Cluster resources and competitive advantage : A typology of potentially strategic wine cluster resources

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse the potential contribution of cluster-generated resources to the competitive advantage of firms located in it and proposes a typology for wine cluster resources. The basic premise is that the process of competitive advantage creation and sustaining by clustered firms cannot be adequately analyzed in isolation from their local or regional agglomeration effects. Design/methodology/approach – Potentially strategic cluster resources were identified from the extant cluster literature, adapted to the specificities of the wine industry through in-depth interviews with experts, and finally classified in five categories. The resulting typology was then tested with institutional actors of the Serra Gaúcha (Brazil) wine cluster. Findings – Besides proposing a typology of cluster resources, the paper provides a means for resource value assessment through the mediating role of a value creation system. Research limitations/implications – Since validation testing of the typology was limited to one cluster, empirical validation in different wine clusters/regions is necessary for assessing its inter-cluster robustness. Additionally, the firm-level process of value creation and the role played therein by cluster resources require further theoretical refinement. An important research implication of the paper, however, is that it sets the conceptual basis for the development of various types of cluster-level performance indicators, such as collective efficiency, effectiveness and resilience. Practical implications – The proposed typology allows for the mapping, from different stakeholders' perspective, of a cluster's resources profile, a diagnostic tool for cluster strategic analysis, benchmarking and upgrading efforts. Originality/value – The paper contributes to recent efforts towards the use of the resource-based perspective at the cluster level, seeking to link cluster resources to firm value creation.