Cooperation Between Companies in Technology Management Really Matters - Explored Through PLS-SEM Modelling

The study aims to investigate the technology management (TM) sphere in metal processing companies engaged in a business cluster. This study presents SEM modelling using the PLS method on data obtained from a survey of companies involved in a business cluster, which allowed to examine the impact of factors important for cooperation on individual stages of TM. This study implies that business cluster engagement can play a beneficial role in the TM sphere in the studied companies. Engagement in the cluster can facilitate knowledge acquisition, leading to strategic and operational advantages. The cluster can play an especially beneficial role when it comes to the initiation of work on a technology – a search for new technologies, and when existing technologies are developed. Companies can obtain precious knowledge from/thanks to participation in a business cluster. Knowledge supporting and allowing innovations appears to play a primary role in achieving advantages from cluster membership; however, this is not applied to most companies in the studied cluster. The SEM model proves that cooperation between business partners in a cluster structure really matters.