Measuring the human element in cluster evaluation- evidencing collaborative dynamics
(2021) 2021 University-Industry Interaction Conference p.29-44- Abstract
- There is a general acceptance that social capital and trust are critical for effective cluster development. While this behavioural additionality forms the central rationale for cluster policies, it remains poorly captured in evaluation. This paper explores progress in evidencing the ‘human element’ in cluster performance.
The paper describes a long-term process of collaboration between academics, cluster policy-makers and cluster practitioners, which has brought together theory and practice to co-design new approaches to improve cluster policy evaluation. This addresses gaps in evaluation practice by exploring how the human elements that are intrinsic to effective collaborative dynamics can be better understood and evidenced. It... (More) - There is a general acceptance that social capital and trust are critical for effective cluster development. While this behavioural additionality forms the central rationale for cluster policies, it remains poorly captured in evaluation. This paper explores progress in evidencing the ‘human element’ in cluster performance.
The paper describes a long-term process of collaboration between academics, cluster policy-makers and cluster practitioners, which has brought together theory and practice to co-design new approaches to improve cluster policy evaluation. This addresses gaps in evaluation practice by exploring how the human elements that are intrinsic to effective collaborative dynamics can be better understood and evidenced. It explores how to define different aspects of the human elements that underlie collaboration, and how to evidence and track the strengthening of those elements. It has implications beyond cluster evaluation given the importance of multidisciplinary and collaborative research programmes for the engaged university.
Specifically, the paper offers a unique combination of theoretical and practical knowledge to bridge gaps in cluster evaluation practice through: (i) a definition/scoping of the human elements central to the collaborative dynamics for clusters in practice; and (ii) the development and testing of a survey tool to track
progress in human element/cluster dynamics in cluster initiatives. It articulates a definition of the human elements and reports on initial testing of indicators through a pilot process that is proving useful for policy makers and cluster managers, providing information to inform the the strategy and operational activities of the collaborative initiative. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/21b4e089-1ea6-4032-8387-19f9ed4678e6
- author
- Smith, Madeline ; Wilson, James and Wise, Emily LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021-06-16
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- cluster evaluation, human element, co-design
- host publication
- Academic and Practitioner Proceedings of the 2021 University-Industry Interaction Conference Series
- pages
- 15 pages
- publisher
- University Industry Innovation Network
- conference name
- 2021 University-Industry Interaction Conference
- conference dates
- 2021-06-14 - 2021-06-16
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 21b4e089-1ea6-4032-8387-19f9ed4678e6
- date added to LUP
- 2021-07-28 12:00:13
- date last changed
- 2023-02-03 13:51:05
@inproceedings{21b4e089-1ea6-4032-8387-19f9ed4678e6,
abstract = {{There is a general acceptance that social capital and trust are critical for effective cluster development. While this behavioural additionality forms the central rationale for cluster policies, it remains poorly captured in evaluation. This paper explores progress in evidencing the ‘human element’ in cluster performance.<br/>The paper describes a long-term process of collaboration between academics, cluster policy-makers and cluster practitioners, which has brought together theory and practice to co-design new approaches to improve cluster policy evaluation. This addresses gaps in evaluation practice by exploring how the human elements that are intrinsic to effective collaborative dynamics can be better understood and evidenced. It explores how to define different aspects of the human elements that underlie collaboration, and how to evidence and track the strengthening of those elements. It has implications beyond cluster evaluation given the importance of multidisciplinary and collaborative research programmes for the engaged university.<br/>Specifically, the paper offers a unique combination of theoretical and practical knowledge to bridge gaps in cluster evaluation practice through: (i) a definition/scoping of the human elements central to the collaborative dynamics for clusters in practice; and (ii) the development and testing of a survey tool to track <br/>progress in human element/cluster dynamics in cluster initiatives. It articulates a definition of the human elements and reports on initial testing of indicators through a pilot process that is proving useful for policy makers and cluster managers, providing information to inform the the strategy and operational activities of the collaborative initiative.}},
author = {{Smith, Madeline and Wilson, James and Wise, Emily}},
booktitle = {{Academic and Practitioner Proceedings of the 2021 University-Industry Interaction Conference Series}},
keywords = {{cluster evaluation; human element; co-design}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
pages = {{29--44}},
publisher = {{University Industry Innovation Network}},
title = {{Measuring the human element in cluster evaluation- evidencing collaborative dynamics}},
year = {{2021}},
}