Thus, what marks these theories “resource-based” are not these differences in application,
but rather, the assumptions they share. These include the assumption that resources and
capabilities can be heterogeneously distributed across competing firms, that these differences
can be long lasting, and that they can help explain why some firms consistently outperform
other firms. From this perspective, the resource-based view actually consists of a rich body
of related, yet distinct, theoretical tools with which to analyze firm level sources of sustained
competitive advantage.