Resource management : a multiple case study of resource management in Swedish equine boarding businesses

Abstract: The resource management in companies defines the competitive advantage and the profile of the products or services. With a better understanding of resource management, the companies may increase their success. A sector that is expanding is the equine sector in Sweden. The equine businesses have received increased attention both from the society and from researchers. However, literature regarding how these equine boarding businesses are managed is rare. The aim of this study is to create a deeper understanding of how equine boarding businesses in the Swedish equine sector manage their resources. To fulfill the aim, questions concerning the key resources in the equine boarding businesses and what the main role of these resources are, are answered. The theoretical framework consists of Resource-based view and the Business platform by Klofsten. A qualitative multiple case study has been conducted through semi-structured interviews with eleven horse boarding business managers. The gathered data has been analyzed through the theoretical framework. The results of this study indicate that there are several key resources in Swedish equine boarding businesses. Some of the key resources are motivation, education, and experience of the manager, his/her network, the location, the chosen price level, written agreements and leadership at the yard. The motivation, education and previous experience of the manager tend to affect the way the resource base of the business is composed. The motivation affects the orientation of the business which will determine how the resources are used. The conclusion is that companies in the equine boarding business, in similarity to companies in other sectors, manage their resources to achieve competitive advantage and success for their companies.