Mid Sized Manufacturing Companies The New Driver Of Italian Competitiveness

The structure of Italian industry is characterized by a predominance of small sized companies and the presence of very few large companies. For a long time a conviction was shared among scholars and practitioners that the strength and safety of Italian industry were based on its industrial districts, that is, the system of interdependent and co-localized small companies which derive their competitive force from an effective and efficient division of labour. This book stresses the idea that a new, vital and promising phenomenon for the competitiveness of Italian industry is focused on mid-sized companies, and the systems of interconnected firms that form a constituent part of their business model. These companies, which originate largely from districts and other local production systems, are a strong entrepreneurial force complementing the districts that have characterized Italy and made Italian industry famous worldwide. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of these firms is provided in this book. Business models and strategies implemented by a number of successful Italian mid-sized manufacturing companies are also explored. Consequences in terms of management and industrial policies are provided. A final look at the German Mittelstand gives a useful comparison.

This book focuses on the relationship between business strategy and competition among Italian SMEs in the aftermath of the economic crisis. First examining business strategy and competitive advantage in a broader sense, Business Strategies and Competitiveness in Times of Crisis goes on to analyse the strategic behaviour of SMEs and the key factors that allow them to overcome the challenges they face. The book covers wide-ranging topics such as marketing and communication strategies, internationalization process and entry modes, access to credit, networking, innovation process and human resources enhancement. Referring to insightful case studies and surveys conducted between 2011 and 2014, it reflects on managerial implications for Italian SMEs and identifies their three main competitive challenges.

In the second issue of 2015, the Journal of International Studies of the scientific association, Arethuse as is by now a tradition, presents a comparison and discussion of international academic scholars on three scientific areas, Strategic Management, Economics and Statistics, and Public Finance.

The international fragmentation of economic activities – from research and design to production and marketing – described through the lens of the global value chain (GVC) approach impacts the structure and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) agglomerated in economic clusters. The consolidation of GVCs ruled by global lead firms and the recession of 2008-09 exacerbated the pressures on cluster actors that based their competitive advantage on local systems, spurring an increasing heterogeneity, both across and within clusters, that is still overlooked in the literature. Drawing on detailed studies of different industries and countries, Local Clusters in Global Value Chains shows the co-evolutionary trajectories of clusters and GVCs, and the role of firms and their strategies in organizing manufacturing and innovation activities in the context of ongoing technological shifts. The book explores the tension between place-based variables and global drivers of change, and the possibility for territories containing such clusters to prosper in the new global scenario. By adopting insights from the GVC framework and management studies, the book discusses how the internationalization strategies of firms create opportunities as well as constraints for adaptive upgrading in clusters. This book is of interest to both researchers and policy-makers who are interested in the dynamic sources of competitive advantage in the global economy.

Innovation underpins competitiveness, is crucial to addressing societal challenges, and its support has become a major public policy goal. But what really works in innovation policy, and why? This Handbook, compiled by leading experts in the field, is the first comprehensive guide to understanding the logic and effects of innovation polices. The Handbook develops a conceptualisation and typology of innovation policies, presents meta-evaluations for 16 key innovation policy instruments and analyses evidence on policy-mix. For each policy instrument, underlying rationales and examples are presented, along with a critical analysis of the available impact evidence. Providing access to primary sources of impact analysis, the book offers an insightful assessment of innovation policy practice and its evaluation.

This book is an essential resource for facilitators seeking to help students develop their knowledge of management practice in Italy. It presents a collection of the best case studies and accompanying teaching notes from the Italian Association for Management Development (ASFOR) competition in 2014. The cases are written by teachers across many of the members of ASFOR in Italy, leading business schools, corporate universities and academia. Knowledge gained by professionals often remains implicit and is rarely shared. By grouping together the award-winning case studies in this volume, readers can gain an important insight into how management is conducted in Italy. This collection shines a light on management practices across several industries. The Italian economy differs from others in that it is one in which small and family-run businesses dominate, and the relationship between the private sector and public life is unique. As a result, The Italian Model of Management provides the opportunity for students to enlarge the Anglo-Saxon model and perspective of management, and to offer cross-cultural learning experiences, based on the distinction of a “Made in Italy” competitive advantage. Each case provides an engaging story, plots the strategic development of the organization in question, and is supported by online teaching guidance and teaching notes.

Creativity, Global Branding and Country of Origin (CoO) represent conceptual fields of interest to both academics and practitioners. In the contemporary environment, business and customers are increasingly developing multi-faceted relationships nurtured by global drivers, such as international brands, but also by embedded elements, such the impact of specific geographical networks on creativity. As a result, the impact of Country of Origin on branding is, once again, a key topic in the global management field. This collection provides an opportunity for leading marketing scholars to share up-to-date research while addressing both domestic and multinational strategies for understanding global marketing and consumers. The chapters include brand-consumer relationships in a global environment, Country of Origin impact on business to consumer and business to business markets and creativity at the territorial level from a network perspective. This book was originally published as a special issue of Journal of Global Scholars Marketing Science.

Competing in both high and low-cost operating environments can present a number of unique challenges. In light of global competition and the changing scope of various industries due to technological advancement, these challenges must be addressed in order to ensure business success. Global Perspectives on Achieving Success in High and Low Cost Operating Environments features a collection of research and case studies addressing contemporary issues surrounding operational success in various regions. Business professionals, managers, academics, and upper-level students will find this publication an essential resource for the latest tools and solutions for managing operations in diverse operating environments.