Industrial cluster involvement, organizational learning, and organizational adaptation: an exploratory study in high technology industrial districts

Abstract

Purpose The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among organizational learning, inter-firm trust and a firm’s ability to successfully adapt to external environment. Design/methodology/approach Field survey research method was used and data were collected from 943 high technology companies in US, China, Taiwan and Sweden. Multiple regression analysis as well as mediation test were conducted to analyze the data. Findings The study finds that being positioned in an industrial cluster enhances a firm’s learning and further leads to a firm’s desired adaptive outcomes. Research limitations/implications Using self-reported data could be a potential limitation of this study. It would be preferable to have other forms of data for a study. Further, cross-cultural comparisons are needed to enhance our understandings in this multicultural setting. Practical implications The findings provide business executives as well as policy makers a new way of thinking in respect to how to develop a holis...