Transformations  in
Business & Economics

THE ATTITUDES OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTREPRENEURS TOWARD CLUSTER COOPERATION: THE EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY
Katarina Haviernikova, Vytautas Snieska, Valentinas Navickas, Daiva Burksaitiene

ABSTRACT. The main aim of this paper is to compare the attitudes of SMEs toward cluster cooperation within three areas of clusters' benefits: networking, human resources, and common propagation. The novelty of this research lies in the comparison of SMEs' attitudes toward cluster cooperation depending on the two groups in which they operate: economic branch and size category. We have compared the attitudes of SMEs that have experience with cluster cooperation and with those, in which this experience is absent. The findings from this research may be useful for policymakers, cluster stakeholders, owners of SMEs and other subjects in dealing with planning and joining cluster cooperation. The results have shown that there are differences in SMEs' attitudes toward cluster cooperation mainly depending on the perception of the benefits related to the organisation of common seminars and conferences and the common participation at fairs.

KEYWORDS:  small and medium-sized enterprises, cluster, networking, human resources, cooperation and propagation.

JEL classification:  L25, L26, L14, O15, P13, M31.