Worch H., Truffer B., Kabinga M., Eberhard A., Markard J.
Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Environmental Social Sciences (ESS), Cirus - Innovation Research in Utility Sectors, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, Management Programme in Infrastructure Reform and Regulation Breakwater Campus, Portswood Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Chair of Sustainability and Technology, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Worch, H., Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Environmental Social Sciences (ESS), Cirus - Innovation Research in Utility Sectors, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Truffer, B., Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Environmental Social Sciences (ESS), Cirus - Innovation Research in Utility Sectors, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Kabinga, M., University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, Management Programme in Infrastructure Reform and Regulation Breakwater Campus, Portswood Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Eberhard, A., University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business, Management Programme in Infrastructure Reform and Regulation Breakwater Campus, Portswood Road, Cape Town, South Africa; Markard, J., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Department of Management, Technology and Economics, Chair of Sustainability and Technology, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
This paper proposes a capability-based framework to explain performance deficiencies in utility firms as a result of policy and regulatory changes. The framework complements conventional explanations such as transaction cost and agency approaches, which suggest that appropriate incentives and regulations increase the performance of public utilities after relatively short adaptation processes. In contrast, we argue that capability gaps - understood as an inadequate availability of competences, skills and experiences - tend to have long-lasting effects on firm performance. A crucial implication of the capability perspective is that regulatory interventions that create capability gaps at the firm level may affect utility performance - and the ability of infrastructure sectors to provide adequate services - more severely than expected by traditional approaches. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.