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Research on networks emphasizes the importance of bonds between actors. Social reciprocity strengthens network bonds, which is assumed to have positive effects on business relationships between firms. However, the importance of weak ties is also stressed in network research. An important policy issue is therefore if more attention should be devoted to the creation of bridges to other social groups and loosening bonds between network actors. The difficulty in doing so is described and analyzed in this article focusing on a regional strategic network, which is viewed in three network perspectives. Interview data were collected from all participating managers in a regional strategic network in 2004 and 2010. The findings shed light upon the paradox of using a regional strategic network to counteract over-embeddedness and freeing the involved actors from existing network lock-ins instead of further strengthening such social institutions.

Understanding the role of social capital is vital for implementing cluster policies as regional strategic networks and cluster initiatives are influenced by the local socio-economic context and its social capital. Social capital can create value for companies by closure of the network structure (bonding), which maintains internal mutual trust but bonding can also over-embed companies in their social context, whereas sparse networks that provide links to other parts of relevant business networks (bridging) often provide greater innovation benefits. We provide a conceptual framework applied to a case study of a Swedish regional strategic network, and examples mostly of positive effects of bridging social capital and negative effects of the bonding form are identified. This is interpreted against the background of the regional dependence-oriented culture.

Innovation does not only demand new ideas, financial resources, and knowledge of supplier and user systems. Social capital also influences the innovativeness in business networks. However, social capital is often vague, at times described as a “catch-all notion”. In this paper definitions of social capital are suggested to support the management of innovation in networks. Three dimensions of social capital are applied in a case study of a regional strategic network – the socio-economic, the structural and the actor-oriented dimensions – while focusing on the last one. Data were collected at two points in time, at the start of the regional strategic network in 2004 and at the end of the project in 2010. The application of the concepts and the comparison between these two points in time highlight the influence of social capital and how it can hinder or be used to promote innovation processes.

After a small municipality in Sweden was hit not only by the closure of the major industry in the town but also by the dismantling of the air force base which was another major source of local employment, a strategic network (cluster initiative) was set up involving 15 local companies in order to market their skills and know-how. The purpose was counterbalance the loss of the big employers by strengthening cooperation between local small and middle-sized companies. Based on interviews in 2004 and 2010 the relationships between the member companies are mapped out prior to the formation of the strategic network and five years later. The findings illustrate the difficulty to support cluster building for short term commercial success through a top-down approach, but also that such an initiative may create positive effects on social capital and in the end bring about long-term gains for the community.

A main function of destination-management organisations (DMOs) is that of being responsible for marketing their destinations. Many destinations involve stakeholders of different kinds. DMOs often have modest resources, and this creates a challenge: how should the DMO manage their marketing activities and achieve an outcome that benefits both the individual stakeholder and the destination? This study describes how DMOs can mobilise resources among the stakeholders and identifies the processes leading to integrated destination marketing. Basing our conclusions on a case study, we find that DMOs need to develop both pragmatic and moral legitimacy in order to develop integrated destination marketing. 

Framgångsrika näringslivsregioner består ofta av dynamiska miljöer med täta företagskontakter som har växt fram under lång tid. För att åstadkomma liknande resultat i regioner som behöver stöd satsar EU:s regionala fonder, statliga myndigheter som Nutek och Vinnova samt länsstyrelser och kommuner stora resurser på så kallade klusterinitiativ, nätverksåtgärder eller regionala strategiska nätverk för att få företag att höja sin kompetens och samverka så att den regionala ekonomiska tillväxten stärks.

Den här boken handlar om satsningar på regionala strategiska nätverk.

Boken behandlar tankarna bakom satsningarna, processerna som dessa satsningar ger upphov till och möjligheterna att bedöma resultaten. Flera praktiska exempel ger en bakgrund till de regionala strategiska nätverkens existens och karaktär, och deras operativa verksamhet i form av engagemang, kommunikation och lärande analyseras. Författarna ägnar speciell uppmärksamhet åt nätverksnavens och universitetens och högskolornas roll samt åt de problem som är kopplade till att utvärdera verksamheten.

Boken är ett resultat av ett forskningsprojekt vid Mittuniversitetet i Sundsvall som bedrivits i samverkan med forskare vid andra lärosäten. Den vänder sig till beslutsfattare och praktiker som arbetar med strategiska nätverk eller utvärderar sådana satsningar och till forskare med intresse för marknader och näringspolitik. Den lämpar sig också som kursbok i universitetens och högskolornas ekonomutbildningar.

 Based on a case study of corporate insurance relationships in a Swedish insurance company, drivers and obstacles to mass-customization of insurance relationships are discussed. Characteristics of the exchanges between the insurance company and its customers are seen as important factors that lead to or impede the use of web-based services where the role of the relationship manager may be replaced by automated decision rules. An important aspect to consider is how such a development can be expected to influence the strength of the relationships.

Företagsekonomiska uppsatser och promemorior är antagligen i genomsnitt varken bättre eller sämre än texter som skrivs av studenter i andra ekonomiska eller samhällsvetenskapliga ämnen. Men företagsekonomer skriver mycket, vilket ger möjlighet till mer övning i att uttrycka sig på god svenska än för många andra. Å andra sidan exponeras företagsekonomer också mycket för branschjargong, svengelska och så kallade grafiska hyss som ibland rentav framförs med anspråk på att vara normbildande. Vidare har den tekniska utvecklingen på ordbehandlingsområdet underlättat skrivarbetet mycket, men det har också gjort det möjligt att göra fel på många nya sätt. Vår avsikt här är att peka på en del fel som erfarenheten har visat att både företagsekonomer och andra kan förledas till att göra, men råden har en viss tonvikt på ekonomiskt språkbruk

The purpose of this book is to provide a picture of ongoing research at Mälardalen University in order to create a point of departure for future research on industrial renewal. Many aspects of industrial renewal are dealt with by the researchers who contributed to this book. Some of them focus on functional aspects such as distribution channels and management accounting and control. Others deal with broad perspectives such as strategies and entrepreneurship, and still others consider specific empirical fields such as the institutions of society, and the energy sector.

Our exposition identifies a need for further research into classical problems such as how to best exploit new ideas in established firms, as well as how to infuse new approaches and attitudes into going concerns, the role of the characteristics of industrial networks, geographical distance, the labour market, and the institutions of society in such renewal processes, and the need for more in-depth process research in order to further develop theory and practice.