Knowledge and Information Networks in an Italian Wine Cluster

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse the nature and extent of knowledge and information networks in an Italian wine cluster. Moreover, the relation between firms' characteristics and the knowledge network structure is also explored. The empirical findings show that knowledge is unevenly distributed in clusters and that networks of knowledge and information differ a great deal in terms of their structure. In fact, knowledge flows are restricted to a tightly connected community of local producers, differing in terms of knowledge assets, innovation behaviour and overall economic performance with respect to the rest of the firms in the cluster.

The impact of cluster connectedness on firm innovation: R&D effort and outcomes in the textile industry

“…One of the consequences of the relevance of the non-physical dimensions of proximity is that knowledge is unevenly distributed among members of an industrial cluster (Giuliani and Bell, 2005). Authors argue the existence of sub-networks inside the districts, with significant differences in terms of network structure characterization (Giuliani, 2005;Giuliani and Bell, 2005;Morrison and Rabellotti, 2009 …”

“…Moreover, as a consequence of recent changes in clusters, individual firms increase in importance (Morrison, 2008). In fact, authors have argued the importance of the renewal role of individual firms (Varaldo and Ferrucci 1996) and the consolidation of internal heterogeneity in the cluster (Morrison and Rabellotti, 2009). Others such as Belussi and Arcangeli (1998) or Corò and Grandinetti (1999) found evidence that successful clusters are characterized by the presence of a few dynamic firms that develop new products and processes.…”

Do clusters really matter for innovation practices in Information Technology? Questioning the significance of technological knowledge spillovers

“…Instead this supports a more critical view that knowledge networks can be selective (Giuliani, 2007;Morrison and Rabellotti, 2009;Østergaard, 2009), and more fundamentally, even in an innovative technology cluster the sourcing of knowledge from the Cluster environment can be very limited. Furthermore, Table 2 also illustrates that R&D Managers and Managing Directors benefit more from the Cluster (median: '3') than 'pure' engineers or developers (median: '5').…”

The influence of relationship networks on academic performance in higher education: a comparative study between students of a creative and a non-creative discipline

“…For example, individuals in creative contexts may suffer from high levels of internal relationships (Cattani and Ferriani 2008). The sharing of redundant information and the difficulties in abandoning existing ideas and exploring new ones are some of the types of problems identified for these highly connected actors (Morrison and Rabellotti 2005;Schilling 2005). On this basis, we consider that there are still important questions in the literature on students' social networks in higher education to be addressed.…”