The prime audience is cluster facilitators, and their support. The facilitator is the person who takes the lead in driving the local clustering agenda, providing a neutral corner to bring together in an effective team the cluster’s stakeholders. Cluster facilitators are often allied with an economic development agency, a local education or technology provider, or an industry association/chamber of commerce. They are ideally based within the community, rather than an outsider occasionally visiting. Facilitators may well have other development roles within their community.
Facilitators may come from within the cluster they are working with, and thus able to draw on a wide range of contacts. Alternatively, they have the skills to quickly establish connections and to earn private sector credibility through performance. An effective facilitator is able to empower others, rather than be stranded with all the ‘to do’ lists.
Who sponsors cluster training workshops?
The lead sponsor is usually a publicly funded organisation. These have included multilateral development agencies, national economic development agencies and local agencies. These agencies, and their development agendas, come from a wide range of perspectives:
The common ground between these different perspectives is the realisation that clusters form the foundation of a modern economy, and that public-private partnerships which are focused at the cluster level offer a fertile ground for the prioritisation of development agendas, and early action.
What are the ‘Five Phases, Twelve Steps’ of cluster development?
Drawing on our experience from around the world and with a wide range of clusters, we have refined a Five Stage, Twelve Step cluster development process. This process provides the framework for each of our training workshops.
Each course is tailored to suit, with half day, one day, two day, three day and five day options available. The program is customised, and can cover a range of collaborative tools. The two and three day programmes provide an opportunity to simulate the cluster development process for a number of selected clusters. The clusters are selected from those that course participants are familiar with. The five day programmes provide opportunities for local teams to work together in developing their region’s cluster engagement strategy, cumulating with a presentation on their proposed approach on the final day.
What are the learning outcomes?
Participants will gain the skills and confidence needed to:
- Identify and prioritise their region’s clusters.
- Implement an interactive, collaborative strategy development process by involving key leaders from business, government, education and civic life.
- Mobilise business leaders in the implementation of action initiatives that directly address regional competitiveness challenges.
Where have these training courses been offered?
Full training workshops have been presented on five continents and in 17 countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Mauritius, Sweden, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad, Uganda, UK and USA.
Many of these countries have had repeat training workshops in a number of localities.
In addition, introductory workshops/presentations have been held in Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, Norway, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
And in what languages?
English is language used for all workshops, and supported when necessary with simultaneous translation and/or slide decks in the local language. The frequent small group discussions held during the workshops are conducted in the local language with an English (or translated) report back. Clients have translated Cluster Navigators’ manuals and slide decks into a number of languages.
How many participants?
The workshops are highly interactive, and work well with 25-30 participants, seated in small groups. This size group allows adequate time for discussion and the addressing of individual issues.
What’s an ideal location?
The two, three and five day workshops are ideally run at a conference type facility on the outskirts of a capital city or main centre, with residential facilities available. Participants are seated at tables in small groups. No breakout rooms are needed.
Should we include other speakers?
In addition to active participation by the host organisation, many training workshops have included opening presentations/after dinner contributions from Ministers, Heads of Government Agencies, Mayors, university leaders, and senior business people.
What are the take-aways from the workshop?
The cornerstone take-away is the learning-by-doing, offering the opportunity to relate international best practices in cluster development to the local situation. The two, three and five day programs provide many opportunities to interact with the presenter, and with colleagues.
In addition, a cluster development handbook is made available to each workshop participant. This includes:
- A comprehensive Cluster Development Manual (this manual has been translated into a number of languages);
- A copy of all PowerPoint slide decks, usually comprising some 400 slides (again, these have also been translated by clients into a number of languages).
With the three and five day training modules, a cluster case study is emailed to all attendees the week before the workshop as required background reading. This case study is tailored to suit the country and the participants.
What is a ‘Cluster Week’?
A two or three day cluster training workshop is often part of a broader ‘Cluster Week’ that includes a range of other activities. These activities have included meetings with Ministers and presentations to business audiences, universities and others to introduce the concept of active clustering and to position the cluster facilitators. Presentations have also been held with industry associations/cluster groups, as part of introducing the cluster development agenda. When the necessary preliminary work has been undertaken, workshops with cluster groups are held to start identifying the forward agenda.
What has been the feedback from workshop sponsors?
Oregon, USA
"Collaboration can be a challenge for agricultural producers; this workshop made us a believer, and provided the tools to help develop meaningful partnerships in Oregon." John Szczepanski, Assistant Director, Oregon Department of Agriculture
Newfoundland, Canada
“This training was invaluable in the establishment of the ocean technology cluster on Canada’s East Coast. A comprehensive training program covered the key strategic concepts of cluster development and provided participants with the hands-on, practical tools necessary to build a world-class business cluster. For those of us involved in cluster facilitation, this program is a must.” Dennis Hogan, Development Executive, Oceans Advance, Canada
Brisbane, Australia
“An excellent balance of expertise, professionalism, friendliness & humour, drawing participants out and listening to them. The workshop sheets worked well. The tales of prior experience with clusters–‘stories’–to illustrate points were excellent.” State Development
Wellington, New Zealand
“Without your knowledge and skills, participants would have not been as inspired to develop clusters nor would they have had the very practical advice on how to do it that your sessions delivered” Tony Rush, Chairman, Economic Development Association of New Zealand
And the feedback from workshop participants?
The feedback is extremely positive, with many participants recommending the training to others. For example, two day cluster training workshops have been undertaken in Sweden for NUTEK, Sweden’s regional development agency, and in Australia. The average ratings on a scale of 1 = ‘Marginal Value’ to 5 = ‘Extremely Valuable’ was:
Aspect
| Stockholm,
Sweden
| Melbourne,
Australia
|
Introduction to clusters; International examples
| 4.1
| 4.2
|
The 12 Stage process
| 4.5
| 4.1
|
Round table interaction
| 4.0
| 4.5
|
Focus on the practice, rather than the theory
| 4.5
| 4.4
|
Would you recommend this workshop to colleagues?
| 4.6
| 4.6
|
Typical comments
Stockholm, Sweden: A very valuable and inspiring workshop; Great with so many international cases; Very good interaction process; One of the best courses I have ever been to; A very good toolbox for me; The best education / seminar on clustering that I have ever done.
Melbourne, Australia: Excellent and practical presentation. Clearly provided me with tools and processes; excellent presentation, good handouts, material; Thank you .Very valuable having Ifor’s input to build on what we already know with real examples.
Brisbane, Australia: Two training courses sponsored by State Development, Queesland have been held. On completion, two thirds of the participants said their expectations were exceeded. Some specific comments:
Cluster Navigators left us with an excellent template for success
It has given me a framework and structure to use to identify and develop clusters
Great benefit – I feel I now have both the skills and the tools to ‘go forth and cluster’
Need to review my whole clustering “project” as I think I am “off course” a little.New Zealand
In New Zealand five one-day regional training workshops sponsored by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise have been held; 95% of the 75 workshop participants said they would recommend the workshop to their colleagues as being ‘valuable’ or ‘extremely valuable’. Typical comments:
One of the best workshops I have attended. Held my interest from start to finish;
Would recommend especially to those new to the concept of clustering;
Great refresher on clusters - very re-motivating;
Fantastic information, but almost too much for one sitting;
Great to have the 12 step process to go by. Well done Ifor; really enjoyed this workshop - and I took away more than the usual 'one' idea! For further information on Cluster Workshop options, and typical agendas, please
contact us.
