Vertical and horizontal relationships in the process of innovation and learning by interacting: study in an industry cluster

Abstract This study sought to examine the vertical and horizontal relationships and the impact of these relationships on the process of innovation and learning by interacting, using a case study in an active industry cluster in Brazil. The methodology procedure was field research with a universe of 36 companies of the lumber industry. The research results helped identify the factors that prevent companies of a cluster from establishing more solid collaboration relationships capable of enhancing competitiveness. It was found that the prevailing mechanism in the business environment of the cluster was learning by doing, obtained from accumulated experiences and skills acquired locally, which allow the definition of adaptations and technological improvements. These findings reveal the need to create spaces inside the companies for learning by interacting and the development of new skills and competencies required for innovation.

摘要：本研究以巴西某活跃产业集群为案例，旨在探究集群内的纵向与横向关系，以及这类关系通过互动作用对创新与学习进程产生的影响。本研究采用实地调研法，调研总体涵盖木材行业的36家企业。研究结果明确了阻碍集群内企业构建更稳固且有助于提升竞争力的协作关系的各类因素。研究发现，该集群商业环境中占主导的学习机制为干中学（learning by doing），其源于本地积累的实践经验与技能，可用于制定适配方案与技术改进路径。上述研究结果表明，企业内部需要创设互动学习的空间，以培育创新所需的新型技能与核心能力。