信息时代的企业区位研究

信息化对传统经济地理学的许多理论和概念提出了新的挑战.其中,尤其值得关注的是信息化对传统区位理论提出的挑战以及赋予其的新活力.本文首先分析信息技术广泛应用对企业区位因子的影响,然后深入探讨信息技术对企业区位产生影响的机制,最后通过美特斯邦威案例进行验证.研究表明,信息化逐渐成为企业区位选择的核心因素之一;同时,信息化也对其他区位因子产生重要影响,主要表现为促进传统物质区位因子的弱化以及带来新区位因子作用的不断突显.在信息技术驱动的企业区位再选择的过程中,“时间成本”是决定新区位的核心机制.

The Challenge of Wide Application of New Information and Communication Technologies to Traditional Location Theory

The wide application of new information and communication technologies(ICTs) has been argued to be critical to spatial transformation of firms.Recent advances in the studies along this line have challenged traditional location theory.Existing literature,however,focuses mainly on the impacts of new ICTs on locational conditions and industrial spatial distribution.Dynamics behind such changes have not yet been given sufficient attention by geographers.It is against such a background that this paper takes Metersbonwe as a case to look into the impacts of new ICTs on traditional location theory and the dynamics of industrial re-location enabled by new ICTs.The paper argues that the application of new ICTs has been a key location factor in the information age,and time-cost is becoming critical to the spatial organization of firms as a result of shorter product life and mass customization in particular among other dynamics.