Congratulations to Dick and Sid

13 December 2009 at 3:32 pm Peter G. Klein 1 comment

| Peter Klein |

A comment from Dave Hoopes reminded me to congratulate Dick and Sid — Nelson and Winter, that is — for winning this year’s Dan and Mary Lou Schendel Best Paper Award from the Strategic Management Society, Dick for his 1991 paper “Why Do Firms Differ, and How Does it Matter?” and Sid for his 2003 paper “Understanding Dynamic Capabilities.” Dick’s paper is a particularly good introduction for economists wanting to understand what the strategy field is all about. I’m not a huge fan of dynamic capabilities — a friend calls the dynamic capabilities literature the “Derrida of strategic management” — but Sid’s paper strikes me as a particularly sensible approach.

On a personal note, many years ago I interviewed for a faculty position with Dick’s group at Columbia. I didn’t get the job, but Dick was a charming and gracious host. He has what you might call an impish sense of humor (I’m sure Dick Langlois can add some good stories). Sid Winter is a brilliant scholar and mentor to many in the strategy field (I only wish his views on macroeconomics were more, well, Kleinian).

Congratulations, gentlemen!

Entry filed under: - Klein -, People, Strategic Management.

Paper Titles I Wish I’d Written Samuelson and Schumpeter

1 Comment Add your own

1. David Hoopes | 14 December 2009 at 10:43 pm

Derrida? Ouch!
There is plenty of mind-drool written about dynamic capabilities. BUT, none by Sid Winter! It shouldn’t surprise anyone I favor the 2003 dynamic capabilities paper. One can hardly blame Nelson or Winter for some of the pathetic papers we management “scholars” have foist on the world.

I love both of the papers that SMS awarded. As usual, Sid’s examination and discussion (of dynamic capabilities) are very clear and cogent.

Some day Steve Postrel and I might attempt to publish some papers that develop some of Sid’s fine work.

Thanks for the post Peter.