Networks, innovation and performance : evidence from a cluster of wine cooperatives (Languedoc, South of France)
Réseaux, innovation et performance : exemple d'un cluster de coopératives viticoles (Languedoc, sud de la France)
Résumé
This paper combines economics and economic sociology to assess the role of local inter-firm networks in innovation dynamics and economic performance in a cluster of cooperatives. Focusing on the exchanges of advice between managers, our study is based on 31 cooperatives in southern France. Using both socio metric and economic data, we find correlations between cooperatives’ relational, innovation and economic scores. The cooperatives’ specificity, however, questions the results obtained in different settings. The network analysis may thus ground a comprehensive interactionist approach to cooperatives, but may also offer tools to renew their governance strategies