Creativity in science and technology parks : the role of organizational learning mechanisms

Science and Technology Parks’ (STPs) environment, characterized by relations and networks between different entities, make these organizations perfect instruments to promote regional and business competiveness through which pursue scientific and technological innovation. This study is focused on how parks’ managers could exploit the organizational learning mechanisms (OLMs) to enhance a creative environment oriented to innovation. Starting from the understanding of theoretical determinants of both creativity and science and technology parks, the works suggests a simple framework, in which this two main topics find their connection through the implementation of organizational learning mechanisms. To enhance framework’s validity, the theoretical linkages and assumptions are qualitatively investigated across three case studies regarding science and technology parks, through interviews to several parks’ managers. Results show that in all parks the OLMs are fundamental to reach the required level of creativity, and that they could be classified in cognitive, structural and procedural according to the form in which they may occur. Most relevant OLMs regard mainly on one side the creation, support and development of the relations with parks’ tenants, and on the other, the management of internal creative processes, and of information and communication’s flows.