Cohesion Forces Determinants in Cluster Development: A Study Case for Romania

Costin Lianu, Irina Gabriela Radulescu, Simona Corina Dobre Gudei, Cosmin Lianu and Veronica Mindrescu
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Costin Lianu: Faculty of Economic Sciences, Spiru Haret University, 030045 Bucharest, Romania
Irina Gabriela Radulescu: Faculty of Economic Sciences, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, 100680 Ploiești, Romania
Simona Corina Dobre Gudei: Faculty of Economy and International Affairs, Academy of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Cosmin Lianu: Faculty of Economy and International Affairs, Academy of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Veronica Mindrescu: Department Motor Performance, Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transylvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: This paper investigates to what extent bilateral relationships between business partners can positively impact multiple business alliances, such as clusters based on community of practice (CoP). Given empirical facts developed in the clustering process of Romanian companies, this paper investigates the way clusters may contribute to the alleviation of the dark side phenomenon and what ingredients, such as trust building, cluster management dedication, social interaction, pre-existing bilateral business relations, and others, may contribute to this role. Based on questionnaires and interviews, we found the significant importance of these ingredients as cohesion determinants in cluster development. The most influent factors of CF were an immediate and short-term business interest (0.62), pre-existing personal relationships (without business interest) with one or more members of the cluster (0.57), pre-existing business relationships with one or more members of the cluster (0.58), and participation in joint funding (0.48). We collected the information using the questionnaire administered online as a measuring instrument whose role was to collect and systematize data. The collected data were processed, and we obtained tables of frequency and correlation, graphs associated with them, and a regression model designed in SmartPLS software (SmartPLS GmbH, Oststeinbek, Germany). The variables that form the main constructs were introduced in SmartPls Software, where we designed a model and evaluated the Composite Reliability, Cronbach’s alpha, AVE, R-square, and Bootstrapping of the model.

Keywords: cluster; cohesion forces; trust; personal relationships; community of practice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3359-:d:770128

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