Os aglomerados industriais têm recebido a atenção de pesquisadores e gestores públicos como um meio de obter vantagens competitivas para as empresas de uma região. Na literatura argumenta-se que ambientes com grandes concentrações de empresas de um mesmo setor favorecem a formação de redes de empresas, a troca de conhecimentos e a realização de ações conjuntas. No entanto, ainda não é claro como esses benefícios podem ser alcançados, uma vez que eles requerem confiança e esforços de coordenação entre as partes envolvidas. Trabalhos anteriores enfatizaram a utilização de práticas de gestão de desempenho e conhecimento em aglomerados, como forma de gerenciar a colaboração e, ao mesmo tempo, acumular e disseminar conhecimentos. Como forma de contribuir com a área de gestão em aglomerados, este trabalho realizou um estudo exploratório sobre as práticas de gestão de desempenho e conhecimento que são utilizadas em aglomerados, com o propósito de compreender como ambos os temas se complementam e facilitam o planejamento, coordenação e avaliação de ações conjuntas. A coleta de dados se deu pela realização de estudos de caso em três aglomerados, nos quais foram entrevistados empresários e gestores de associações locais. Alem disso, uma intervenção foi realizada em um desses aglomerados, durante a qual foram desenvolvidas práticas de gestão de desempenho e conhecimento. Os dados revelaram detalhes sobre a dinâmica da gestão de ações conjuntas e sobre a forma como conhecimentos são criados e compartilhados. Isso possibilitou uma maior compreensão da inter-relação entre a gestão de desempenho e conhecimento, revelando que ambos os temas devem ser vistos de forma integrada na gestão de associações locais. Ao final do trabalho, o conhecimento adquirido na pesquisa de campo foi sintetizado sob a forma de diretrizes de gestão, com o propósito de auxiliar gestores envolvidos com associações locais em aglomerados. / Industrial clusters have received considerable attention from researchers and policy makers as a means for achieving regional competitive advantage. It is widely believed in the literature that regional concentrations of firms from the same economic sector facilitate the establishment of organizational networks, knowledge sharing, as well as the implementation of collaborative initiatives. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how these benets can be achieved, since they require trust and coordination eorts from the parties involved. Previous research has underlined the use of performance and knowledge management practices in clusters, as tools to manage collaboration and, concurrently, accumulate and disseminate specialized knowledge. In order to contribute to the body of knowledge on industrial clusters management, it was carried out an exploratory study about the performance and knowledge management practices being used by clusters to understand how both topics mutually contribute to planning, coordinating and assessing collaborative initiatives. Three case studies were conducted as the main sources of data, in which company owners and representatives from local associations were interviewed. Additionally, a six-month intervention was carried out in one of the clusters, during which performance and knowledge management practices where implemented in the local association. The empirical data enables an in-depth analysis about the dynamics of collaborative initiatives management, as well as how knowledge is created and shared among cluster actors. This led to a better understanding about the interplay between performance and knowledge management, revealing that both topics should be viewed in a more integrated fashion when dealing with management in local associations. Finally, the knowledge generated during the eld research was summarized as a set of management guidelines, as a way to provide guidance to managers of local associations.

Os aglomerados industriais têm recebido a atenção de pesquisadores e gestores públicos como um meio de obter vantagens competitivas para as empresas de uma região. Na literatura argumenta-se que ambientes com grandes concentrações de empresas de um mesmo setor favorecem a formação de redes de empresas, a troca de conhecimentos e a realização de ações conjuntas. No entanto, ainda não é claro como esses benefícios podem ser alcançados, uma vez que eles requerem confiança e esforços de coordenação entre as partes envolvidas. Trabalhos anteriores enfatizaram a utilização de práticas de gestão de desempenho e conhecimento em aglomerados, como forma de gerenciar a colaboração e, ao mesmo tempo, acumular e disseminar conhecimentos. Como forma de contribuir com a área de gestão em aglomerados, este trabalho realizou um estudo exploratório sobre as práticas de gestão de desempenho e conhecimento que são utilizadas em aglomerados, com o propósito de compreender como ambos os temas se complementam e facilitam o planejamento, coordenação e avaliação de ações conjuntas. A coleta de dados se deu pela realização de estudos de caso em três aglomerados, nos quais foram entrevistados empresários e gestores de associações locais. Alem disso, uma intervenção foi realizada em um desses aglomerados, durante a qual foram desenvolvidas práticas de gestão de desempenho e conhecimento. Os dados revelaram detalhes sobre a dinâmica da gestão de ações conjuntas e sobre a forma como conhecimentos são criados e compartilhados. Isso possibilitou uma maior compreensão da inter-relação entre a gestão de desempenho e conhecimento, revelando que ambos os temas devem ser vistos de forma integrada na gestão de associações locais. Ao final do trabalho, o conhecimento adquirido na pesquisa de campo foi sintetizado sob a forma de diretrizes de gestão, com o propósito de auxiliar gestores envolvidos com associações locais em aglomerados. / Industrial clusters have received considerable attention from researchers and policy makers as a means for achieving regional competitive advantage. It is widely believed in the literature that regional concentrations of firms from the same economic sector facilitate the establishment of organizational networks, knowledge sharing, as well as the implementation of collaborative initiatives. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how these benets can be achieved, since they require trust and coordination eorts from the parties involved. Previous research has underlined the use of performance and knowledge management practices in clusters, as tools to manage collaboration and, concurrently, accumulate and disseminate specialized knowledge. In order to contribute to the body of knowledge on industrial clusters management, it was carried out an exploratory study about the performance and knowledge management practices being used by clusters to understand how both topics mutually contribute to planning, coordinating and assessing collaborative initiatives. Three case studies were conducted as the main sources of data, in which company owners and representatives from local associations were interviewed. Additionally, a six-month intervention was carried out in one of the clusters, during which performance and knowledge management practices where implemented in the local association. The empirical data enables an in-depth analysis about the dynamics of collaborative initiatives management, as well as how knowledge is created and shared among cluster actors. This led to a better understanding about the interplay between performance and knowledge management, revealing that both topics should be viewed in a more integrated fashion when dealing with management in local associations. Finally, the knowledge generated during the eld research was summarized as a set of management guidelines, as a way to provide guidance to managers of local associations.

<p>The economic importance of design-intensive and cultural-products industries has grown in recent decades. One case in point is Sweden, where internationally competitive industries have emerged in areas such as multimedia, fashion, and music. During the 1990s, research in economic geography and related disciplines concerned with the link between geographical location and competitive advantage has found an important source of inspiration in the cluster approach. The thesis examines the relationship between spatial clustering and industrial competitive-ness by undertaking a series of empirical studies that explore various dimensions of the Swedish music industry. The thesis demonstrates that the Swedish music industry embraces a multitude of actors in a complex, spatially clustered production system characterised by dense social networks, which transcend individual firms. Processes and mechanisms that have enhanced the creation and diffusion of strategic knowledge as well as co-operative competition further promote the competitiveness of this cluster. Moreover, the thesis demonstrates that it is necessary to carefully consider the relation between the local milieu and the global music industrial production and distribution system in order to fully understand competitiveness in the music industry. Finally, the thesis examines how the cluster concept has been put into practice in Swedish industrial and regional policies concerning cultural industries.</p>

The economic importance of design-intensive and cultural-products industries has grown in recent decades. One case in point is Sweden, where internationally competitive industries have emerged in areas such as multimedia, fashion, and music. During the 1990s, research in economic geography and related disciplines concerned with the link between geographical location and competitive advantage has found an important source of inspiration in the cluster approach. The thesis examines the relationship between spatial clustering and industrial competitive-ness by undertaking a series of empirical studies that explore various dimensions of the Swedish music industry. The thesis demonstrates that the Swedish music industry embraces a multitude of actors in a complex, spatially clustered production system characterised by dense social networks, which transcend individual firms. Processes and mechanisms that have enhanced the creation and diffusion of strategic knowledge as well as co-operative competition further promote the competitiveness of this cluster. Moreover, the thesis demonstrates that it is necessary to carefully consider the relation between the local milieu and the global music industrial production and distribution system in order to fully understand competitiveness in the music industry. Finally, the thesis examines how the cluster concept has been put into practice in Swedish industrial and regional policies concerning cultural industries.

This study identifies and explores the clustering effects of external economy and joint action of SMMEs throughout clusters in Clairwood and Cato Manor in Durban. It attempts to contribute to an understanding of clustering effects of SMME support intervention that aligns with a wider initiative by local government to engage in the redevelopment of previously disadvantaged areas. Particularly in the South African context, the market structure is marked by enormous unequal access to basic services based on location and education among other factors to counteract obstacles to SMME development. Agglomeration generates external economies like cooperation, information sharing and inter-firm interaction. Joint action between SMMEs in these clusters and external actors harnesses the collective efforts of all actors to promote specialisation, innovation and upgrade in SMME clusters. A survey method that combined quantitative and qualitative techniques was applied to conduct voluntary, semi-structured interviews using a questionnaire. External economies, such as, supplier linkages, repayment of money borrowed and upgrade point to the extent of interactions based on a collective and shared knowledge base. Also, the pursuit of joint action is explored through existing partnerships and the potential for partnerships between enterprises in the future, highlighted qualitatively by prevailing sentiments of entrepreneurs. The findings suggest that clustering effects in Cato Manor and Clairwood are complex. SMME clustering effects reveal layers of an incipient industrialisation process with two major challenges. External economies for generating relationships with supplier networks are tenuous. Though there is flexibility, it is not sufficient to increase inerfirm relationships. Training is lacking among 53 percent of entrepreneurs in the sample. This undermines learning and cooperation for cluster specialisation. Joint action is extremely limited and difficult to achieve. The findings show that 73 percent of survivalist and micro enterprises are individually owned. In sum, cluster effects reveal that enterprises are involved in unrelated activities within the same clusters, which undermines agglomeration and collective efficiency in SMME clustering. Future research must explore the feasibility of targeted support interventions at SMME clusters that are engaged in similar and related activities by location with specific outcomes for SMMEs development in clusters. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

This study investigates the impacts of regional characteristics on the early-stage performance of New Technology-Based Firms (NTBFs) in catch-up regions where a mature industrial cluster has yet to be formed. It hypothesized that the average NTBF performance in a region is a function of its scientist job market conditions, cultural diversity, venture capital, academic research, industrial structure, and local entrepreneurial climate. Using the events of Initial Public Offerings (IPO) and Merger & Acquisitions (M&A) as an indicator of early-stage success of NTBFs, this study constructs a set of Zero-Inflated-Negative-Binomial (ZINB) models to predict the spatial distribution of such events in the U.S. biopharmaceutical and Information Technology (IT) service industries during the period from 1996 to 2005. Several empirical findings emerge from this study. First, the local entrepreneurial climate plays a significant and positive role on NTBF performance in both industries. Second, the positive impact of cultural diversity is more significant in the IT service industry than in the biopharmaceutical industry. Third, the scientist job market size and absolute salary level have positive impacts on NTBF performance, but the effect of relative salary level is negative. Fourth, proximity to venture capital firms has positive but non-linear effects, but the adverse effect of excess venture capital is stronger in the IT service industry. Fifth, there is little evidence of the direct effects of academic research in determining the NTBF performance in both industries. Finally, industrial specialization is significant and positive only in the IT service industry. The results suggest that promoting local entrepreneurial climate and cultural diversity are two effective policy instruments for catch-up regions to foster their NTBF growth.

This study aims to elucidate firm and performance attributes of a population of small, elite firms that assume prominent positions in their respective technological spaces and product markets. More specifically, this study addresses the role and impact of industrial agglomeration on the location and performance characteristics of serial innovator firms. The dissertation was conceived as a collection of three distinct but related essays. The first essay on the geographical location of firms with high levels of innovative prowess i.e. serial innovator firms vis-à-vis technology clusters and research universities indicates that these firms are not necessarily located in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) with higher average levels of industry clustering than non-serial innovator firms of similar size. Serial innovator firms and their less innovative counterparts appear to have the same need and capacity to absorb knowledge spillovers in technology clusters. Further analysis, however, revealed that serial innovator firms in the Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology and IT hardware industries are located in MSA's with significantly higher levels of regional specialization than non-serial innovator firms in that industry which suggests an asymmetric need for knowledge spillovers by these firms. Furthermore, serial innovator firms seem to be located in MSA's with a significantly higher number of research universities than a non-serial innovator firm although differences across industries can be noted. This again indicates an asymmetric use and need for academic knowledge spillovers and pecuniary advantages offered by these institutions. The analysis in the second essay reveals that serial innovator firms located in MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) with elevated levels of industrial clustering announce significantly more new products than their counterparts located in MSA areas with low levels of industrial clustering. However, no differences in the pace of technological progress of the technologies developed by serial innovator firms located in technology clusters and those outside of clusters was found. Finally, the research reported in the third essay indicates that the level of industrial agglomeration has a positive impact on the export performance of serial innovator firms and that these firms benefit proportionately more from technology clusters than non-serial innovator firms.

[pt] Com o declínio do sistema de produção em massa, o qual tinha um foco predominante nas grandes empresas, houve um redesenho das forças produtivas com tendências a uma estrutura que passou a favorecer as pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs), principalmente quando atuam de forma conjunta em aglomerações industriais e não isoladamente. Assim, foram surgindo, a partir dos anos 90, vários estudos apontando os chamados Arranjos Produtivos Locais (APLs) como uma forma de possibilitar a inserção competitiva das PMEs na economia moderna. Alguns pesquisadores consideram que as PMEs, quando inseridas nessas aglomerações, podem desenvolver uma dinâmica de aprendizado que leva a um processo de aquisição de conhecimentos. O aprendizado por interação, em particular, é apresentado como o principal responsável pela geração de inovações em PMEs. Dessa forma, esta dissertação buscou apresentar um estudo de caso, focando nas inovações geradas pelo aprendizado por interação no APL de Mármore e Granito de Cachoeiro de Itapemirim - ES, que se destaca como o principal produtor de rochas ornamentais do Brasil e como um dos maiores exportadores do mundo. Nesse APL foram encontradas duas principais fontes de aprendizado por interação: o GMC (Grupo de Melhoria Contínua) e o Empreender. O GMC, em especial, foi o foco de estudo deste trabalho, que buscou entender, principalmente, como ocorre a geração de inovações por meio da dinâmica de interação entre as empresas participantes desse grupo e entre este e as entidades que compõem a governança local, além de verificar alguns eventos relevantes de inovação do ponto de vista da empresa usuária/beneficiada. / [en] With the decline of the mass production system, which had a predominant focus on big companies, there was a readjustment of the productive forces with tendencies to a structure that started to favor the small and medium companies (SMCs), mainly when they act in an united way in industrial clusters and not separately. Starting from the nineties, several studies were developed pointing the calls clusters as a possibility for the competitive insertion of SMCs in the modern economy. Some researchers consider that SMCs, when inserted in clusters can develop a learning dynamic that leads to the process of acquisition of knowledge. The learning by interacting, in particular, is presented as the main responsible for the generation of innovations in SMCs. In that way, this dissertation presents a case study, focusing on the innovations generated by learning by interacting in the marble and granite cluster of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, which stands out as the main producer of Brazil and as one of the larger exporters of the world. In this cluster two main learning by interacting sources were found: GMC (Group of Continuous Improvement) and Empreender. GMC, in especial, was the focus of this work, which sought to understand, mainly, how the generation of innovations occur through the interaction of the participant companies of that group and among these and the entities of the local governance, as well as to investigate some relevant events of innovation from the point of view of the companies.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:29:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nadae_j_me_bauru.pdf: 1907066 bytes, checksum: 69205ceeb00e7293526059a8928551b6 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo desta pesquisa é propor um método para introdução de práticas integradas de gestão da qualidade, meio ambiente e segurança e saúde no trabalho a ser implantado coletivamente pelas PMEs pertencentes a clusters industriais. Este método foi desenvolvido com base em uma revisão bibliográfica e uma pesquisa de campo, que ajudou a conhecer o ambiente e o comportamento das PMEs em um cluster. Para consecução do proposto, selecionou-se o cluster industrial metal-mecânico localizado na cidade de Sertãozinho-SP como base para uma pesquisa exploratória, visando contribuir com a formulação do método. Os instrumentos utilizados para a coleta de dados foram a entrevista semi-estruturada com o agente de governança e o questionário aplicado em uma amostra de 20 empresas do aglomerado. Com base no referencial teórico, elaborou-se um método para introdução de práticas integradas de gestão. este método está dividido em três macroetapas: (i) preparação/planejamento, (ii) implantação e (iii) avaliação e manutenção. Cada uma das etapas é composta por ações que devem ser desenvolvidas pelas empresas e pela governança. A implantação deste método requer acompanhamento constante do agente de governança do cluster, além de ser um processo que busca a melhoria contínua / The objective of this research is to propose a practical method for introducing integrated quality management, environment, safety and health at work to be implemented collectively by SMEs belonging to industrial clusters. This method was development based on a literature review and field research, which helped to understand the environment and the behavior or SMEs in a cluster. To achieve the proposed selected to the metal-mechanic industrial cluster located in the town of Sertaozinho-SP as a basis for exploratory research, to contribute to the formulation of the method. The instruments used for data collection were semi-structured interview with the agent of governance and the questionnaire in a sample of 20 companies of the custer. Based on the theoretical framework, developed a method for introduction of integrated management practices. This method is divided into three macroetapas: (i) preparation/planning, (ii) deployment and (iii) evaluation and maintenance. Each stage consists of actions that should be developed by business and governance. The implementation of this method requires constant monitoring of the agent's governance cluster, besides being a process that seeks continuous improvement

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver uma metodologia para avaliar potenciais ações visando à minimização dos custos ambientais a partir dos conceitos da Simbiose Industrial em redes horizontais de empresas. Para cumprir tal objetivo, foi realizada uma Revisão Sistêmica de Literatura (RBS) utilizando a metodologia Methodi Ordinatio, donde resultou um portfólio com 149 artigos, que foram utilizados para desenvolver a metodologia proposta. Com os resultados, foi possível identificar descrições sobre custos ambientais e simbiose industrial e, posteriormente, possibilitou a adaptação do modelo de custos ambientais com o questionário de identificação de simbiose industrial. A metodologia foi aplicada em um aglomerado de leiterias na cidade de Piraí do Sul - PR, em três etapas, sendo: a 1ª etapa, a coleta de dados através de questionário; a 2ª etapa, elaborar um novo cenário para cada empresa e, a 3ª etapa, a análise dos resultados. Contudo, foi possível identificar a relação de potenciais de Simbiose Industrial, no aglomerado, relacionando-os com os custos ambientais, possibilitando, assim, estabelecer uma redução dos referidos custos, através da colaboração e confiança dos integrantes do aglomerado. / The objective of this work was to develop a methodology to evaluate potential actions aimed at minimizing environmental costs from the concepts of Industrial Symbiosis in horizontal networks of companies. To accomplish this objective, a Systemic Literature Review (RBS) was carried out using Methodi Ordinatio methodology, which resulted in a portfolio of 149 articles, which were used to develop the proposed methodology. With the results, it was possible to identify descriptions of environmental costs and industrial symbiosis, and later allowed the adaptation of the environmental cost model with the industrial symbiosis identification questionnaire. The methodology was applied in a cluster of dairies in the city of Piraí do Sul - PR, in three stages, being: the first stage, the data collection through a questionnaire; The second stage, to elaborate a new scenario for each company and, the third stage, the analysis of the results. However, it was possible to identify the relationship of potential of Industrial Symbiosis in the cluster, relating them to the environmental costs, thus allowing a reduction of these costs through the collaboration and trust of the members of the agglomerate.