Search

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the social and cultural factors that influence the consolidation of business conglomerates. A neo-institutional theoretical perspective is used, combined with the social camp concept, to study the institutional distance and dominant relationships in the conglomerates. These aspects are qualitatively applied to 39 direct interviews with micro-cluster tool-making businesses, retailers and support agencies. The paper concludes that there is an asymmetrical accumulation of specific capital, a variety of organizational subcultures, and a predominance of commercial relationships characterized by subordination and domination, rather than the cooperation and interaction that are vital to a cluster's success. The results help understand the dynamics and function of clusters, and open a line of socio-cultural investigation of business conglomerates that goes beyond traditional economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]