Inter-firm collaboration through clusters and networks : drivers and barriers

This conceptual paper reviews the existing literature on business Clusters and Networks, proposes a series of research questions concerning drivers and barriers to the establishment and implementation of effective clusters. Relevant literature on this topic involves a wide range of academic fields and the first section of this paper combines these into a framework adapted from previous research on this topic. The research questions have been developed with a particular view to examining the drivers and barriers to successful Clusters and Networks within the manufacturing sector. The methodology for testing the research questions involves a detailed review of historical information concerning previous and current network creation attempts, plus direct observation and interviews with key personnel in up to 3 separate clustering projects. The planned methodology will most closely follow an action research approach.