Abstract
This article identifies and theorises the interorganisational socialisation mechanisms that facilitate the knowledge dynamic capabilities of organisations brought together within the applied context of a U.K. Local Enterprise Partnership. Focusing on the Sheffield City Region's Creative and Digital Industries Sector Group, the data for this study were messages posted to the Creative and Digital Industries Sector Group's online consultation platform. Data analysis proceeded through inductive thematic analysis. It is revealed that collaborative workspaces, business networks resources, and pathways to internationalisation are perceived to play an important role in facilitating interorganisational learning. These knowledge socialisation mechanisms are essential to avoid regional competency traps. The article identifies and discusses knowledge socialisation mechanisms that are perceived to play a key role in transferring knowledge between members of the regional system of innovation. In identifying and discussing knowledge socialisation mechanisms, this paper offers knowledge management theorists and practitioners—more specifically, regional knowledge brokers and regional development managers—actionable insight into a range of strategies that reinforce social ties and increase the flow of knowledge with a view to improving innovation outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 269-276 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Knowledge and Process Management |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2017 |
| MoE publication type | Not Eligible |
Funding
However, to our knowledge, there is no research available on the interorganisational socialisation mechanisms that facilitate the knowledge absorptive, connective, and desorptive capacities (U. Lichtenthaler & E. Lichtenthaler, 2009) of organisations that are brought together within the applied context of local enterprise partnerships (LEP). LEPs are nonstatutory bodies that have assumed many of the responsibilities previously held by the U.K.'s Regional Development Agencies before their abolishment in 2012. LEPs are defined as “joint local authority‐business bodies brought forward by groups of local authorities to support local economic development across functional economies” (Department for Business Innovation and Skills, 2010, p. 10). Their main roles include setting key priority investments, supporting project delivery, coordinating proposals sent to the Regional Growth Fund, and more recently designing the European Union (EU) investment strategies for the delivery of EU funding in England for 2014–2020. In terms of their composition, LEPs are voluntary partnerships. They must be chaired by a business and composed of a mix of entrepreneurs, “leaders of the local authorities in the LEP area and other representatives from the public sector and civic
