The Cluster Template

To facilitate data entry and analysis in a standardized form, we created a detailed Cluster Template that delineates 120 potential dimensions of a cluster and its business environment.  These variables, ranging from basic descriptive data to competitive statistics and coding of qualitative analysis, form the Cluster Profile.


Besides its initial purpose as a data-collection and analysis tool for the Cluster Meta-Study, we have found the Cluster Template to be a useful instrument for profiling clusters and assessing their competitiveness in a standardized way.  It also facilitates a quick and uniform display of information about individual clusters.  We encourage interested researchers and cluster practitioners to use the template in their work.  It is available here as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with embedded cell-by-cell instructions on its use:  Cluster Template.


We would also be grateful for any new data on clusters or new cluster studies that you could share with us to incorporate in the Cluster Meta-Study and bibliography.  Please contact Claas van der Linde.