FLEXIBLE SPECIALIZATION, UNCERTAINTY, AND THE FIRM - ENTERPRISE STRATEGIES IN THE WOOD REMANUFACTURING INDUSTRY OF THE VANCOUVER METROPOLITAN-AREA, BRITISH-COLUMBIA

In this paper, we articulate the relationships between strategies of f lexible specialization, uncertainty, and the firm in order to emphasiz e the internal differentiation of flexibly specialized regions. Concep tually, the paper argues that this variability is an implication of un certainty which has been neglected in the literature. In particular, i n response to uncertainty, firms develop different types of flexibilit y with respect to production, technology, and employment in sometimes novel ways that do not correspond to ideal types. Empirically, the arg ument is demonstrated through a detailed examination of several case s tudy firms operating in the wood remanufacturing industry of the Vanco uver metropolitan area, British Columbia.