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.

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.

Firm competitiveness is no longer an industry-specific or regional phenomenon, but it has evolved to have global impacts. The increase in intensity of regional and international competition, ineffectiveness of regional development policies and models has led to the focus on regional economic development. In particular, a focus on industrial cluster promotion, both in developed and developing countries has proliferated owing to their increased success as a sustainable source of economic growth and development. Industrial clusters are a geographically proximate group of inter-connected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and complementarities. In addition to industrial cluster formation, firms can also maintain competitiveness through internationalisation. Internationalisation ensures that firms are able to serve many markets from existing manufacturing bases without having to establish production plants in other markets. It reduces the over dependence on domestic markets and business risks associated with dependence on one market. This study identified industrial clusters for the North West Province (NWP) of South Africa using the Structural Path Analysis (SPA) method, as a strategy to enhance firm competitiveness. It contributes to the methods to identify industrial clusters by applying the Power of Pull (PoP) method to prioritise the number of clusters for the NWP. The ten identified industrial clusters and their respective PoP rankings were (i) communication; (ii) real estate; (iii) grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; (iv) building and other construction; (v) basic metal products; (vi) other food products; (vii) agriculture; (viii) non-metallic mineral products; (ix) trade; and (x) dairy products. This study identified the most important centres, in terms of the most contributions to output, employment and profit at the local municipal level across all the ten identified clusters. These centres were Madibeng, Rustenburg, City of Matlosana, Mafikeng and Ditsobotla. This indicates that efforts to stimulate cluster formation in this sector should be focused in these regions. This study also determined whether any association exists between the identified industrial clusters‟ products and services and the realistic export opportunities according to the DSM for products and the DSM for services. Four of the six product clusters were found to have REOs according to the DSM for products, namely grain mill, bakery and animal feeds products, agriculture, non-metallic mineral products and the basic metal products clusters. In terms of services, only two service clusters, namely communication and building and other construction services clusters, were found to have with REOs according to the DSM for services. This study further demonstrated the effects of industrial cluster formation on the regional economy, using social accounting matrix (SAM) multipliers. SAM multiplier analysis was used to demonstrate the output, employment, employment income and gross domestic product (GDP) supported by cluster formation for the NWP. The supported activity for the agriculture and trade clusters was less than the actual activity. The following clusters‟ supported activity was greater than the actual activity; communication; real estate; grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; building and other construction; basic metal products; other food products; non-metallic mineral products; and dairy products. The identified industrial clusters‟ REOs were explored further to provide more details on the products or services identified as having REOs. In addition, the countries to which the identified REOs (products and services) can be exported were discussed. In terms of product clusters identified to have REOs, the export potential values, cell classifications and market accessibility index scores were discussed. In terms of the service clusters identified as having REOs, countries, market access, market openness, import demand and cell classifications were discussed. / PhD (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Firm competitiveness is no longer an industry-specific or regional phenomenon, but it has evolved to have global impacts. The increase in intensity of regional and international competition, ineffectiveness of regional development policies and models has led to the focus on regional economic development. In particular, a focus on industrial cluster promotion, both in developed and developing countries has proliferated owing to their increased success as a sustainable source of economic growth and development. Industrial clusters are a geographically proximate group of inter-connected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and complementarities. In addition to industrial cluster formation, firms can also maintain competitiveness through internationalisation. Internationalisation ensures that firms are able to serve many markets from existing manufacturing bases without having to establish production plants in other markets. It reduces the over dependence on domestic markets and business risks associated with dependence on one market. This study identified industrial clusters for the North West Province (NWP) of South Africa using the Structural Path Analysis (SPA) method, as a strategy to enhance firm competitiveness. It contributes to the methods to identify industrial clusters by applying the Power of Pull (PoP) method to prioritise the number of clusters for the NWP. The ten identified industrial clusters and their respective PoP rankings were (i) communication; (ii) real estate; (iii) grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; (iv) building and other construction; (v) basic metal products; (vi) other food products; (vii) agriculture; (viii) non-metallic mineral products; (ix) trade; and (x) dairy products. This study identified the most important centres, in terms of the most contributions to output, employment and profit at the local municipal level across all the ten identified clusters. These centres were Madibeng, Rustenburg, City of Matlosana, Mafikeng and Ditsobotla. This indicates that efforts to stimulate cluster formation in this sector should be focused in these regions. This study also determined whether any association exists between the identified industrial clusters‟ products and services and the realistic export opportunities according to the DSM for products and the DSM for services. Four of the six product clusters were found to have REOs according to the DSM for products, namely grain mill, bakery and animal feeds products, agriculture, non-metallic mineral products and the basic metal products clusters. In terms of services, only two service clusters, namely communication and building and other construction services clusters, were found to have with REOs according to the DSM for services. This study further demonstrated the effects of industrial cluster formation on the regional economy, using social accounting matrix (SAM) multipliers. SAM multiplier analysis was used to demonstrate the output, employment, employment income and gross domestic product (GDP) supported by cluster formation for the NWP. The supported activity for the agriculture and trade clusters was less than the actual activity. The following clusters‟ supported activity was greater than the actual activity; communication; real estate; grain mill, bakery and animal feed products; building and other construction; basic metal products; other food products; non-metallic mineral products; and dairy products. The identified industrial clusters‟ REOs were explored further to provide more details on the products or services identified as having REOs. In addition, the countries to which the identified REOs (products and services) can be exported were discussed. In terms of product clusters identified to have REOs, the export potential values, cell classifications and market accessibility index scores were discussed. In terms of the service clusters identified as having REOs, countries, market access, market openness, import demand and cell classifications were discussed. / PhD (International Trade), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The purpose of the thesis was to identify the tech startups main organizational resources and capabilities received from the Stockholm cluster. Correspondently, how those encourage to sustained competitive advantage internationally. The aim was to ensure a deeper understanding with a qualitative research method with a multiple case study and an abductive approach. The empirical findings were based on seven case companies that were committing within the tech sector and were internationalized. Further, the literature review takes off with the definition of the segment, namely the tech startups followed by industrial cluster, the network - and social network theory, the Resource-based view with concertation on the different firms’ resources, the VRIO framework, and capabilities, and thereby internationalization including international competitiveness. The conceptual framework has illustrated the correlation between investigated variables, mentioned above. Moreover, the empirical findings chapter was constituted of primary data presented by the seven companies. The analysis was established on the basis of the three voices, which are theoretical, empirical and authors to examine contrast and correlation with each other. The analysis part was followed by a conclusion chapter that presented the main findings/conclusions, thus answered the research question. In addition, the chapter provided with implications, , limitation and recommendations for future research.   The findings displayed that the main organizational resources and capabilities obtained from Stockholm consist of human and financial capital, alliances and relationships, innovation/technology and reputation. However, they are only three of them that bring sustained competitive advantage, which are the human capital, alliance and relationships, and reputation capability.