Recursos, Posição e Desempenho Empresarial num Cluster

Abstract

Firms are not islands that are independent from their environment. The relationships that they establish with other actors allow them to access  resources and competences that influence strategy and performance. The theory points out that firms have returns when access to rare and inimitable resources within clusters. These resources result from tacit, complex and specific knowledge that exist in a cluster. Based on the resource-based view of the firm and on theories of clusters and industrial districts, this article verifies if the share of resources in the cluster, as well as the position of the firm in the cluster, influences firm performance. The empiric study was carried out in a footwear cluster that includes four neighboring counties in the north of Portugal. The data were collected through a questionnaire and the sample includes 159 footwear manufacturing firms. The results suggest that the exchange and combination of resources in the cluster, as well as the position of the firm in the cluster, has positive impact in firms’ performance. Contrarily, the existence of a common reputation seems just to be valued by the firms with low performance, eventually, with the expectation of obtaining a better performance in the future. These results suggest yet that firms’ strategy should pay more attention to the way firms manage their positions in a cluster than to the exchange and combination of resources.