A qualitative research instrument to analyze organizational clusters’ competitiveness factors

Authors

  • Norberto Hoppen Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Eduardo Henrique Rigoni Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Amarolinda Zanela Klein Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos
  • Ágata Maite Ritter Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Abstract

Clusters are geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, suppliers, service providers, and institutions working together at economically linked activities in a particular sector. Clusters play an important role to improve development through associative organizational forms. Many factors contribute to clusters’ competitiveness (e.g. trust and collaboration among firms, and cluster governance). However, the literature about these factors is broad and their definitions vary according to different disciplines. Moreover, these factors were object of study in industrial settings. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to present a qualitative research instrument to analyze clusters’ competitiveness factors. The final instrument created is a continuity of the work published by Rigoni and Saccol (2012) and it was empirically tested it in a cluster of flower growers. Most of the competitiveness factors of our instrument stemmed from the literature, while others emerged from the field, contributing to foster the development of theory on clusters' competitiveness. This instrument has several applications, such as to qualitatively analyze the level of competitiveness of clusters, helping their members adopt a cluster approach, and assisting police makers to design more effective cluster development policies.

Keywords: clusters, competitiveness factors, qualitative research instrument.

Author Biographies

Norberto Hoppen, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Professor of Reseeach and Mehodology for Business Administration

Eduardo Henrique Rigoni, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

DocFix FAPERGS-UNISINOS Researcher

Amarolinda Zanela Klein, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Professor of Qualitative Methods for Business Administration

Ágata Maite Ritter, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Master in Business Administration

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Published

2016-03-17

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2016): Jan/Mar

Section

Special Issue

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