Robertson, Paul L., Jacobson, David and Langlois, Richard N.
(2008)
Innovation processes and industrial districts.
DCU Business School Research Paper Series.
(Paper No. 44). Dublin City University Business School, Ireland. ISSN: 1393-290X
In this survey, we examine the operations of innovation processes within industrial districts by exploring the ways in which differentiation, specialization, and integration
affect the generation, diffusion, and use of new knowledge in such districts. We begin with an analysis of the importance of the division of labour and then investigate the effects of social embeddedness on innovation. We also consider the effect of forms of organization within industrial districts at various stages of product and process life, and we examine the negative aspects of embeddedness for innovation. We conclude with a discussion of the possible consequences of new information and
communications technologies on innovation in industrial districts.