The impact of knowledge attributes on technological learning routine within industrial clusters

From a knowledge processing perspective, this paper defines the concept of technological learning routine based on four distinct processes in technological learning: knowledge acquisition, knowledge maintenance, knowledge reactivation and knowledge transformation. We propose that knowledge attributes (i.e., knowledge tacitness and knowledge heterogeneity) have significant impacts on the intensity and the variety of the technological learning routine within industrial clusters. Survey data from 231 industrial cluster firms reveals that knowledge tacitness has a positive and significant influence on both the intensity and the variety of the technological learning routine, while knowledge heterogeneity is negatively related to the variety of the technological learning routine within industrial clusters. This study contributes to the literature through clarifying the operationalisation of the technological learning routine construct and providing a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the knowledge attributes and technological learning routine within industrial clusters.