Entrepreneurship & Genius loci: living with the same pre-conditions but evolving differently. The case of Florence-Prato district

In our study we aim at analysing entrepreneurship in its relational dimension by targeting an industrial district context. Such environment shapes entrepreneurial resources as pre-conditions, the so-called genius loci. We undertook qualitative longitudinal case studies on eight firms operating in the textile district of Florence-Prato. Their paths of innovation along a period of five years have been followed. A strong tie and weak tie approach is adopted to interpret the findings of a field research. Importance of strong ties which are strictly connect with the territory. Weak ties or serendipity events are mostly recalled in the discovering phase of a radical innovation. After an initial phase, strong ties come back into play in the implementation phase, to find means of practical feasibility. This study offers to entrepreneurs insights about how to manage their external network in relation to their innovation process.