VRIO Framework

Biological Parallel

VRIO asks: is a resource Valuable, Rare, Inimitable, and Organized? The bombardier beetle's explosive chemical defense is valuable (deters predators), rare (unique mechanism), inimitable (requires precisely coordinated glands and chambers), and organized (integrated firing mechanism). Most adaptations fail VRIO: camouflage is valuable but not rare; porcupine quills are valuable and rare but easy to imitate; the panda's thumb is valuable and rare but poorly organized (it's a modified wrist bone, not a true opposable digit). Sustained advantage requires passing all four tests.