of the firm, economic value creation

JEL Classification: L20, L26, M13, G34

Suggested Citation

Foss, Nicolai J. and Klein, Peter G. and Lien, Lasse B. and Zellweger, Thomas and Zenger, Todd R., Ownership Competence (July 1, 2020). Strategic Management Journal, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3653373 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3653373

Nicolai J. Foss

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Strategy and Innovation ( email )

Kilen
Frederiksberg, 2000
Denmark

Peter G. Klein (Contact Author)

Baylor University - Hankamer School of Business ( email )

Waco, TX 76798
United States
254-710-4903 (Phone)

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Strategy and Management ( email )

Breiviksveien 40
N-5045 Bergen
Norway

Ludwig von Mises Institute ( email )

Auburn, AL
United States

Lasse B. Lien

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) ( email )

Helleveien 30
Bergen, 5045
Norway
+47 55959726 (Phone)

Thomas Zellweger

University of St. Gallen - Center for Family Business ( email )

Varnbuelstr. 14
Saint Gallen, St. Gallen CH-9000
Switzerland
+41 71 224 71 42 (Phone)
+41 71 224 71 01 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.kmu.unisg.ch/org/kmu/web.nsf/wwwPubPersonGer/90349757A26ABCBFC125716B0046D6EE

Babson College - Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship

231 Forest Street
Babson Park, MA 02457-0310
United States

Todd R. Zenger

University of Utah ( email )

David Eccles School of Business
1655 East Campus Center Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
United States
801 585-3981 (Phone)
801 581-7939 (Fax)

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