The complexity in technological capabilities:: evidence from biotechnological Spanish firms

The difficult recognition of some individual knowledge-based resources contained within any technological capability and the comprehension of their contribution to its operation, are the most recognised attributes of assets, which must accomplish to create and sustain competitive advantages. Nevertheless, the strategic value of intangible resources needs to receive more empirical attention, since previous results dealing with complexity and its effects on firm success are not conclusive at all. Apart from some environmental variables, one of the reasons that can explain this situation can be related to the theoretical treatment complexity received in the literature. Because of this, our aim is to develop an in-depth empirical analysis, where both quantitative and qualitative approaches to the complexity construct are integrated. To do that, we studied the empirical evidence coming from a sample of biotechnological Spanish firms devoted to either human or animal health.