Learning and entrepreneurship in the furniture cluster in Metro Cebu, the Philippines

Abstract

Recent debates emphasise the role of knowledge absorption and learning processes as major factors in facilitating competitiveness for clusters of small enterprises in developing countries. This paper will focus on giving entrepreneurs a more central role in this debate using the furniture cluster in Metro Cebu, the Philippines as a case in point. Entrepreneurs are the most privileged group in the cluster in terms of access to knowledge. Much of the scope for learning processes in clusters depends on their capacity and willingness to invest in upgrading their companies. This paper analyses how entrepreneurs decide which channels to use for knowledge absorption. This paper contributes to the understanding of how entrepreneurial competence shapes learning processes in a developing country context.