Owner-managers, clusters and local embeddedness: small firms in the Sheffield (UK) metal-working cluster

Autor: Perry Wardle, H. Doug Watts, Andrew Wood
Rok vydání: 2006
Předmět:
Zdroj: Entrepreneurship & Regional Development. 18:185-205
ISSN: 1464-5114
0898-5626
DOI: 10.1080/08985620600680141
Popis: The primary objective of this paper is to explore the ways in which the characteristics of owner-managers influence the extent to which their firms are embedded within local clusters of economic activity. Data are drawn from an interview survey of a random sample of small metal-working firms in Sheffield, UK. The data are analysed using non-parametric statistical methods to test bivariate relationships. Owner-manager attributes are found to have no influence on the extent of the use of local material supply networks but they do influence the extent of dependence on local markets. Owner-managers born and bred in the local region with limited formal education, working as an operative (rather than executive) prior to start up and with many years experience are more likely to rely on local markets. Owner-manager characteristics are also linked to participation in business networks. Those with most experience and those previously working for large firms are more likely to participate. It is concluded that owne...
Databáze: OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:
Nepřihlášeným uživatelům se plný text nezobrazuje