Specificities of EU cluster policies

Obadić, Alka

doi:10.1108/17506201311315581

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…However, to be sustainable there needs to be a balance between cooperation, cluster development, support initiatives, competitive rivalry, and differentiation. It is well known that cluster incentives and initiatives are becoming increasingly prevalent in national and local economic policies (Obadic ; Schmiedeberg ), and while some clusters are deemed to be success stories (Pillay and Uctu ), cluster policies (see: Andersson et al ) have resulted in mixed results (Ebbekink and Lagendijk ). Nevertheless, the role of regional clusters in the development and growth of entrepreneurial and small firms continue to be and important research theme in the management literature (Audretsch ; Brown, McNaughton, and Bell ; Felzensztein, Gimmon, and Carter ; Li, de Zubielqui, and O'Connor ), as well as in the economic and geography domains (Mudambi and Santangelo ; Mudambi et al ).…”

Section: Theoretical Insights: Clusters and Internationalizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small Firms in Regional Clusters: Local Networks and Internationalization in the Southern Hemisphere

Felzensztein

Deans

Dana³

2019

Journal of Small Business Management

103

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This paper reports on a three‐country comparative study examining the internationalization of family winemakers in distinct regional wine clusters of Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand. In‐depth interviews were conducted with owner–operators, to understand the drivers and barriers to internationalization of their businesses. Key findings reveal that while size and age are not determinants of the ability or propensity to export wine, the existence of an independent industry body has a positive impact and greatly speeds up the internationalization process, providing an effective route for small firms to establish their very often, relatively unknown brand(s) in lucrative foreign markets.

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Section: Theoretical Insights: Clusters and Internationalizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small Firms in Regional Clusters: Local Networks and Internationalization in the Southern Hemisphere

Felzensztein

Deans

Dana³

2019

Journal of Small Business Management

103

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“…Because of the integrative and cooperative nature, many academics, practitioners and policy makers progressively view entrepreneurial clusters as effective economic tools (Obadić, 2013; Felzenstein et al , 2010; Felzensztein et al , 2019). By their very nature, they “create a more entrepreneurial, dynamic and innovative society” (Andersson et al , 2004), enabling entrepreneurial firms to benefit from an economic perspective, the very foundation of their development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collaboration in an entrepreneurial cluster: a study of an urban coop

Keane

Costin

2019

JEC

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Purpose Entrepreneurial clusters are viewed by academics, practitioners and policy makers as effective economic tools, associated with new business opportunities and innovation potential. Currently, the advancing cluster discussion is concerned with exploring the interplay and interdependence between cluster members, with collaboration increasingly taking centre stage. Despite this, however, the actual nature of collaboration is not fully understood. This study aims to explore collaboration, examining the underlying aspects of cooperative exchange, relationship-building and trust, and networking and knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach The methodological design is qualitative, utilising a series of semi-structured interviews with a cohort of cluster members, operating in an urban cooperative. Findings A shared purpose, underpinned by commonly supported value systems, is crucial in the formation of trust-based relationships. Competitive rivalry did not negatively influence motivation for collaboration. Instead, it is superseded by trust-based relationships, which facilitate information flow, acting as an enabler for collaboration. Collaboration, in pursuit of mutually beneficial goals, without fear of opportunism, is enacted through the formation of a number of, and different relationships, dependent on individual goals and/or stage of business development. Informal, rather than formal, relationships are built on respect and unspoken agreements, rather than on written formal contracts. Many “untraded” interdependencies lead to a stable networked cluster environment. Originality/value This empirical study contributes to and advances entrepreneurial cluster literature providing a deeper understanding for academics and policy makers of the interplay between cooperative exchange, relationship-building and trust and networking and knowledge sharing.

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“…A conviction that clusters are beneficial for regional economies and development was reflected to support their development through appropriate policies (Obadi c, 2013). Consequently, a new term was coined, i.e.…”

Section: Literature Review 21 Clusters Vs Cluster Initiativesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social learning in cluster initiatives

Rozkwitalska

2020

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to portray social learning in cluster initiatives (CIs), namely, to explore, with the lens of the communities of practice (CoPs) theory, in what ways social learning occurs in CIs and discover how various CoPs emerge and evolve in CIs to facilitate a collective journey in their learning process. Subsequently, the authors address the following research questions: In what ways does social learning occur in CIs? How is social learning facilitated through the emergence and evolution of various CoPs in CIs? Design/methodology/approach The study applies the abduction approach for the interpretation of the collected data and attempts to create the best explanations for the observations on the basis of the CoP theory. The qualitative study of four CIs helped to identify various ways that social learning occurs in CIs and the role of the identified CoPs in the process. Social learning is portrayed as a collective journey within and between CoPs, where the interactions of their members deepen their level of involvement and help them to enhance learning in their CoP. Findings The paper shows ways that social learning occurs in CIs and describes the role of CoPs. It identifies three types of CoPs in CIs: participants, cooperators and locomotives. Additionally, it documents different ways of social learning in CIs, namely, one-way or two-way information transfer and raising awareness; demonstrating and inspiring; or motivating and educating. It also shows that while potentially every member of a CI has access to these practices, only a limited number of members are actually involved. Social learning in CIs is selective and some CI members accept their role as more peripheral in their CI. Research limitations/implications The research shows the application of the CoP theory to the analysis of social learning in CIs, a peculiar type of clusters. It describes how CoPs in the studied CIs varied in terms of the occurrence of learning. Furthermore, it reveals how social learning related to the level of involvement of CI members, namely, with an increase of involvement, the members formed more selective CoPs and strengthened their social learning. Nevertheless, the qualitative approach in the study and the specific sample of the CIs chosen for the analysis do not allow a generalization of the findings. Practical implications Although in different CoPs social learning occurs in different ways, at each stage of the development of CIs, the learning process is carried out on the basis of interactions created among members. Therefore, it is important to support the “soft” forms of cooperation within CIs – involving members in activities and developing interactions. In addition, to ensure the growth of their entire CI, coordinators should create conditions for the development of existing CoPs into higher forms, which better support learning. They should also adopt boundary-spanning roles between various CoPs to strengthen social learning in CIs. Originality/value The literature on CIs, which are peculiar forms of clusters, is still underdeveloped. The research fills in the gap concerning the ways social learning occurs in CIs. It shows that selectiveness can be observed in this process, and emphasizes the role of interactions developed through CoPs and the benefits offered by them. The study applies the CoP approach. Consequently, it expands the theoretical base in view of the generally lacking studies on social learning in CIs in the literature on clustering. Because the CoP theory has rarely been applied in the management literature, it also augments this specific field.

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Specificities of EU cluster policies

Cited by 14 publications

References 2 publications

Small Firms in Regional Clusters: Local Networks and Internationalization in the Southern Hemisphere

Small Firms in Regional Clusters: Local Networks and Internationalization in the Southern Hemisphere

Collaboration in an entrepreneurial cluster: a study of an urban coop

Social learning in cluster initiatives

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