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Competency Trap

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Abstract

It is frequently observed that many firms, especially those that are successful in the current environment, fail to change quickly enough when the environment changes significantly. One potent explanation for these observations is a phenomenon of learning called a ‘competency trap’. In this article we briefly describe what competency traps are, the factors that lead to them, the consequences for the firm, including reduced adaptability and missed opportunities, and, finally, the various means through which a firm can avoid falling into the competency traps.

This entry was originally published on Palgrave Connect under ISBN 978-1-137-49190-9. The content has not been changed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stephen M Ross School of Business, 701 Tappan Street, 48109-1234, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Gautam Ahuja

  2. National University of Singapore, 1 Lower Kent Ridge Rd, 119077, Singapore, Singapore

    Vivek Tandon

Authors
  1. Gautam Ahuja
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  2. Vivek Tandon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vivek Tandon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford University , Stanford, California, USA

    Mie Augier

  2. Tusher Ctr Intellectual Capital, University of California Tusher Ctr Intellectual Capital, Berkeley, California, USA

    David J. Teece

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Macmillan Publishers Ltd., part of Springer Nature

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Cite this entry

Ahuja, G., Tandon, V. (2018). Competency Trap. In: Augier, M., Teece, D. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_385-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_385-2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-94848-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-94848-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Business and ManagementReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Competency Trap
    Published:
    24 March 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_385-2

  2. Original

    Competency Trap
    Published:
    01 July 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_385-1

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