Dispositions of cluster managers and their importance from Czech cluster managers’ points of view

Abstract

Recent studies provide evidence that professional management with appropriate dispositions has a positive role in cluster development. This article aims to investigate which dispositions needed for cluster managers are the most important according to cluster managers in the Czech Republic. The article also identifies whether there are any genderrelated differences among cluster managers in their view of the importance of selected dispositions. For this purpose, the questionnaire “Inventory of Cluster Manager Dispositions” was created to measure the importance of four categories of dispositions (properties, attitudes, hard skills, soft skills) on the 5-point Likert rating scale. Dispositions were identified on the basis of literature analysis with regard to holistic management and specific cluster conditions. The total number of collected responses was twenty-one (35% of active cluster organizations in the Czech Republic). To test the hypothesis, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. Regarding our findings, the most important properties are: credibility, reliability, initiative. In addition to properties, cluster managers should have appropriate attitudes, such as: interest in networking and collaboration, interest in presenting the cluster to the external environment and in following current trends in the cluster industry. Considering the hard skills, the highest numbers were related to knowledge of local businesses and research institutions, knowledge of market opportunities within the scope of the cluster and of grant programs relevant to clusters. In the soft skills, ability to actively listen, to communicate information to members, and to motivate others reached the highest mean value. © Common Ground Research Networks, Martin Horák, Jana Matošková, All Rights Reserved.