Social network analysis in cluster of the textile and clothing industry from the greater Sao Paulo region, Brazil, with a governance point of view

Abstract

This article is characterized by the study of the relationships between the actors participants of the Textile and Clothing Local Productive Arrangement in the Greater São Paulo region from a point of view focused on governance. To understand the facilitating and hindering factors of relationships in a cluster, a bibliographical survey on those topics was carried on. The interviews were conducted with union representative of the textile industry, from the local municipality and a collaborator from one local university. Additionally, 26 companies from the cluster answered to a structured survey and, at last, a cluster meeting was observed in June 2015. The main conclusion of this study is that there are still more hindering factors than facilitating so that the cluster studied can succeed. These include the companies’ lack of aid/participation from the local sector productive arrangement and the shortage of skilled labor.