Production
https://prod.org.br/doi/10.1590/0103-6513.20180018
Production
Research Article

Collaboration in cluster-based firms as a source of competitive advantage: evidence from a footwear cluster

Cláudia Fabiana Gohr; Iris Stéfani Viana de Oliveira

Downloads: 0
Views: 879

Abstract

Abstract: Paper aims: To analyze the potential to generate relational rents in cluster-based firms located in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Originality: We developed a conceptual framework based on the primary sources of relational rents considering the characteristics of clusters.

Research method: An explorative case study. Data were collected mainly by semi-structured interviews.

Main findings: We developed propositions, demonstrating that geographic proximity has a strong influence in diverse sources of rents. Business trust and reputation have an impact on the development of relational rents. Absorptive capacity is a preservation mechanism since it allows firms to understand and absorb knowledge and information.

Implications for theory and practice: Significant contributions are the research propositions developed through empirical evidence that can be testable in large scale. Cluster-based firms could share different types of resources bringing competitive benefits. Decision makers should make sure that when sharing internal resources it provides an additional advantage.

Keywords

Industrial cluster, Relational rent, Absorptive capacity, Geographic proximity

References

Anbanandam, R., Banwet, D. K., & Shankar, R. (2011). Evaluation of supply chain collaboration: a case of apparel retail industry in India. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 60(2), 82-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17410401111101449.

Bardin, L. (1977). Análise de conteúdo (70. ed.). Lisboa: Edições 70.

Barney, J. (1991). Firm resource and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108.

Barney, J. B., & Hesterly, W. S. (2007). Administração estratégica e vantagem competitiva: casos brasileiros. São Paulo: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Bonatto, F., Resende, L. M. M., Pontes, J., & Andrade Junior, P. P. (2017). A measurement model for managing performance of horizontal business networks and a research case. Production, 27, 1-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-6513.005117.

Cainelli, G., Iacobucci, D., & Morganti, E. (2006). Spatial agglomeration and business groups: new evidence from Italian industrial districts. Regional Studies , 40(5), 507-518. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00343400600757585.

Cao, M., & Zhang, Q. (2010). Supply chain collaborative advantage: a firm’s perspective. International Journal of Production Economics, 128(1), 358-367. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2010.07.037.

Cao, M., & Zhang, Q. (2011). Supply chain collaboration: impact on collaborative advantage and firm performance. Journal of Operations Management, 29(3), 163-180. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2010.12.008.

Chang, C., Chiang, D. M., & Pai, F. (2012). Cooperative strategy in supply chain networks. Industrial Marketing Management, 41(7), 1114-1124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2012.04.011.

Chassagnon, V. (2014). Consummate cooperation in the network-firm: theoretical insights and empirical findings. European Management Journal, 32(2), 260-274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2013.01.002.

Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990). Absorptive capacity: a new perspective on learning and innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 128-152. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2393553.

Connell, J., Kriz, A., & Thorpe, M. (2014). Industry clusters: an antidote for knowledge sharing and collaborative innovation? Journal of Knowledge Management , 18(1), 137-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JKM-08-2013-0312.

Day, M., Fawcett, S. E., Fawcett, A. M., & Magnan, G. M. (2013). Trust and relational embeddedness: exploring a paradox of trust pattern development in key supplier relationships. Industrial Marketing Management, 42(2), 152-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2012.12.004.

Duriáu, V. J., Reger, R. K., & Pfarrer, M. D. (2007). A content analysis of the content analysis literature in organization studies: research themes, data sources, and methodological refinements. Organizational Research Methods, 10(1), 5-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1094428106289252.

Dyer, J. H. (1996). Specialized supplier networks as a source of competitive advantage: evidence from the auto industry. Strategic Management Journal, 17(4), 271-291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199604)17:4<271::AID-SMJ807>3.0.CO;2-Y.

Dyer, J. H. (1997). Effective interfirm collaboration: how firms minimize transaction costs and maximize transaction value. Strategic Management Journal,18(7), 535-556. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199708)18:7<535::AID-SMJ885>3.0.CO;2-Z.

Dyer, J. H., & Hatch, N. W. (2006). Relation-specific capabilities and barriers to knowledge transfers: creating advantage through network relationships. Strategic Management Journal, 27(8), 701-719. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smj.543.

Dyer, J. H., & Singh, H. (1998). The relational view: cooperative strategy and sources of interorganizational competitive advantage. Academy of Management Review , 23(4), 660-679. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amr.1998.1255632.

Fuensanta, M. J. R., Sancho, F. H., & Marco, I. V. S. (2015). In vino veritas: competitive factors in wine-producing industrial districts. Investigaciones Regionales , 32(32), 149-164.

Gretzinger, S., & Royer, S. (2014). Relational resources in value adding webs: the case of a Southern Danish firm cluster. European Management Journal,32(1), 117-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2013.02.004.

Gulati, R. (1998). Alliances and networks. Strategic Management Journal , 19(4), 293-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199804)19:4<293::AID-SMJ982>3.0.CO;2-M.

Hervás-Oliver, J. L., & Albors-Garrigós, J. (2007). Do clusters capabilities matter? An empirical application of the resource-based view in clusters. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 19(2), 113-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08985620601137554.

Hervas-Oliver, J., & Albors-Garrigos, J. (2009). The role of the firm’s internal and relational capabilities in clusters: when distance and embeddedness are not enough to explain innovation. Journal of Economic Geography, 9(2), 263-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbn033.

Hervas-Oliver, J., Gonzalez, G., Caja, P., & Sempere-Ripoll, F. (2015). Clusters and industrial districts: where is the literature going? Identifying emerging sub-fields of research. European Planning Studies, 23(9), 1827-1872. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2015.1021300.

Hoffmann, V. M., Lopes, G. S. C., & Medeiros, J. J. (2014). Knowledge transfer among the small businesses of a Brazilian cluster. Journal of Business Research , 67(5), 856-864. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.07.004.

Kalwani, M. U., & Narayandas, N. (1995). Long-term manufacturer-supplier relationships: do they pay off for supplier firms? Journal of Marketing, 55(1), 1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002224299505900101.

Kanter, R. M. (1994). Collaborative advantage: the art of alliances. Harvard Business Review, 72(4), 96-108.

Kogut, B. (1988). Joint ventures: theoretical and empirical perspectives. Strategic Management Journal, 9(4), 319-332. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250090403.

Larty, J., Jack, S., & Lockett, N. (2016). Building regions: a resource-based view of a policy-led knowledge exchange network. Regional Studies,3404, 1-14.

Lavie, D. (2006). The competitive advantage of interconnected firms: an extension of the resource-based view. Academy of Management Review, 31(3), 638-658. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amr.2006.21318922.

Lawson, C. (1999). Towards a competence theory of the region. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 23(3), 151-166. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cje/23.2.151.

Li, J., & Geng, S. (2012). Industrial clusters, shared resources and firm performance. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 24(5-6), 357-381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2011.591841.

Liao, T. (2010). Cluster and performance in foreign firms: the role of resources, knowledge, and trust. Industrial Marketing Management, 39(1), 161-169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2008.08.003.

Lin, Y., & Wu, L. (2014). Exploring the role of dynamic capabilities in firm performance under the resource-based view framework. Journal of Business Research , 67(3), 407-413. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.12.019.

Lublinski, A. E. (2003). Does geographic proximity matter? Evidence from clustered and non-clustered aeronautic firms in Germany. Regional Studies, 37(5), 453-467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0034340032000089031.

Matopoulos, A., Vlachopoulou, M., Manthou, V., & Manos, B. (2007). A conceptual framework for supply chain collaboration: empirical evidence from the agri-food industry. Supply Chain Management, 12(3), 177-186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13598540710742491.

Molina-Morales, F. X. (2001). European industrial districts: influence of geographic concentration on performance of the firm. Journal of International Management, 7(4), 277-294. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1075-4253(01)00048-5.

Molina-Morales, F. X., & Exposito-Langa, M. (2012). The impact of cluster connectedness on firm innovation: R&D effort and outcomes in the textile industry. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 24(7-8), 685-704. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2012.710260.

Niu, K. H. (2010). Organizational trust and knowledge obtaining in industrial clusters. Journal of Knowledge Management, 14(1), 141-155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13673271011015624.

Niu, K. H., Miles, G., & Lee, C. S. (2008). Strategic development of network clusters: a study of high technology regional development and global competitiveness. Competitiveness Review, 18(3), 176-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10595420810905966.

Porter, M. E. (1990). Competitive advantage of nations. New York: The Free Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-11336-1.

Rungtusanatham, M., Salvador, F., Forza, C., & Choi, T. Y. (2003). Supply-chain linkages and operational performance: a resource-based-view perspective. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 23(9), 1084-1099. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01443570310491783.

Sanchez, R., & Heene, A. (1996). Introduction: towards the theory and practice of competence-based competition. In R. Sanchez, A. Heene & H. Thomas (Eds.), Dynamics of competence-based competition: theory and practice in the new strategic management (pp. 1-35). Oxford: Pergamon.

Santos, G. A. G., Diniz, E. J., & Barbosa, E. K. (2004). Aglomerações, arranjos produtivos locais e vantagens competitivas locacionais. Revista do BNDES , 11(22), 151-179.

Santos, K. C. G., & Nascimento, F. S. (2012). Inovação sob a visão de diferentes atores: o caso do APL de calçados de Campina Grande. In Anais do 27º Simpósio de Gestão da Inovação Tecnológica . Rio de Janeiro: ANPAD.

To, C. K. M. (2016). Collaboration modes, preconditions, and contingencies in organizational alliance: a comparative assessment. Journal of Business Research, 69(11), 4737-4743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.04.023.

Vasconcellos, F. C., Goldszmidt, R. G. B., & Ferreira, F. C. M. (2005). Arranjos Produtivos. GV Executivo, 4(3), 17-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/gvexec.v4n3.2005.34385.

Voss, C., Tsikriktsis, N., & Frohlich, M. (2002). Case research in operations management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 22(2), 195-219. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01443570210414329.

Wilk, E. D. O., & Fensterseifer, J. E. (2003). Use of resource-based view in industrial cluster strategic analysis. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 23(9), 995-1009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01443570310491747.

Williamson, O. E. (1985). The economic institutions of capitalism: firms, marketing, relational contracting. New York: Free Press.

Wong, C. Y., & Karia, N. (2010). Explaining the competitive advantage of logistics service providers: a resource-based view approach. International Journal of Production Economics, 128(1), 51-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2009.08.026.

Wu, X., Geng, S., Li, J., & Zhang, W. (2010). Shared resources and competitive advantage in clustered firms: the missing link. European Planning Studies, 18(9), 1391-1410. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2010.492578.

Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: design and methods (3. ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Zhang, S., & Li, X. (2008). Managerial ties, firm resources, and performance of cluster firms. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 25(4), 615-633. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10490-008-9090-7.
 

5c66ebad0e88258d2dd4e49c production Articles
Links & Downloads

Production

Share this page
Page Sections