Manuel Expósito-Langa

New Product Development and Absorptive Capacity in Industrial Districts: A Multidimensional Approach

Expósito-Langa M., Molina-Morales F. X. and Capó-Vicedo J. New product development and absorptive capacity in industrial districts: a multidimensional approach, Regional Studies. This research studies to what extent the absorptive capacity of a firm influences its capacity to exploit new opportunities through new products, particularly in a specific context of industrial districts. A multidimensional approach to the absorptive capacity concept is used to distinguish between identification, assimilation, and exploitation of external knowledge. The population of companies belonging to a Spanish textile district is studied. Findings suggest that information and knowledge that a company receives from external sources provide the company with the necessary abilities to innovate. In the present case, the greater the absorptive capacity, the greater the innovation capacity for the company. Expósito-Langa M., Molina-Morales F. X. et Capó-Vicedo J. La mise au point des produits nouveaux et la capacité d’absorption dans les districts industriels: une façon multi-dimensionnelle, Regional Studies. Cette recherche étudie jusqu’à quel point la capacité d’absorption d’une entreprise influe sur sa capacité d’exploiter de nouvelles possibilités par moyen des produits nouveaux, notamment dans le contexte des districts industriels. On applique une façon multidimensionnelle à la notion de capacité d’absorption afin de distinguer entre l’identification, l’assimilation et l’exploitation de la connaissance externe. On étudie le parc d’entreprises implanté sur un district du textile en Espagne. Les résultats laissent supposer que l’information et la connaissance que reçoit une entreprise des sources externes fournissent ce dont elles ont besoin pour innover. Il s’avère de la présente étude que la plus grande est la capacité d’absorption, la plus grande est la capacité d’innovation. Capacité d’absorption Connaissance District industriel Innovation Mise au point des produits nouveaux Expósito-Langa M., Molina-Morales F. X. und Capó-Vicedo J. Die Entwicklung neuer Produkte und die absorptive Kapazität in Industriebezirken: ein multidimensionaler Ansatz, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag untersuchen wir, in welchem Ausmaß sich insbesondere im spezifischen Kontext der Industriebezirke die absorptive Kapazität einer Firma auf ihre Kapazität auswirkt, neue Gelegenheiten durch neue Produkte zu nutzen. Zur Unterscheidung zwischen der Identifizierung, der Assimilation und der Nutzung von externem Wissen wird ein multidimensionaler Ansatz für die absorptive Kapazität herangezogen. Untersucht wurden die Firmen eines Textilbezirks in Spanien. Aus den Ergebnissen geht hervor, dass die Informationen und das Wissen, die eine Firma von externen Quellen bezieht, der Firma die nötigen Fähigkeiten zur Innovation verleihen. Im vorliegenden Fall gilt, dass die innovative Kapazität einer Firma um so größer ausfällt, je größer ihre absorptive Kapazität ist. Absorptive Kapazität Wissen Industriebezirk Innovation Entwicklung neuer Produkte Expósito-Langa M., Molina-Morales F. X. y Capó-Vicedo J. Desarrollo de nuevos productos y capacidad de absorción en distritos industriales. Una aproximación multidimensional, Regional Studies. El presente trabajo estudia el efecto de la capacidad de absorción en la empresa sobre el desarrollo de nuevos productos, dentro de un contexto de distrito industrial. Utilizamos una aproximación multidimensional para el concepto de la capacidad de absorción con el objeto de distinguir entre la identificación, asimilación y explotación de conocimiento. Hemos trabajado con empresas pertenecientes al distrito industrial textil español. Los resultados sugieren que las externalidades que la empresa recibe en forma de información y conocimiento de su entorno, junto a las habilidades internas necesarias, benefician su proceso de innovación. De forma particular, el desarrollo de la capacidad de absorción en la empresa favorece su capacidad innovadora. Capacidad de absorción Conocimiento Distrito industrial Innovación Desarrollo de nuevos productos

How Relational Dimensions Affect Knowledge Redundancy in Industrial Clusters

This paper focuses on the effects of social capital on industrial clusters. Close networks with strong ties provide benefits for the companies involved in terms of knowledge flow; however, they can also have some negative effects such as knowledge redundancy and obsolescence. We propose an explanatory model to study factors and mediators affecting the redundancy of transmitted knowledge. The model has been applied to a sample of 152 companies in two Spanish industrial clusters. Findings suggest that although strength of ties was associated with redundancy, structural dispersion and local institutions have a negative effect on knowledge redundancy. The findings have a number of relevant implications for individual firms and their policies.

The impact of cluster connectedness on firm innovation: R&D effort and outcomes in the textile industry

Recent research into the clustering effect on firms has moved away from a simplistic view to a more complex approach. More realistic and complex causal relationships are now considered when analysing these territorial networks. Specifically, this paper attempts to analyse how cluster connectedness moderates the relationship of a firms innovation effort and the results obtained from this effort. We want to question the commonly accepted direct and positive impact of R&D effort, and moreover, we suggest the existence of a saturation effect and that the level of clusters inter-connectedness in the cluster moderates this effect. We have developed our empirical study focusing on the Spanish textile industrial cluster. This is a complex manufacturing industry that uses relatively low-technology manufacturing and R&D. Our findings suggest that the degree to which a firm is involved with, or connected to, other firms in the cluster can moderate the effect of the R&D effort on its innovation results. More generally, we aim to contribute to the discussion on the degree to which firms should be involved in the cluster network in order to operate efficiently and gain the maximum competitive advantages. Our findings have implications both in recent cluster and network literature as well for institutional policy.

La Gestión del Conocimiento en la Cadena de Suministro: Análisis de la Influencia del Contexto Organizativo

The aim of this paper is to analyze which organizational structure or model is the most suitable so that a real knowledge management in a supply chain takes place. To achieve this objective, a brief revision of the existing literature related to the relationship between knowledge management and the organizational context and the necessary requirements to manage the knowledge in an interorganizational context is done. From this analysis, it is concluded that the Virtual Enterprise is the most suitable organizational structure to manage knowledge in a supply chain, based on the intrinsic features of mutual confidence between its members and the dynamism in its creation and operation.

La importancia de los clusters para la competitividad de las PYME en una economía global

In this work the importance of clusters for the particular case of SMEs is analyzed, in its road toward knowledgebased and globalize economies. In short the influence that globalization has about the local economies is studied, as well as the importance of the geographical concentration of the companies in order to increase their competitiveness. Among the obtained conclusions it highlights the fact that in these concentrations true communities of knowledge can settle down, where new knowledge is generated and exchanged, at the same time that innovation is empowered, and their competitive advantage is increased. Finally, the particular case of the Valencia Textile Cluster (Spain) is studied, in order to validate the theoretical part of the article.

Innovation in clusters: exploration capacity, networking intensity and external resources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated model of the determinants of innovation in clusters. In the understanding, internal, external and relational dimensions must be considered to make up a complete picture of the innovation processes. The authors propose that the exploration capacity of the firm, as well as its networking intensity and the external resources provided by supporting organizations are relevant in this context. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical study has drawn on the population of the firms belonging to the Valencian textile industrial cluster in Spain and was carried out in two different phases. In the first step the authors applied the social network analysis technique to study the relational structure of the participating companies, followed by a second analysis aimed at performing a more detailed analysis of the companies that answered the roster by means of face-to-face interviews. Findings – Results suggest that firms in clusters must develop individ...

Knowledge network dynamics in clusters: past performance and absorptive capacity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the degree to which absorptive capacity and previous innovative performance affect network dynamics, specifically in the creation or destruction of inter-business relationships. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical study has drawn on the data collected in an industrial cluster located in the Valencian Community in Spain. This population of firms allowed us to test various roles played by network endogenous forces, absorptive capacity and former performance in the creation and dissolution of inter-organisational linkages. The authors followed an evolutionary approach and applied network analysis techniques. Findings – Empirical evidences suggest that absorptive capacity and previous innovative performance are predictors of inter-business relationships. Absorptive capacity affects the emergence of linkages in the technological network, due to the tacit nature of technological knowledge. On the other hand, previous innovative performance is an indicato...

Overcoming Undesirable Knowledge Redundancy in Territorial Clusters

This work analyzes the existence of redundant knowledge associated with geographic networks of firms. Specifically, our research focuses on how firms can avoid inefficient redundancy ties derived from territorial clusters. We propose that firms embedded in a dense and strong-tie network generate redundant knowledge flows. However, they may use structural dispersion to mediate and overcome this limitation. Our empirical study was conducted drawing on the Spanish ceramic tile industrial cluster to test the potential association between social capital and redundancy. Our findings support the idea that structural dispersion mediates the effects of strong ties and the generation of knowledge redundancy.

Creación de Redes Interorganizativas en un Cluster Territorial

Resumen El objetivo del presente trabajo es proponer una metodologia para la creacion de redes interorganizativas, en el caso concreto de PYMEs localizadas en clusters territoriales. Para ello se realizara una breve revision de alguna de las aportaciones mas significativas en la literatura existente sobre las agrupaciones territoriales de empresas o clusters , asi como sobre las redes sociales y las empresas virtuales. Del analisis realizado se concluye que la metodologia propuesta debe centrarse en el analisis de las relaciones con otras empresas y agentes externos e internos al territorio en el que se ubican para la obtencion de ventajas competitivas. Esta metodologia se plantea como complementaria a las ya “tradicionales” de analisis estructural de un sector. Palabras clave: clusters territorial, PYME, redes interorganizativas, estrategia, competitividad Proposal for a Methodology for Creating Interorganizational Networks in Territorial Clusters Abstract The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology for creating interorganizational networks is proposed for the case of SMEs located in territorial clusters. To achieve this objective, a brief revision of the existing literature related to territorial concentrations of firms (clusters), social networks and virtual organizations is done. From this analysis, it is concluded that the proposed methodology must be centred on the analysis of relationships with other companies and external and internal agents of the territory in which they are located, with regards to trying to obtain competitive advantages. We consider this kind of analysis to be complementary to traditional structural analyses of a sector.

ANÁLISIS DE CONTENIDO DE LAS PUBLICACIONES SOBRE CLUSTERS Y DISTRITOS INDUSTRIALES EN LAS REVISTAS ESPAÑOLAS DE ECONOMÍA

In recent decades, regional production patterns are the subject of scientific debate by researchers. However, there is a lack of previous literature review work. This gap advises us to perform a content analysis, choosing a sufficiently large temporal area, 1998 to 2008. We have selected the main Spanish scientific journals of Economics, obtaining a database composed by 98 contributions, in which we have studied the evolution of its scientific nature, research groups and/or universities, the research agenda and methodology. This will allow us to know the level of development of these areas and propose future research lines.