Family Networks for Learning and Knowledge Creation in Developing Regions

Abstract

With the rise of the knowledge economy, learning and knowledge creation rather than material resources and assets are becoming competitive advantages of regions and countries. Unlike concrete inputs, which are produced mechanically, intangible knowledge is created through agents' interaction and communication, which are structured by social relations and norms within organizations, communities, and societies. Accordingly, knowledge-creating regions both in traditional sectors (e.g., the Third Italy) and high-tech industries (e.g., Silicon Valley) are characterized by intensive interaction of professionals and accommodating business culture in local communities. It has thus become widely accepted that the long-term success of regional economies increasingly depends on social learning processes-localized and globalized-of individuals and organizations. Daily practices of agents develop specialized language, frameworks, and conventions as codes of communication and rules of interaction by which individually, organizationally, and regionally embedded knowledge can be mobilized and cross-fertilized in continuous codification and internalization processes

The emergence of innovations through the encounter of knowledges in “the local”. How fresh action emerges in networks

“…Any network always forms the way of gaining experiences. So, networks modify the way knowledge is constituted, and as we saw with Li (2017), they also promote specific ways of learning, differentiating e.g., contexts characterized more by family ties or by networks of friends. Anyway, concepts, ideas-knowledge-are on their way through networks.…”

“…In general, family plays an important role in local economic learning processes in majority of world contexts. But contrary to the above, Li (2017) showed that families are extremely helpful to those local technological learning processes that require repeated communication and interaction. “In traditional communities family bridges can enable entrepreneurs to learn business and technical know‐how quickly” (Li, 2017, p. 80).…”

“…But contrary to the above, Li (2017) showed that families are extremely helpful to those local technological learning processes that require repeated communication and interaction. “In traditional communities family bridges can enable entrepreneurs to learn business and technical know‐how quickly” (Li, 2017, p. 80). On the other hand, some other learning processes are better supported by friendship ties.…”

“…Here as well, the differentiation often follows a rather problematic categorization such as traditional versus industrial or modern, or developed versus developing. With regard to local economic learning processes, the first is said to be dominated by family ties and networks, and the second by friendship ties, says Li (2017). It is argued that in so-called developing contexts, formal institutions such as the legal system tend to function badly, informal norms and social structures like family networks are more important there.…”

“…This is the reason for choosing the relational approach. Focusing on local circumstances and processes, network research shows that e.g., the long‐term success of regional economies depends on both localized and globalized social learning processes of individuals as much as organizations, when economic stakeholders learn from each other (Li, 2017). The fact of non‐interactive learning in certain regions (Glückler, 2013), for example, highlights the great relevance of locality for understanding knowledge production.…”