Learning, Innovation, and Globalization : The Competitive Advantage of Collaborative Entrepreneurship

In order to compete with large international firms,small firms may function as a part of an existing or emerging industrialcluster. Researchers seek to understand the impact of cluster-basedoperations on entrepreneurial activities.Based upon previous literature,the theories regarding innovation and entrepreneurship are discussed andassessed. Using the past literature as a framework, a "learning model" iscreated, based on the strategies of cluster-based entrepreneurial andinnovation activities. The learning model is then applied to two cluster casestudies, one from the United Kingdom's high-technology optics cluster and theother from Italy's leather sofa manufacturing industry.Each cluster isdescribed in detail, including information regarding the development of thecluster.Then, a summary describes the learning and innovation methodsexhibited by the clusters; these methods include empirical learning, learningby emulation, and learning by acquisition. The findings of the study indicate that both managers and policy makers needto account for the varied learning processes that exist within clusters toensure cluster success.A successful learning model connects the firmswith their knowledge base and their abilities within their competitiveenvironment; a successful learning model also stresses the importance ofcontinuous learning for both the firm and the cluster.(AKP)