Klastry a rozwój regionalny. Klaster usług biznesowych w Krakowie

The article investigates the potential of regional initiatives supporting business clusters. It begins with an overview of Michael E. Porter’s concept of clusters and the impact competitive clusters can have on productivity, innovation, and employment. The author also briefly examines the ways clusters might be supported by local government. Next, the trends of outsourcing and offshoring, which influence the growth of business and technology services sector worldwide, are described. The third section focuses on a business services cluster in Kraków, Poland, which is now a key outsourcing destination in Europe. The final section draws on interviews with employees of 15 cluster-based companies conducted between August and December 2016. The goal of this research was better understand Kraków’s strengths and weaknesses as an outsourcing location, gather insights on ways to improve the local business environment, and obtain information about predicted changes in companies’ activities and management over the next few years.