Law, Strategy, and Competitive Advantage

31 Pages Posted: 14 Jan 2009 Last revised: 8 Mar 2011

See all articles by Robert C. Bird

Robert C. Bird

University of Connecticut - School of Business; University of Connecticut School of Law

Date Written: February 7, 2011

Abstract

Firms aggressively seek a competitive advantage over rivals. A voluminous body of strategy scholarship has identified numerous sources of competitive advantage. Yet, the notion that law may be a source of competitive advantage remains largely unexplored. This is surprising given the significant time and resources managers dedicate to legal issues. This article examines whether legal resources can generate a sustainable competitive advantage for firms. This article also identifies firm attributes and managerial attitudes that might encourage legally strategic thinking. This article concludes that law can be a source of a sustainable competitive advantage and numerous variables exist worthy of future study.

Keywords: competitive advantage, strategy, legal environment, firm behavior

JEL Classification: K20, L10, Ll20

Suggested Citation

Bird, Robert C., Law, Strategy, and Competitive Advantage (February 7, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1327795 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1327795

Robert C. Bird (Contact Author)

University of Connecticut - School of Business ( email )

368 Fairfield Road
Storrs, CT 06269-2041
United States

HOME PAGE: http://businesslaw.business.uconn.edu/robert-bird/

University of Connecticut School of Law ( email )

55 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
557
Abstract Views
3,769
Rank
90,984
PlumX Metrics