Milieus and Knowledge–creating services: Two interpretative tools for the knowledge economy

Although the idea that we have entered a new techno-economic paradigm is quite widely shared, questions arise when it comes to outlining the distinctive features of the new paradigm. What initially appeared to be the outcome of the industry’s adjustment to the growing need for flexibility – ‘post-Fordism’ – is now viewed as being original in form, and is increasingly referred to as the ‘knowledge economy’. The paper shows that (a) the distinguishing and constitutive character of the knowledge economy consists in a new approach of the firm with regard to knowledge; (b) this new approach makes the firm a knowledge-creating milieu (KCM), and (c) specific kinds of services − knowledge-creating services − play a crucial role in enhancing the performance of both the firm as a KCM and its relationships with other KCMs, including those on a different scale, such as cities and territories.