Technology strategy formulation from a resource-based view : Booz-Allen & Hamilton methodology revisited

The business environment of today is characterized by ever-increasing turbulence. A continuous rise of technological opportunities, entrant of new competitors and new requests by customers create a demand for strategies aimed at continuously renewing sources of competitive advantage. The winning formula for competitive advantage is speed, surprise and technology development. Technology is increasingly considered as the main contributor to strategy creation. The current trend in strategy research is towards the “black-box of the corporation”, often carried out with the help of a resource-based view. This thesis focuses specifically on the formal strategic practices involved in technology strategy formulation. One methodology for technology strategy formulation is the Booz-Allen and Hamilton methodology. However, this methodology is based on what is called the industrial organization school of strategy rather than the resource-based view of strategy. One aim of this thesis is to adopt a resource-based view on the Booz-Allen and Hamilton methodology. Another aim of this thesis is to investigate the relationship between technology strategy formulation, technology strategy content and technology strategy implementation from a process management perspective. I find that a resource-based view of the corporation affect the Booz-Allen and Hamilton methodology for technology strategy formulation. The corporation should strive to keep flexibility in product markets by focusing on the corporation’s resources and capabilities rather than focusing on positions in the product market. Furthermore, a process management perspective can help understand the interdependency between technology strategy formulation, technology strategy content and technology strategy implementation activities.Validerat; 20101217 (root