Due to rapid environmental change, today's business requires a more collaborative management to ensure positive performance. One of the important means that can help firms adapt successfully to a changing environment is knowledge management. The management of information and knowledge as key to retaining competitive advantage and has recently evolved into a more strategically focused research topic for both business and academic study. Managing knowledge, however, is deemed difficult because many companies recognize the importance of their proprietary knowledge and are not willing to share it freely. Recognizing this weakness, many countries have promoted the development of regional clusters where firms can co-develop their competences and competitive advantage against the world's best competitors by sharing knowledge, resources, and innovative capabilities. Other than industrial clusters, trust is also considered an important factor in knowledge management study. Trust reduces the need to monitor others' behaviors, formalize procedures, and it lowers transaction costs. At the macro level, trust can enhance organizations' core competencies and sustain their competitive advantages through co-evolution. This may occur through the development of group collaborations, cooperative relationships, and networks. The study adopted a field survey research method and used multiple regressions as the data analysis technique. The dependent variable in the study was organizational adaptation, while the independent variables were knowledge management, trust and industrial cluster. Data were collected using survey of key informants from 943 companies. The results of the analysis suggested that knowledge management does have significant influence on organizational adaptation and both industrial cluster and trust impact on organizational learning activities. The major contribution of this study is that it offers a more holistic approach in studying knowledge management by adding a new element: knowledge applying. Moreover, this study offers an initial attempt to test industrial cluster in hopes of advancing the research in management related fields.

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A inquietação quanto ao desenvolvimento local ganhou maior visibilidade na década de oitenta em virtude das contínuas e abrangentes mudanças tecnológicas. Esse fenômeno criou a necessidade de um repensar sobre as formas pelas quais se dão os diferentes processos de desenvolvimento local. Diante das múltiplas formas de abordar o tema, esse trabalho teve por objetivo discutir o sistema local de produção e, mais especificamente, as caraterísticas que moldam seu ciclo de vida. Para compreender o processo de evolução analisou-se o ciclo de vida através das alterações em sua importância local (quociente locacional) e importância industrial (coeficiente de concentração) a fim de evidenciar, de maneira empírica, os ciclos. A partir da tipologia dos sistemas locais foi possível identificar a evolução das capacitações locais na indústria de transformação do estado de São Paulo, no período de 1996 a 2010. A análise de quatro fases do ciclo de vida permitiu a identificação das principais atividades industriais nas microrregiões do estado e a fase em que se encontravam frente a evolução dos sistemas locais de produção no período analisado. Adicionalmente, como resultados ressalta-se que o processo de evolução dentro do ciclo de vida ocorre de maneira incremental, e que não há linearidade no processo de evolução entre as fases. / The current concern about local development has earned greater visibility in the eighties due to the large and continuous technological changes. This phenomenon has prompted the need to rethink about the diversity of local development processes. From the multiple ways to address this issue, the main objective of this research was to discuss the industrial clusters and, more specifically, the characteristics that are involved in shape of their life cycle. We analyzed the life cycle through the local (location quotient) and industrial importance (coefficient of concentration) in order to identify and better understand the evolution process of the cycles. Using the typology of industrial cluster was possible to identify the development of local capabilities in the manufacturing industry of the state of São Paulo, in the period of 1996-2010. We also used four distinct phases in the life cycles in order to identify the industrial activities and their positions in each region, considering the evolution of industrial clusters in the period. Additionally, our results demonstrated that the evolution process of the life cycle occurs incrementally, and there is no linearity in the evolution process between phases.

In the beginning of 21st century, like many nations across the world, Taiwan has worked hard in an attempt to establish a new economy. This new economy will be comprised of intellectual property and high-tech industries which high economic return, low pollution, and all other added values will truly bring another phase of prosperity to Taiwan. Ideally, the government hopes to pattern the successful model of Hsinchu Science Park to the new establishment of biotechnology-related science parks across the island. Therefore, the Southern Taiwan Science Park, Nankang Science Park, and Chupei Biomedical Science Park were set up. Meanwhile, the Cabinet¡]the Executive Yuan¡^also evaluated the existing bio-tech industries in terms of natural resources, academic support, and cluster effect through the Strategic Review Board (SRB). The SRB is composed of experts from industries, government officials, academicians, and researchers as well. After sophisticated discussion, SRB reached the following conclusions: 1. biotech science parks are essential to form the cluster effect to Taiwan¡¦s biotechnology. 2. The biotech science parks shall be established in regions across the island in order to integrate the resources from the northern and southern Taiwan . In June of 2002, the Cabinet has officially initiated the plan ¡§The Challenge 2008 ¡V Nation-level Development Plan¡¨ which included ¡§Two Trillion, Two Stars ¡¨ plan devised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the bio-tech development is included in the ¡§Two-Two ¡¨ plan . At the moment, Taiwan¡¦s bio-tech annual output to 100.9 billion NT$, and will bring this number up to 250 billion NT$ by 2006. In addition, the government also aims to attract another 100 billion NT$ of investment in bio-tech by the establishment of another 500 bio-tech companies within the next ten years. Some Cabinet-level agencies, such as the Council for Economic Planning and Development, the National Science Council, and the Council of Agriculture also coordinated with the local governments to plan the establishment of bio-tech science parks. According to the government¡¦s ¡§Bio-tech Industry Promotion Programs (BIPP) ¡§, four bio-tech science parks have been planned : Nankang Bio-tech Park, Chupei Biomedical Park, Southern Taiwan Bio-tech Park, and Tunghwa Bio-tech Incubation Center. The success factors for those programs will hinge on the Taiwan¡¦s ability to conquer over the current economic slowdown, to promote and maintain Taiwan¡¦s existing economic competitiveness and growth. In fact, with Taiwan¡¦s economic power, the avid promotion of knowledge-based economy, the ambition to the bio-tech industry, and the avid support from the different fields, Taiwan has amassed the essential factors to create a successful bio-tech industry. However, to realize the dream of initiating biotechnology to become the next ¡§star industry¡¨ in Taiwan, the detail planning, the execution, and the integration of the government and private resources, it dearly deserves our close attention and supervision. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ¡§bio-tech cluster effect¡¨ with respect to other factors including¡¨ resource distribution¡¨, ¡§social interaction¡¨, ¡§cluster demographics¡¨, ¡§nuclear/peripheral development¡¨, ¡§cluster economics¡¨, ¡§non-profit marketing and sales¡¨ and so on. This study will also introduce some bio-tech science parks and clusters (e.g. Europe, U.S., Asia, and China), to present their current status and past experience, then compare with the planning and development of the bio-tech science parks in Taiwan. With theoretical analysis and factual experience, this study will analyze the advantage and restrictions of the development of bio-tech science parks. Additionally, this study will provide a few viewpoints from the foreign for the government and bio-tech industry in the building of the new star industry. This study pointed out, right at the juncture where the bio-tech sets for the next wave of industry, that we are faced with the shortage of talents, the high-level technology, and funds. As a result, the development of bio-tech industry in Taiwan has fallen short of expectation, and limited the scope of discussion of this study. As of now, the bio-tech industry in Taiwan has not created any significant bio-tech-related product, the funds for bio-tech-related research only amounts to 7 billion NT$, not even 1% of the U.S. With over 100 billion NT$ of venture capital funds, only less than 5% was invested in bio-technology. Unless the government increases its R&D fund and hasten its steps in the promotion of bio-tech start ups; otherwise, Taiwan will continue to lag behind in its bio-tech development. Another unexpected factor, which plays a major role in the development of bio-technology, is the instability of the policy. Bio-technology promotions and development are easily influenced by politicians and leaders of different political backers, and often stalling various plans. For example, an approved proposal with a budget at 3.9 billion NT$ was overturned by the reason of ¡§inappropriate budgeting plan¡¨ in April of 2003. The Cabinet¡¦s proposal consisted of recruiting new bio-tech companies, biotech experts, new technologies, and to purchase Nankang bio-technology building which will increase the substantiality of ¡§the Greater Taipei Biotechnology R&D Cluster¡¨, however, the Congress¡]the Legislative Yuan¡^considered the Chinese-American Economic and Social Development Fund was not suitable for such bio-tech development and promotion. This study also pointed out some certain aspects that are beneficial to the development of biotechnology in Taiwan, to express our support to the current bio-tech-related policies, we sincerely hope that bio-tech industries will has a fruitful growing in the near future. The previous success in manufacturing calculators, computers, and other electronics that once earned Taiwan the title of ¡§Island of Technology¡¨ will again bring the island a new title, ¡§Island of Biotechnology¡¨. One of the major suggestions of this study is to advise the bio-tech industries could give up their existing ¡§subjectivity¡¨ and replace this mindset with ¡§objectivity¡¨ where sharing of knowledge, critical discussion, and mutual interaction, will bring a ¡§cohesive effect¡¨ that will ultimately reflect the benefits of biotech cluster. Researchers, professors, scientists, and students from universities, research organizations, and incubation centers should bring their promising research to nearby science parks to find appropriate matching companies to give the further collaboration in research, co-develop, manufacture, market, and sale promising in biotech products. Another point worth mentioning here is that both the public and private sector should play the equal role and share the same responsibility. In other words, from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Science Council, Council of Agriculture to the local government, and the biotechnology science park should get involved the support to the bio-tech and avoid overlaps of resource allocation. The government should evenly distribute resources, encourage fair competitions and beneficial collaborations. Even more, state owned corporations such as Taiwan Sugar Corporation and ADImmune Corporation have jumped in the bio-tech band wagon and also participated in the formation of bio-tech science parks. Anyway, one of the most ideal propositions is to promote agricultural-biotech zone from the middle to southern Taiwan science parks, in order to take advantage of Taiwan¡¦s existing natural resources, the northern science parks should emphasize on R&D, drug manufacturing, medical device design and manufacturing, bio-tech service, and so on. For example, each bio-tech park should focus on a major area and its related-services such as flower industry should match well with fruits, and vegetables while water/ocean produces should be separated. This way, each bio-tech science park will distinguish itself and even cooperate with others, and each will have its own playground and market niche. In summary, combining local political/economic situations and overseas¡¦ bio-tech park experience, this study presents the following key points that may prove to be essential in the successful establishment of Taiwan¡¦s biotech science park and cluster development: 1. Regardless of which party is in charge, government should concentrate on the establishment of science parks; 2. The establishment of science parks should base on cluster style, absorbing all potential talents and encourage R&D seedlings; 3. Sufficient R&D fund, and develop core facilities to incubate up-coming technologies; 4. To establish good relationships and frequent interactions with surrounding universities and research institutes, to ensure the flow of outstanding talents; 5. Government should promote more establishment of science parks through the Association of Allied Industries in Science-Based Industrial Park, National Applied Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, and other non-profit organizations, and to make more reasonable development process and flexibility in terms of hardware planning; 6. To provide easy access to public transportation and highway networks and comfortable and quality living environment to science parks.

相較於過去認為政策導向產業園區開發成效優於市場導向產業園區的研究，本論文從產業群聚的觀點重新檢視兩種園區，則並未發現上述的現象，內科與土城頂埔的發展成就，也突顯了市場導向產業園區對於產業群聚的調適性要快於政策導向的產業園區。制度架構的完整性是形成上述狀況的主要原因，也就是第二章理論與文獻中所提到的「公共領域」是否充足的問題。臺北新竹地區一直是世界知名的電子產業群聚地點，甚至有亞洲矽谷的美稱(Mathews, 1997)，這裡不僅匯集了臺積電、鴻海與廣達等知名企業，也有像是新竹科學園區、南港軟體園區、頂埔科技園區以及內湖科技園區等具有高新聞性的產業園區。 / 在竹科與南軟的個案中，政府都透過政策直接規範廠商規模與產業結構，單就園區開發與招商而言，明確的制度規範固然有助於降低開發招商過程的不確定性與交易成本，但就強調廠商間彼此互動而衍生出綜效 (synergy) 的產業群聚而言，完善的制度規範與政策引導反而限縮了廠商的互動機會，讓非交易性依賴的形成遭遇困境。反觀幾乎沒有制度規範的內科與土城頂埔園區，由市場自行決定進駐廠商規模與產業結構，則提供了廠商非交易依賴的形成基礎。由上可知，廠商 (市場) 而非政府政策才是產業園區創造產業群聚效應的主要形成原因。

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Este estudo teve por objetivo uma avaliação ambient al dos principais processos produtivos de uma amostra de 26 micros e pequenas indústrias localizadas no Arranjo Produtivo Local Têxtil-Vestuário de Petrópolis estruturado de forma a integrar os conceitos de Arranjo Produtivo Local e de Eco-eficiência, através das principais variáveis utilizadas pelas metodologias de Produção mais Limpa, adotada pela Rede de Produção mais Limpa e Eco- eficiência, e de Arranjo Produtivo Local desenvolvida pela REDESIST e pelo Projeto PROMOS-SEBRAE. Fundamentado pelos princípios da sus- tentabilidade local, preconizados pela Agenda 21 brasileira, para a qual um arranjo produtivo local é considerado uma unidade de análise voltada para o desenvolvimento de um planejamento ambiental participativo, teve- se em conta nesta avaliação o processo de formação histórica deste aglomerado a partir do território no qual está localizado, das relações ex istentes entre as empresas, instituições locais e de fatores condicionantes para os processos de inovação em suas múltiplas dimensões. Tendo por base o georrefe- renciamento e os resultados apresentados por um diagnóstico ambiental realizado nestas indústrias foram identificados e priorizados, qualitativamente, os principais aspectos e impactos dos principais processos produtivos a partir do método utilizado pela Metodologia de Produção Mais Limpa. Utilizou-se como referência para o potencial poluidor dos principais processos produtivos de micro e pequenas empresas têxteis e do vestuário, localizadas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro e para as indústrias da amostra, o modelo de estimativas Industrial Pollution Projection System (IPPS) e propostos critérios que foram avaliados a partir da percepção ambiental do empresariado de acordo com uma reformulação do método de Gerenciamento de Aspectos e Impactos Ambientais (GAIA). Com estes resultados, apresentados sob um formato de um cenário inicial, pretende-se contribuir com informações que possam ser utilizada s em futuros estudos voltados para formulação de políticas e programas públicos de forma a viabilizar um planejamento ambiental e estudos de prospecção tecnológica volta dos para solucionar os gargalos tecnológicos existentes em micro e pequenas empresas relacionados à temática ambiental com vistas à inovação ambiental e ao desenvolvimento local sustentável. / This study was aimed an environmental assessment of the main production processes of a sample of 26 micro and small industrial enterprises located in a Local Production Arrangement of Textile and Clothing industries which was structured in a way to integrate the concepts of Local Production Arrangement and the Ec o-efficiency through the main variables used by the methodologies of Cleaner Production, adopted by the Network of Cleaner Production and Eco-efficiency, and Local Production Arrangement, developed by the REDESIST and PROMOS Project. Based on the principles of local sustainability, recommended by the Brazilian Agenda 21, in which a local productive arrangement is considered a unit of analysis for the development of participatory environmental planning, this study assessed the historic process of formati on of this kind of industrial cluster since its location in the territory, the relationship between the industries, local institutions and factors and conditions for the process of innovation in its multiple dimensions. To have a reference for the potential polluter of the main production p rocesses of textiles and clothing, for micro and small enterprises located in the State of Rio de Janeiro and for the industries of the sample, it was used the model Industrial Pollution Projection System (IPPS). Based on the results presented by geographic information system and an environmental diagnosis realized in these industries were identified and prioritized qualitatively the main aspects and impacts of the production processes from the method used by the Methodology of Cleaner Production and proposed criteria which were evaluated from the environmental perception of the entrepreneurs in accordance with a revision of themethod Gerenciamento de Aspectos e Impactos Ambientais (GAIA). With these results, presented in a format of an initial scenario, is intended to assist in the formulation of public policies and programs in order to facilitate an environmental planning and studies of prospecting t echnology toward solving the technology gap existing in micro and small enterprises related to environmental innovation and sustainable local development.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:51:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissJFPJ.pdf: 724498 bytes, checksum: 72058d90b6e1572903d553ad3e5d24af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-02-26 / Initially this work explains, appraises and characterizes industrial cluster in the following classes: (C1) they are the Regional Cluster without formal coordenation that many authors call by Industrial Districts; (C2) class is about the clusters for Exportation e (C3) is about the Cluster Commanded by a Mother-company. The first class has been widely studied in literature. The group of research PLACOP of the Department of Production Engineering at Federal University in São Carlos has been developed research directed toward the classes C2 and C3. It is made a literature review on disturbance in the productive capacity once these factors are ones of the main problems of the current productive system; it is appraised change and disturbance, analyzed the impact of the disturbance and considered the classification of the types of disturbance in the productive capacity. After this it is briefly revised the problem of resource allocation. Later the problem of order allocation in industrial cluster in function of great disturbance in the production is studied, contemplating the definition of the problem with proposal of process of order allocation, the construction of the model and the use of the language of Modeling GAMS to get the results of the model. Finally a case study is presented that deepens the problem of disturbance in the productive capacity and order allocation in industrial cluster of the shoes´s sector of Birigüi (SP) commanded by a mother- company; in this case, the data are collected, the results are obtained and analysed. Since this research explore an aspect important and neglected by the Operations Management literature, this research brings a contribution for this knowledge area. / Esse trabalho inicia-se contextualizando, conceituando e caracterizando aglomerados industriais nas seguintes classes: (C1) são os Aglomerados Regionais sem coordenação formal que muitos autores denominam de Distritos Industriais; (C2) tratam-se dos Consórcios para Exportação e (C3) tratam-se dos Aglomerados Comandados por Empresa-mãe. A primeira classe tem sido amplamente estudada na literatura. O grupo de pesquisa PLACOP do Departamento de Engenharia de Produção da Universidade Federal de São Carlos vem desenvolvendo pesquisas voltadas para as classes C2 e C3. É feita uma revisão literária sobre distúrbios na capacidade produtiva uma vez que esses fatores são uns dos principais problemas do sistema produtivo atual, conceituando mudança e distúrbios, analisando o impacto dos distúrbios e propondo a classificação dos tipos de distúrbios na capacidade produtiva. A seguir é revisado de forma sucinta o problema de alocação de recursos. Depois é estudado o problema de alocação de pedidos em aglomerados industriais em função de grandes distúrbios na produção, contemplando a definição do problema com proposta de processo de alocação de pedidos, a construção do modelo e o uso da linguagem de Modelagem GAMS para obter os resultados do modelo. Por fim é apresentado um estudo de caso que aprofunda o problema de distúrbios na capacidade produtiva e de alocação de pedidos em um aglomerado industrial do setor calçadista de Birigüi (SP) comandada pela empresa-mãe, com levantamento dos dados, obtenção dos resultados e avaliação dos resultados de forma a proporcionar uma contribuição para a área de Gestão da Produção, pois explora um aspecto importante e pouco explorado formalmente.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Este estudo teve por objetivo uma avaliação ambient al dos principais processos produtivos de uma amostra de 26 micros e pequenas indústrias localizadas no Arranjo Produtivo Local Têxtil-Vestuário de Petrópolis estruturado de forma a integrar os conceitos de Arranjo Produtivo Local e de Eco-eficiência, através das principais variáveis utilizadas pelas metodologias de Produção mais Limpa, adotada pela Rede de Produção mais Limpa e Eco- eficiência, e de Arranjo Produtivo Local desenvolvida pela REDESIST e pelo Projeto PROMOS-SEBRAE. Fundamentado pelos princípios da sus- tentabilidade local, preconizados pela Agenda 21 brasileira, para a qual um arranjo produtivo local é considerado uma unidade de análise voltada para o desenvolvimento de um planejamento ambiental participativo, teve- se em conta nesta avaliação o processo de formação histórica deste aglomerado a partir do território no qual está localizado, das relações ex istentes entre as empresas, instituições locais e de fatores condicionantes para os processos de inovação em suas múltiplas dimensões. Tendo por base o georrefe- renciamento e os resultados apresentados por um diagnóstico ambiental realizado nestas indústrias foram identificados e priorizados, qualitativamente, os principais aspectos e impactos dos principais processos produtivos a partir do método utilizado pela Metodologia de Produção Mais Limpa. Utilizou-se como referência para o potencial poluidor dos principais processos produtivos de micro e pequenas empresas têxteis e do vestuário, localizadas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro e para as indústrias da amostra, o modelo de estimativas Industrial Pollution Projection System (IPPS) e propostos critérios que foram avaliados a partir da percepção ambiental do empresariado de acordo com uma reformulação do método de Gerenciamento de Aspectos e Impactos Ambientais (GAIA). Com estes resultados, apresentados sob um formato de um cenário inicial, pretende-se contribuir com informações que possam ser utilizada s em futuros estudos voltados para formulação de políticas e programas públicos de forma a viabilizar um planejamento ambiental e estudos de prospecção tecnológica volta dos para solucionar os gargalos tecnológicos existentes em micro e pequenas empresas relacionados à temática ambiental com vistas à inovação ambiental e ao desenvolvimento local sustentável. / This study was aimed an environmental assessment of the main production processes of a sample of 26 micro and small industrial enterprises located in a Local Production Arrangement of Textile and Clothing industries which was structured in a way to integrate the concepts of Local Production Arrangement and the Ec o-efficiency through the main variables used by the methodologies of Cleaner Production, adopted by the Network of Cleaner Production and Eco-efficiency, and Local Production Arrangement, developed by the REDESIST and PROMOS Project. Based on the principles of local sustainability, recommended by the Brazilian Agenda 21, in which a local productive arrangement is considered a unit of analysis for the development of participatory environmental planning, this study assessed the historic process of formati on of this kind of industrial cluster since its location in the territory, the relationship between the industries, local institutions and factors and conditions for the process of innovation in its multiple dimensions. To have a reference for the potential polluter of the main production p rocesses of textiles and clothing, for micro and small enterprises located in the State of Rio de Janeiro and for the industries of the sample, it was used the model Industrial Pollution Projection System (IPPS). Based on the results presented by geographic information system and an environmental diagnosis realized in these industries were identified and prioritized qualitatively the main aspects and impacts of the production processes from the method used by the Methodology of Cleaner Production and proposed criteria which were evaluated from the environmental perception of the entrepreneurs in accordance with a revision of themethod Gerenciamento de Aspectos e Impactos Ambientais (GAIA). With these results, presented in a format of an initial scenario, is intended to assist in the formulation of public policies and programs in order to facilitate an environmental planning and studies of prospecting t echnology toward solving the technology gap existing in micro and small enterprises related to environmental innovation and sustainable local development.

A inquietação quanto ao desenvolvimento local ganhou maior visibilidade na década de oitenta em virtude das contínuas e abrangentes mudanças tecnológicas. Esse fenômeno criou a necessidade de um repensar sobre as formas pelas quais se dão os diferentes processos de desenvolvimento local. Diante das múltiplas formas de abordar o tema, esse trabalho teve por objetivo discutir o sistema local de produção e, mais especificamente, as caraterísticas que moldam seu ciclo de vida. Para compreender o processo de evolução analisou-se o ciclo de vida através das alterações em sua importância local (quociente locacional) e importância industrial (coeficiente de concentração) a fim de evidenciar, de maneira empírica, os ciclos. A partir da tipologia dos sistemas locais foi possível identificar a evolução das capacitações locais na indústria de transformação do estado de São Paulo, no período de 1996 a 2010. A análise de quatro fases do ciclo de vida permitiu a identificação das principais atividades industriais nas microrregiões do estado e a fase em que se encontravam frente a evolução dos sistemas locais de produção no período analisado. Adicionalmente, como resultados ressalta-se que o processo de evolução dentro do ciclo de vida ocorre de maneira incremental, e que não há linearidade no processo de evolução entre as fases. / The current concern about local development has earned greater visibility in the eighties due to the large and continuous technological changes. This phenomenon has prompted the need to rethink about the diversity of local development processes. From the multiple ways to address this issue, the main objective of this research was to discuss the industrial clusters and, more specifically, the characteristics that are involved in shape of their life cycle. We analyzed the life cycle through the local (location quotient) and industrial importance (coefficient of concentration) in order to identify and better understand the evolution process of the cycles. Using the typology of industrial cluster was possible to identify the development of local capabilities in the manufacturing industry of the state of São Paulo, in the period of 1996-2010. We also used four distinct phases in the life cycles in order to identify the industrial activities and their positions in each region, considering the evolution of industrial clusters in the period. Additionally, our results demonstrated that the evolution process of the life cycle occurs incrementally, and there is no linearity in the evolution process between phases.

The Swedish game industry has seen tremendous growth and a global impact in the market. Despite the successes there is a lack of research on the matter. By exploring the global value chains of game companies in Skövde (a game industry hub in Sweden) the thesis intends to generate understanding of and map out value chain paths along with identifying critical factors for future growth and maintenance of the leading position in the market. A comprehensive overview of the industry cluster case of Skövde has been achieved through the use of semi-structured interviews with six local game companies. As a result of the study confirmation and extension of the thesis grand theory, the GVC literature, was achieved. A number of critical factors for practical utilization were identified, specifically the relationship with the publisher, the developer’s passion for the project & creative freedom together with contacts in the industry.  A number of scientific contributions have been made through our research. By exploring the GVC in a previously under-researched context we have made a contribution by confirming previous theory as well as laying a base for future research and an extension of the literature in the institutional context-section of the GVC literature. The critical factors findings have the potential of a direct impact on the practical management of the business side of the industry. Finally, as a result of the discovery of close connections with the Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) and Relational Exchange Theory (RET) theories we have laid the groundwork for future research in these areas as well. / Den svenska spelindustrin har sett en stor tillväxt och har en påverkan på den globala marknaden. Trots framgångarna råder en brist på forskning inom området. Genom att utforska den globala värdekedjan hos spelföretag i Skövde (ett nav för spelindustrin i Sverige) ämnar studien att generera en förståelse av och att kartlägga den globala värdekedjan samt identifiera kritiska faktorer för framtida tillväxt och upprätthållandet av den ledande positionen i marknaden. En omfattande översikt av industri-klustret i Skövde har uppnåtts genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex lokala spelföretag. Som resultat av studien har uppsatsens bas-teori, GVC-litteraturen, bekräftats och utvidgats. Ett antal kritiska faktorer för praktisk användning identifierades, specifikt relationen med publiceraren, utvecklarnas passion för projektet & kreativ frihet tillsammans med kontakter inom industrin. Ett antal teoretiska bidrag har frambringats genom vår forskning. Genom att undersöka GVC i en tidigare underforskad kontext har vi bidragit genom att bekräfta tidigare teori samt lagt grunden för framtida forskning och utvidgning av det institutionella kontextavsnittet inom GVC-litteraturen. Upptäckten av de kritiska faktorerna har potential för en direkt inverkan på den praktiska förvaltningen av industrins affärssida. Slutligen, som ett resultat av studien upptäckte vi nära anknytningar med teorier som Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) and Relational Exchange Theory (RET) vilket innebär att vi lagt en grund för framtida forskning även inom dessa områden.