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  • September 2018
  • Article
  • Journal of Economic Geography

Knowledge Integrators and the Survival of Manufacturing Clusters

By: Giulio Buciuni and Gary P. Pisano
  • Format:Print
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Abstract

Over the past two decades, the greater prevalence of global supply chains has had contrasting effects on Western manufacturing clusters. While some of them dwindled, others proved resilient. Contributing to the recent literature on co-located clusters and clusters' linkages, we focus on the impact of lead firms’ strategies on the competitiveness of a pair of “twin” clusters located in Northeast Italy. Our findings suggest that production remains “sticky” when leading firms pursue “process-embedded” innovation by integrating global market and local technical knowledge. We refer to this type of firm as a Knowledge Integrator and discuss how its strategy supports the competitiveness of localized suppliers.

Keywords

Production; Industry Clusters; Knowledge Use and Leverage; Strategy; Competition

Citation

Buciuni, Giulio, and Gary P. Pisano. "Knowledge Integrators and the Survival of Manufacturing Clusters." Special Issue on Challenges in International Business Development. Journal of Economic Geography 118, no. 5 (September 2018): 1069–1089.
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About The Author

Gary P. Pisano

Technology and Operations Management
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