Family agro-industry clusters from the social innovation perspective

Tiago Zardin Patias,Bianca Bigolin Liszbinski,Luana Ines Damke,Debora Bobsin,Clandia Maffini Gomes

doi:10.1590/1678-69712016/administracao.v17n6p191-215

Tiago Zardin Patias, Bianca Bigolin Liszbinski + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-69712016/administracao.v17n6p191-215

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To explore and understand the Family Agro-Industry Clusters from the social innovation perspective. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: Social innovation allows us to understand how global issues can be resolved based on local elements. The originality of this study is in the analysis of the cluster as a social innovation, highlighting its formation impacts decisively in the economic and social development of the region in which they operate. Main methodological aspects: This study had emphasis on semi-structured interviews with governance members from the investigated cluster, as well as on the analysis of the governance meeting minutes since the emergence of the clusters. The analysis of the collected content was performed with NVivo 11 software. Summary of key findings: Social innovation was analyzed based on the viewpoint of the process, network formation, planning, governance, and results. These categories from the theoretical framework enabled the Family Agro-Industry cluster from social innovation to be explained. Key considerations/conclusions: Results indicate that the clusters of Family Agro-Industry analyzed can be considered a social innovation because they have the necessary elements for its characterization, emphasizing the governance as a central construct and culture of coalition with actors from the public, private and third sectors in finding solutions for social needs.

Highlights

Social innovation can be seen as the result of a collective learning process that offers new solutions to satisfy social demands and needs
This study focuses on a particular type of cluster known as Local Productive Arrangement (LPA), which has great economic and social importance since it greatly contributes to the maintenance of rural families in their properties: the Family Agro-Industry Cluster of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
In order to explain and understand Family Agro-Industry Clusters from the social innovation perspective, the following approaches were used: 1. literature review focused on social innovation; 2. interviews with governance members of the cluster from Agroindústria Familiar e Diversidade do Médio Alto Uruguai e 197 Rio da Várzea located in Northern State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; and 3. the study of all minutes of governance meetings since the foundation of the cluster

Summary

Introduction

Social innovation can be seen as the result of a collective learning process that offers new solutions to satisfy social demands and needs. It consists of a network with the participation of actors from the public, private and third sectors with complementary objectives, building social cohesion, changing social relations, and proposing new cultural orientations (Bouchard, 2012). Innovation has been extensively studied since 1912 when Joseph Schum peter addressed the issue emphasizing monopoly profits and creative destruc tion (Schumpeter, 1934; Godin, 2008). The interdisciplinary characteristic and multiform scope in cultural, political, economic, psychological, social and technological spheres have been strengthened (Baregheh, Rowley, & Sambrook, 2009; Tidd & Bessant, 2013; Drucker, 1985; Cloutier, 2003; Murray, Caulier-Grice, & Mul gan, 2010)

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