<p>The thesis aims at understanding mechanisms behind knowledge generation and learning in a mature cluster by analysing firms in south-east Sweden engaged in the development and manufacturing of aluminium products. The point of departure is in concepts and assumptions related to spatially concen-trated systems of similar and related firms and industries, such as agglomera-tions, clusters or innovation systems.</p><p>Three sets of empirical analyses have been conducted: a mail survey, a series of in-depth interviews and a register-based analysis. The analyses focus on three themes: inter-firm relations, the embeddedness of the clustered firms in the region, and the role of labour and labour mobility in cluster development. </p><p>It is shown that also in a rather mature and low-tech cluster, firm competi-tiveness rests on continuous knowledge upgrading and innovation. In general terms, firms in this cluster do have business relations with other firms at all different spatial scales. While there are manifold buyer-supplier relations within the cluster, most firms have their most important linkages outside the region. The firms regard themselves as part of a cluster and various mecha-nisms contribute to this. There is a strong sense of trust and loyalty, and this applies in particular to those engaged either in some of the more organized supplier networks or the regional cluster initiative Aluminiumriket. Finally, the cluster does not seem to constitute a very fluid labour market for special-ised skills. Labour mobility between firms in this particular cluster seems to be fairly low.</p>

The thesis aims at understanding mechanisms behind knowledge generation and learning in a mature cluster by analysing firms in south-east Sweden engaged in the development and manufacturing of aluminium products. The point of departure is in concepts and assumptions related to spatially concen-trated systems of similar and related firms and industries, such as agglomera-tions, clusters or innovation systems. Three sets of empirical analyses have been conducted: a mail survey, a series of in-depth interviews and a register-based analysis. The analyses focus on three themes: inter-firm relations, the embeddedness of the clustered firms in the region, and the role of labour and labour mobility in cluster development. It is shown that also in a rather mature and low-tech cluster, firm competi-tiveness rests on continuous knowledge upgrading and innovation. In general terms, firms in this cluster do have business relations with other firms at all different spatial scales. While there are manifold buyer-supplier relations within the cluster, most firms have their most important linkages outside the region. The firms regard themselves as part of a cluster and various mecha-nisms contribute to this. There is a strong sense of trust and loyalty, and this applies in particular to those engaged either in some of the more organized supplier networks or the regional cluster initiative Aluminiumriket. Finally, the cluster does not seem to constitute a very fluid labour market for special-ised skills. Labour mobility between firms in this particular cluster seems to be fairly low.

Companies, nations, governments and multilateral organisations are each in their context recognising that 20th-century approaches to innovation and competitiveness are no longer relevant or effective – with whole industries and economies challenged by the fastmoving and disruptive forces of 21st-century technologies that enable unprecedented innovative capability. The rate and scale of change and disruption calls for innovation thinking more suited to a world highly connected and networked and rapidly redefined by global digital architecture and alternative forms of value exchange, value creation and capture enabled through networks, platforms, and innovation ecosystems. For a mature industry to navigate potential disruption on this scale and possibly direct disruptive innovation of its own, will require a dramatic departure from innovation and business as usual. Christensen (1997) posits that disruptive innovation is the only way for incumbents to maintain market leadership and secure future growth. So how should mature firms respond to disruption, and which strategies are effective to become disruptive too? I undertake a grounded theory study into how specifically, the insurance industry (life and health), navigates disruptive influence and plans to become disruptive too. My analysis of the literature and the research findings has led to the development of an Adapt, Regenerate, Transcend response strategy framework, the ART framework, which describes these three broad response strategies and a further set of sub-strategies, that answer the question of how firms respond to disruptive influence and become disruptive too. The ART framework is my contribution to the work on disruptive innovation response strategies. The framework shows how incumbents can apply one or more of these three broad strategies to suit their objectives. The adapt response strategy, a short-term, defensive or opportunistic strategy, aims to extend lifecycles and fend off disruptive challenges. The regenerate response strategy is an expansive, increasingly inclusive, and transformative hybrid strategy that seeks to extend lifecycles and pursue new growth opportunities that might transform the core business over time to become disruptive too. The transcend response strategy is an original and disruptive strategy where the lead firm partners to reframe and reinvent an industry through a collectively directed value proposition that creates an entirely new playing field. Using the ART framework, I also show how disruptive innovation is an inclusive innovation strategy and how the framework applies to and is of use in the context of inclusive and sustainable innovation. In doing so, a new meta-innovation concept of generative innovation emerges, which the framework begins to describe broadly and which I propose as an area of future research.

In the past decade, the energy markets within the European Union haveincreasingly been deregulated as a means to promote increased competition, andthereby efficiency, on these markets. As a result of this, several energy institutionshave been forced to become unbundled from their parent companies and toinstead form smaller separate entities. Contracts that previously were guaranteedare now subjected to public competition and in order to not risk decreasing in size,these companies must now find new ways to grow and generate new business. To study this, a case study was conducted at a Swedish energy servicescompany who recently has been unbundled from one of the largest Swedish gridowners. Specifically, the research focused on what companies in maturebusiness-to-business services contexts can do to increase their sales. The studywas conducted primarily through gathering qualitative interview data bothinternally and externally, but secondary data from surveys were also used. The findings indicate that the case company should focus on pursuing a combinedstrategy of market penetration and service/product penetration to increase sales.In addition, the company should continue to invest substantially into relationshipmarketing practices in order to build long-term potential for growth. Specifically,the findings indicate it should improve its communication and relationshipinvestment towards its customers. Furthermore, it should adopt appropriatestrategies to reduce the switching barriers of its prospective customers. The findings contribute to the understanding of how companies in similarsituations as the case company can act in order to drive growth. The studyprovides further empirical data in a field that has received relatively little academicattention. The author also suggests venues for future research in the concludingchapters.

[pt] Esta tese discorre sobre a relação entre design e indústrias maduras com ênfase em um agir projetual estratégico e orientado para contextos de mudança que incorporam obsolescência e inovação. A abordagem teórica está alinhada com as noções de acumulação criativa do conhecimento, rejuvenescimento e inovação endógena de indústrias no estágio de maturidade do ciclo de vida. Nesse sentido, defende-se que o design é capaz de gerar conhecimento novo para que essas indústrias possam se preparar para inovar sem desprezar o conhecimento existente endogenamente e questiona-se como isso é possível. Foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico sobre Design e Gestão, conciliando três matrizes de pensamento e cultura: de projeto, da gestão do processo de design e da gestão de empresa. Para a condução da pesquisa, também foram adotados os métodos Design Science Research, Material Driven Design e estudo de caso. No âmbito das indústrias maduras, a tese contribui ao caracterizar as atividades projetuais como design pendular; apontar desafios da Gestão do Design; consolidar e propor Capacidades Dinâmicas baseadas no conhecimento do Design, incluindo o transver como síntese; sugerir perspectivas para a relação entre design e a indústria-caso, especializada em materiais têxteis para piso residencial e, principalmente, propor uma abordagem de Design Estratégico com estrutura matricial que abrange bens de consumo, tecnologias e princípios culturais. Por fim, aborda-se neste texto o fato de reflexões sobre um design que enfatiza a sua intenção estratégica ao construir espaços de pesquisa, criação e crítica serem consideradas fundamentais para a transformação de ambientes industriais caracterizados por práticas consolidadas, possivelmente obsoletas. / [en] This study aims to analyze the relationship between design and Mature Industries, focusing on Strategic Design, oriented to changing contexts that incorporated obsolescence and innovation. The theoretical approach is aligned with the notions of creative accumulation of knowledge, dematurity and endogenous innovation for industries in the maturity stage of the Life Cycle. Considering these circumstances, the study discusses and questions how design is capable of generating novelties to prepare these industries for innovation without disregarding the existing endogenous knowledge. For such, bibliographic references in the areas of Design and Management, combining 3 lines of thinking and culture matrices were consulted, including design, design process management, and business management. Moreover, the Design Science Research and Material Driven Design methods, and a case study were also used during the research. Within the scope of Mature Industries, the thesis contributes by distinguishing design activities as pendulum design; by highlighting Design Management challenges; by strengthening and proposing Dynamic Capabilities based on design knowledge, which includes to see beyond as a synthesis; and, finally, by suggesting perspectives for the relationship between design and the industry case specialized in textiles for residential flooring and, mainly, by proposing a Strategic Design approach with a matrix structure that encompasses consumer goods, technologies and cultural principles. Reflections about Design that features its strategic intent in the development of spaces for research, creativity and criticism are considered essential to change industrial environments characterized by conventional practices, possibly obsolete.