Abstract:
Cluster Development Approach is a key strategy adopted by The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME), Government of India (GoI) for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness as well
as capacity building of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and their collectives in the country. In this
regards, The Government of West Bengal has been working extensively in promoting the concept but there
has not been an explicit collection-work devoted to exploring the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that drive
Cluster Development Approach in West Bengal. So, this research paper aims to explore such CSFs based on
literature review, pilot survey as well as illustrative case study that contribute to the overall success of the
concept. The major finding of this research paper is exploration of several success factors based on extensive
literature review and pilot survey and then grouping them into 5 critical success factors. Two real-life
recognised successful clusters of West Bengal were used as an illustrative case study, in order to observe the
literature and pilot study based explored CSFs in reality. In addition, a correlation between CSFs have been
identified and based on the relation a model has been fitted considering the most suited factors that
contributes to the success of Cluster Development Approach in West Bengal.
