Article: Who controls the development of skills in technology districts? The case of the Quebec Region's IT ecosystem Journal: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (IJEIM) 2015 Vol.19 No.5/6 pp.386 - 404 Abstract: This article analyses the features and dynamics of the skills ecosystem in the Quebec region's IT industry. The skills-based approach allows links to be made between business and employment relationships by going beyond the organisational level and focusing on the connection between private firms and public organisations. Understanding the institutional foundations of industrial dynamics is both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The study examines the major role of government; firstly as a direct public service employer and, secondly, as an indirect employer by function of the tendering structure that involves the private sector. However, the long-term viability of the ecosystem cannot be guaranteed without the recruitment and integration of immigrant workers, the success of which is based on the dynamics of skills distribution and the content of calls for tender between IT firms and the government. The coordination developed by intermediate organisations is thus central for the regional ecosystem within an industry like IT that is experiencing uncertainty and continuous technological evolution. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Who controls the development of skills in technology districts? The case of the Quebec Region's IT ecosystem

Authors: Michel Racine; Frédéric Hanin

Addresses: Département des relations industrielles, Université Laval, pavillon J-A. DeSève, 3e étage, 1025, av. Des Sciences-Humaines, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada ' Département des relations industrielles, Université Laval, pavillon J-A. DeSève, 3e étage, 1025, av. Des Sciences-Humaines, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada

Abstract: This article analyses the features and dynamics of the skills ecosystem in the Quebec region's IT industry. The skills-based approach allows links to be made between business and employment relationships by going beyond the organisational level and focusing on the connection between private firms and public organisations. Understanding the institutional foundations of industrial dynamics is both quantitative and qualitative in nature. The study examines the major role of government; firstly as a direct public service employer and, secondly, as an indirect employer by function of the tendering structure that involves the private sector. However, the long-term viability of the ecosystem cannot be guaranteed without the recruitment and integration of immigrant workers, the success of which is based on the dynamics of skills distribution and the content of calls for tender between IT firms and the government. The coordination developed by intermediate organisations is thus central for the regional ecosystem within an industry like IT that is experiencing uncertainty and continuous technological evolution.

Keywords: skills ecosystems; IT industry; information technology; mixed methodology; immigration; meso analysis; case study; tendering process; regional development; technology districts; Canada; industrial dynamics; government role; immigrant workers; calls for tender; skills distribution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2015.073221

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2015 Vol.19 No.5/6, pp.386 - 404

Accepted: 18 May 2014
Published online: 29 Nov 2015 *

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Title: Who controls the development of skills in technology districts? The case of the Quebec Region's IT ecosystem

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