Software firm’s knowledge exchange activities and performances in industry clusters: Focus on startups and small and medium enterprises

Abstract

The software industry is related to creative knowledge works and intangible products. Thus, firms in the industry can interact, cooperate, and collaborate online globally. However, many software start-ups and small and medium enterprises tend to prefer the location in start-up incubators or innovation clusters for various reasons, including affordable office spaces, government support, and access to required knowledge. This study focuses on the relationship between firms' knowledge exchange activities and performances in start-up incubators and innovation clusters in the software industry. In particular, this study deals with the effects of knowledge exchange activities for talent and human resources, R&D and technology, customers and marketing, investment and funding, government policy and support, and strategic insights to the dependent factors, including firms' satisfaction with knowledge spill over, industry cluster location, and financial performances. This research tests the effect of knowledge exchange activities with adjacent companies and institutions in start-ups and small and medium enterprises in the software industry where much necessary knowledge can substantially be acquired and exchanged online, as different features from manufacturing. The study conducts surveys on entrepreneurs and employees in software start-ups and small and medium enterprises and analyzes collected data with statistical analysis methodologies. ? 2020, Allied Business Academies. All rights reserved.