Knowledge Creation in Case of Clusters

Abstract

Knowledge has becomes the main strategic asset, based on which enterpreneurs build their competitive advantage. Clusters described within the chapter are a relatively new form of knowledge sharing through cooperation between companies, which – simultaneously – raises their competitive potential. The very concept of clusters is based on the idea that the geographical proximity of firms constitutes economy, not only in form of a group of entities but also due the effect of their synergy that occurs as a result of cooperation of firms and cooperation between firms and universities, and R+D institutions. The most important benefits of clusters are the capacity to generate new knowledge by combining the existing data from organizational knowledge bases of clusters and their partner-institutions with novel external information inflows. Knowledge creation, including process of knowledge sharing, has emerged as one of the most influential new organizational practices. This occurs throughout the emergence of a goodwill trust between companies cooperating in a cluster, when colleagues and partners provide each other with advice, share experience, and provide each other with solutions to problems. However, the role of informal contact in clusters cannot be overlooked either. For the time being, little is known about the value added to the firm as a result of cluster accession, as well as the effects of such relations on its performance. Such and other issues can only be raised after thorough research is conducted to this topic.