While customer expectations are becoming more complicated, and competitions are getting fiercer to gain a competitive advantage, companies should constantly make an effort to maintain their competitive advantage. Cooperations and convergence between ...
While customer expectations are becoming more complicated, and competitions are getting fiercer to gain a competitive advantage, companies should constantly make an effort to maintain their competitive advantage. Cooperations and convergence between businesses and sectors should have priority over competitions, and dynamic connections and collaborations are the most significant. Under these circumstances, it is natural that the entrepreneurial approach based on convergence and innovative thinking is the main driver of building ecosystem for sustainability of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs).
Under the title of “Study of existing cluster system and exploring its improvements through the entrepreneurial ecosystem perspective,” this study analyzes the cluster ecosystem in the Guro Digital Valley(GDV) that consists of 12,000 SMEs and inflows and outflows frequently occur due to short survival period of businesses.
The focus of this study is as follows. First, this study concentrates on network expansion and improvements of networking for virtuous circle of cluster formation while analyzing SMEs in the GDV as well as fully working of open network of government, academic and cooperations. Second, this study focuses on design approach and its practical applications in the cluster, thus the design would be an opportunity and sources for business growth. This study considers the formation and management of competitive cluster as a new growth engines for the SMEs, throughout further research based on the exploratory study of this seed stage.
For this study, we chose 104 companies representing the GDV and analyzed the networks of the Industrial-Government-Academic collaboration including awareness of the application of design, design approach and culture, arts and creativity and innovative thinking. Also, we selected 4 companies and conducted in-depth interviews with interested parties to analyze the application and extensibility of design and design approach.
To share the results of this study, we held two entrepreneurship ecosystem forums co-sanctioned by the SBA(Seoul Business Agency), Hi-Seoul Brand Industry Association, Seoul Digital Industrial Complex Chief Executive Association, and Convergence Researcher Association that we belong. Through the forums, we reached the following consensus. First, although dynamic networks and active networking among the different sectors are imperative, those are not well working and the relevant information has not been accumulated. Consequently, the more comprehensive research is required to build up dynamic networks and well-operating active networks among those sectors.
Second, although application of design and design approach, creativity and innovative thinking is significant in that it enhances competitiveness of the business, it is difficult for SMEs to apply them in their businesses. Study helping them to make full use of innovative thinking and design approach is required through the systematic approach at the cluster level.
Lastly, establishing networks of the Industrial-Government-Academic collaboration and systems for innovative thinking and design approach is important for the competitiveness of businesses. Eventually, building “the Evaluation framework” is essential to analyze the impact of the competitiveness of cluster.
This study would be contributed as follows. First, using the systematic approach at the cluster level, the companies in the cluster will be able to adopt the design approach and innovative thinking, which will be the opportunity for their growth. Second, this study will be the meaningful fundamental research for expanding the entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting SMEs in academic sector. Third, the evaluation framework will be the basis of research which be the importance of coexistence through networks among organizations.
Lastly, the evaluation framework can be used as a tool to create a virtuous circle in cluster development. Moreover, meaningful implications can be drawn in establishing a policy and running all Korean industrial clusters from this study.