Overcoming Undesirable Knowledge Redundancy in Territorial Clusters

Abstract

This work analyzes the existence of redundant knowledge associated with geographic networks of firms. Specifically, our research focuses on how firms can avoid inefficient redundancy ties derived from territorial clusters. We propose that firms embedded in a dense and strong-tie network generate redundant knowledge flows. However, they may use structural dispersion to mediate and overcome this limitation. Our empirical study was conducted drawing on the Spanish ceramic tile industrial cluster to test the potential association between social capital and redundancy. Our findings support the idea that structural dispersion mediates the effects of strong ties and the generation of knowledge redundancy.

Keywords::

• Ceramic tile
• cluster
• social capital
• knowledge
• network

Notes

¹ ASCER (Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Azulejos). This trade association was created in order to support and defend ceramic tile manufacturers. Nowadays, it is the main representative association of this industry.

² SABI is a directory of Spanish and Portuguese companies that collects both general information and financial data.