The role of emergence in dynamic capabilities: a restatement of the framework and some possibilities for future research

Dynamic capabilities has been mischaracterized by derivative interpretations of the original concept, with variation in terms, core assumptions, and methodologies. However, in its original formulation dynamic capabilities was a framework rooted in organizational economics. We take the original formulation as a starting point to explore the relevance of the concept of emergence to the framework today. This perspective leads to a reinterpretation of the role of complementarities, co-specialization, rules, co-evolution and the ecosystem in the dynamic capabilities framework. The paper concludes with directions for research that this new frame of reference helps identify.