Conclusions and discussion

This chapter presents the conclusions of this study, its possible limitations and exploration of new directions for further research. The first section of this chapter recapitulates the objective of this study and the research questions. The next section presents the main conclusions by elaborating on the main research variables, their constituting elements and relationships. These insights and the main conclusions serve as a starting point to explore two conceptual frameworks. The first framework elaborates on the relation between social learning processes and the cognitive and relational dimension of social capital. The second framework focuses on specific phases in the development of knowledge productive networks. Henceforth, the scientific, practical and societal relevance of this study is reflected upon. In addition, the research design and its limitations are discussed. Observations are made on the internal validity, external validity and reliability of the case study research. The last paragraph explores possible directions for further research and study.