The performance of territorial networks of organisations. The case of French centres of competitiveness

Evaluating the effectiveness of different types of clusters (e.g. clusters, industrial districts or centres of excellence (French pôles de compétitivité)) is a newly emerging field of research, and is the convergent point for the common concerns of cluster managers, the public authorities and academic circles.

Although varied in its approach, the available literature nevertheless highlights the influence of structural features, as well as specific situational factors, on self-evaluation by clusters. However, for the moment, it does not take into consideration the influence of their institutional environment and, therefore, the possible inputs from neo-institutional theory.

This gap in the literature was the starting point for our analysis aimed at understanding whether there is such an effect and, if so, analysing the impact of the institutional environment on the evaluation of clusters. Our approach focuses on the French clusters known as pôles de compétitivité. A preliminary analysis considered more than 300 specific performance indicators used by the French clusters and the body of our present research is based on 37 interviews with directors of « pôles de compétitivité » (52% of all such clusters).

Three levels of result are proposed.

Firstly, we identify the institutional pressures on these clusters and their impact on self-evaluation. Then, the analysis highlights the strategies used by the clusters in response to this pressure.

Finally, through a proposition of typical ideal patterns, we demonstrate the existence of two different institutional rationales in this field.