Research On The Mechanism Of Collective Technological Learning Of Industrial Clusters

This paper argues that, with the fast development of Chinese industrial clusters in recent years, the enterprises are confronted with weak technological capability, slow increasing and lower industrial level. In fierce changing market, sustainable development of industrial clusters is facing challenges. Therefore, it must be taken into consideration that capability improving and industrial upgrading is realized through effective technological learning of industrial clusters. This paper aims at researching and analyzing on technological learning mechanism of industrial clusters, focused on motivation causes of technological learning, conditions of technological learning, process of technological learning of industrial clusters.Firstly, to analyze the motivation that enterprises in industrial clusters intend to take activities of technological learning, the author makes an attempt at applying theories of transaction costs, resources, knowledge spill-over, coordination to analysis framework. The analysis comes to a conclusion that technological learning of industrial clusters differs from organizational learning in many ways, and that enterprises of industrial clusters are encouraged to learn collectively for the purposes of transaction costs saving, advantage of resources, benefit of knowledge spill-over, effect of coordination. Based on the assumption of maximum benefit of enterprises, it can be summed up that the enterprises which are on different business positions in the cluster have different motivations. Mathematical analysis on cost and benefit of technological learning of enterprises in industrial clusters comes to a conclusion that the enterprises on higher business positions in the clusters intend to follow extraversive learning pattern, and enterprises on lower business positions are apt to take running-after learning pattern. Industrial cluster innovation also demands collective technological learning of enterprises. Knowledge flow of industrial clusters is one of main causes for Industrial cluster innovation. The extension and efficiency of knowledge flow would have a direct effect on structure and operation of industrial cluster innovation system.Secondly, the paper focuses on analyzing why enterprises are capable of learning collectively. The reason, which makes possible collective technological learning among the enterprises is that an industrial cluster has its basic condition, which consists of knowledge storage, learning bodies, knowledge coordination of organizations. The author believes that constructing social trust of industrial cluster is a basic condition. The geographical characteristics and construction of social trust provide opportunities to technological learning by face to face in an industrial cluster. Cultural characteristics of clusters are also positive factors for tacit knowledge diffusion and share. The networks of clusters not only promote knowledge to spill over and ideas to flow around, but also enable enterprises to share and develop knowledge in the clusters. Technological learning of industrial cluster is influenced by two kinds of key factors, which exist inside enterprises and outside enterprises. Inside enterprises, the quantity of knowledge that enterprises obtain and share depends much on the quantity of knowledge spilled over and transferred from other enterprises, and capability of knowledge absorbancy and internalization. For the reason that enterprises are different in network status, their abilities to obtain scarce knowledge are also different. Enterprises'network status and abilities to absorb knowledge are interdependent, the abilities to absorb knowledge can neutralize the roles that networks play in knowledge acquisition. As to the enterprises'periphery, social capital can overcome the obstacles, which the nature rooted in organizations bring about when the knowledge is acquired and shared among the enterprises. The increasing of social capital has a major function in reducing transaction cost, enhancing sharing efficiency and promoting technological learning. By analyzing, the author believes that, based on the external economy and economy of scale, deepening of labour division and cooperation among the enterprises forms connections of enterprises in a cluster. Connecting degree of enterprises affects sharing degree of knowledge. The information technology can establish the channel to transmit and share virtual knowledge among the enterprises in a cluster, so as to ensure the high efficiency of knowledge flow. The characteristics rooted in the local culture are advantageous in collective learning and knowledge sharing. As a neutral market, techniques market can provide the cluster for continuous learning resources, simultaneously reduce the technical admittance barriers, and create convenient conditions for technological learning in a cluster.Thirdly, the paper analyzes how the enterprises learn collectively in a cluster. The author takes advantage of SECI model in organizational learning theory and ecosystem structure of industrial cluster to analyze the way of collective technological learning. According to SECI model, the knowledge flowing process of industrial clusters has similar principles to what happens in organizational learning. The knowledge flowing in clusters consists of knowledge socialization, externalization, combination and internalization, which works in the same way inside organizations. From the view of industrial cluster, the cluster region has a similar function to"bar", the concept of which is mentioned in organizational learning theories. A cluster is a special ecosystem, which is composed of various inner factors when interpersonal relationship, value chain, competition and cooperation function in the cluster. This ecosystem is divided into three networks, namely core network, auxiliary network and exterior network. In this paper, the technological learning in core network refers to knowledge flowing process happening among the core members of enterprises in cluster. This process includes five possibilities, employees flow from one enterprise to another, enterprises cooperate and interact, enterprises grow into different ones, persons of different enterprise exchange ideas informally. The technological learning in auxiliary network mainly refers to knowledge flow happening between core members of enterprises and public service organizations, cluster agents. This process includes training and education of labour force, employees flowing from core network to auxiliary network, constructing of knowledge basic facilities, formal communication, technologies and administration. The technological learning in exterior network refers to knowledge flowing between members of enterprises and organizations outside the cluster. The analysis on this process mainly points to how members of enterprises learn from outside.Fourthly, the paper analyzes what is the circumstances like, in which the enterprises of clusters take technological learning activities collectively. Through analyzing, the author believes that collective learning of cluster is in a complicated circumstance, which is related to public service, cluster agents, technical basic facilities, policies, laws and regulations. Advantageous circumstance can ensure the effectiveness of collective technological learning mechanism in cluster.In brief, this paper analyzes collective technological learning mechanism of cluster comprehensively and systematically. The basic conclusion is that: industrial cluster has motivations, conditions and processes in collective technological learning, and finally gets achievements. Thus perfecting the collective technological learning mechanism of cluster is the key to improving the efficiency of collective technological learning, enhancing technical capability of cluster, optimize industrial level, finally promoting the region economy development.