The Contribution of Resources, Capabilities and Dynamic Capabilities to Performance

In this thesis we have tried to explain business performance based on the resource-based View (RBV) and the Dynamic capabilities View (DCV), two approaches within the resource-based theory (RBT) that benefits from being integrated. To address the problem, we have developed two main stream of research: "The detention of resources / capabilities and performance" and "The management of resources / capabilities and performance." The first conceptual model presented the relations linking the various operational capabilities to performance. The global conceptual model has focused the relation Ordinary capabilities - Environment - Diversification strategy- Dynamic capabilities - Performance. Our epistemological position in this research wished to be positivist. At the methodological level we opted for a hypothetical-deductive approach with a quantitative approach based on secondary data collected from the French database DIANE and INSEE statistics, and to evaluate capabilities we used the DEA method. The first empirical study that aims on ordinary capabilities - performance link, is based on four industries samples representing the French manufacturing industry: the pharmaceutical industry, the automotive industry, the chemical industry and the clothing industry. The second study tested the empirical model linking ordinary capabilities, dynamic capabilities, environment and diversification, based on a multisectorial sample comprising the four sectors. The results revealed first the importance of financial capability for all sectors, second the moderating role of the environment and the diversification and thirdly the magnitudes of dynamic learning (absorption) and adaptive capabilities in explaining performance. These results could serve managerial decisions and public policy.