Local governance in industrial clusters: Proposal of a management model and a self-assessment tool

This paper addresses local governance in industrial clusters, which is a fundamental mechanism for promoting and managing joint actions between local firms. Thus, it builds on current literature on industrial clusters management and proposes a new management model to help governance agencies plan, implement and assess joint actions. Also, a self-assessment tool is devised to help governance agencies determine their level of adherence to the model, as well as identify areas for improvement. The tool was applied in two Brazilian industrial clusters - Sertaozinho (metal-mechanic cluster) and Arapongas (wooden furniture cluster). Both cases had successfully established their institutional infrastructure and were able to formulate strategic plans. However, due to the lack of management tools, performance measurement systems and trust among companies, the outcomes and impact of joint actions could not be properly evaluated, which may compromise future initiatives among firms.