Intellectual capital as competitive advantage in emerging clusters in Latin America

August 19, 2012 Editor 0

Abstract

Purpose – Emerging clusters, formed by SMEs of slow growth and embryonic management systems, present different competitive advantage scheme. This paper analyses relationships among components of intellectual capital within a model of competitive advantages in emerging clusters SMEs in a region of Latin America.Design/methodology/approach – A sequential method based in PLS technique is suggested to select the model and estimate the parameters. A sample of 113 wood manufacturers SMEs in a region of Argentine was selected. Findings – Competitive advantage scheme in emerging clusters SMEs proposes resources affect organizational capabilities; territory and organizational capabilities affect strategic factors which improve performance. In this scheme, human capital affects structural capital and structural capital generates relational capital. SMEs organize tangible resources and relational capital to build organizational capabilities

Research limitations/implications – Sample is cross-section. Performance is subjectively measured. This paper only studies survival SMEs of the wood sector in a region of Latina America

.Practical implications – Paper establishes suggestions to strategies of the SMEs in emerging clusters and politics to developing countries. This paper enables practitioners and scholars to comprehend and make legitimate decisions and conclusions that can foster business growth.

Originality/value – We tested the impact of dimensions of intellectual capital on performance in emerging clusters of developing countries within a competitive advantage scheme, showing causal process among intellectual capital dimensions and competitive advantages. The analysis differentiates among intellectual capital dimension and organizational capabilities
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Categories: Knowledge Management, South-South

Tags: competitive advantage in emerging clusters, competitive advantage scheme, intellectual capital dimension, organizational capabilities, smes