Ross, William A.Kenny, Brenda G.2017-12-182017-12-182005http://hdl.handle.net/1880/103450Bibliography: p. 289-306The purpose of this research is to explore the social and environmental forces affecting oil and gas producers in Canada today, and the strategic firm level and industry level responses. The research examines two leading Canadian firms in detailed case studies, as well as range of industry participants and their industry association, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. The research addresses aspects of firm level strategy and competitive advantage that are emerging as the socio-political environment has become more complex and salient to firms. Limitations to previous research are addressed in the areas of theories of the firm, stakeholder theory, and law. The main findings are that the firm level competencies and resources must be viewed in the context of both natural resource scarcity and social resource scarcity. Furthermore, firms and institutions require dynamic networks extending beyond the industry structure if they are to succeed in interpreting and responding to the business environment. Those networks involve not only the exchange of knowledge, but a challenging of assumptions, or "reflexive" sense-making, much like that advocated by legal theory in the field of reflexive law. This research presents a model of stakeholders and knowledge creation that incorporates reflexive management processes. This research also presents models of "interests-based" firms driven by the need for legitimacy, and new views regarding value creation in a natural and social resource constrained environment.xvi, 345 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.doctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/2449