Final answer:
Alibaba's performance improvements are best explained by the resource-based model, emphasizing its internal capabilities and unique resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alibaba's improved performance, through focusing on innovation and service diversification, is best explained by the resource-based model. The resource-based model emphasizes a firm's internal resources and capabilities as the primary determinants of its strategy and performance.
Alibaba has been leveraging its unique resources, such as its technological prowess and customer service capabilities, rather than merely responding to competitive forces in the industry, which would align with the I/O model. Hypercompetition refers to rapid and dynamic competitive moves, which impacts Alibaba, but is not the primary reason for its improved performance.
Meanwhile, globalization has indeed affected Alibaba by increasing competition and potential markets, but the company's performance improvements are rooted in how it uniquely harnesses its resources to create competitive advantages, thus aligning more closely with the resource-based perspective.
Therefore, the correct answer is (B) the resource-based model.