Dynamic capabilities measurement safari: A roadmap

Abstract

Lack of transparency about conceptual and measurement choices in empirical studies on dynamic capabilities (DCs) amplifies difficulties scholars face on the road to conducting high-quality quantitative research. Building on the best practices of construct operationalization developed in the organizational research methods literature, we review 18 review studies on DCs research and conduct our own review of 185 quantitative studies published in 1994–2022 through the lens of an auxiliary theory development that formalizes and structures the process of translating a concept into a measurable construct. The present paper draws scholars’ attention to the importance of carefully choosing DCs measurement models as a consequential decision in DCs operationalization, which complements existing studies that either reviewed DCs conceptualizations or developed scales and measures of DCs. Besides providing scholars with an up-to-date map of quantitative research on DCs, our paper includes recommendations for consistent operationalization of DCs and identifies best operationalization practices in DCs quantitative research. Overall, the present paper advances DCs research by clarifying the construct of DCs, which is especially pertinent for future research in this area as it should strive towards robust advancement.