Competitive Advantages through Clusters

The world over, clusters are home to leading firms and institutions that compete on the edge of technology. They can be found in developed and developing countries alike and comprise such famous ones as Silicon Valley, London s financial center, ceramic tile and fashion in north Italy, wine in Bordeaux, automotive in Stuttgart and Munich, software in Bangalore, and manufacturing in China s Pearl-river delta. Today they are studied by a variety of scholars from different fields including economists, social scientists, and strategists, but also by a growing number of business practitioners and policy makers.3 As a result, knowledge on the capacity of clusters to promote regional economic development and national prosperity and the role of local industrial policy in creating new clusters has increased rapidly in recent years The present research is best described as being exploratory in nature. It elaborates and extends existing theory. By doing so, it takes up a distinct position within scientific theory that is defined by three levels of analysis: (1) the meta-methodological level, (2) the methodological level, and (3) the theoretical level.How do firms create competitive advantages through clusters? To show what successful cluster-firms are made up of, Sa a ari makes use of a rigorous exploratory approach combining a thorough theory review with insights gained from two empirical studies conducted in China. His findings suggest that successful cluster-firms use their Entrepreneurial Orientation to seek out promising new opportunities and exploit their value generating potential through a dedicated Cluster-Capability. Both strategic elements are implemented through high decentralization of decision authority and low task formalization thus requiring highly skilled personnel and entrepreneurial leaders. With his research, the author gives an answer on how firms create competitive advantages through the clusters they are located in. This serves as an important orientation for executives, authorities, and other stakeholders who are interested in making the most out of their local economic environment.