1,721,016 research outputs found
Formal clusters supporting small firms' internationalization: a case of public–private interaction
Full text linkPurpose
This study aims to explore the role played by a formal cluster initiative in supporting small firms' internationalization processes. Taking a public–private interaction perspective, this study aims to understand interaction mechanisms within an internationalization project implemented by a formal cluster initiative.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a qualitative approach based on a case study of a Swedish formal cluster initiative involved in an internationalization project. The case is analyzed through the industrial marketing and purchasing approach, relying on the Actors–Resources–Activities (ARA) framework.
Findings
The analysis highlights the role of formal clusters as supporters and “accelerators” of internationalization processes. Based on the ARA framework, the roles of the public and private actors emerge: the cluster plays the role of orchestrator, supporter and financer, while on the businesses' side, participants assumed the role of customers, displaying various degrees of interest and commitment and giving rise to a leader–follower pattern. Activities occurred at multiple levels, interorganizational, intraproject, interprojects, through different timings and typologies. The main resources at stake were the combination of knowledge, complementary capabilities and financial incentives.
Originality/value
This empirical study provides novel empirical evidence and theoretical development over the phenomenon of formal clusters. This study contributes to the current debate on public–private interaction mechanisms and to the upgrading and circulation of international business knowledge
Rethinking industrial corporate training in the light of digitalization
No full textThis study explores the ongoing changes in industrial firms’ corporate training processes as a result of digitalization. The spread of digital technologies, together with drastic market changes as the Covid-19 pandemic, led companies to recognize the importance of corporate training and rethink it in light of the new tools available. The research investigates how firms redesign corporate training processes by integrating the theoretical frameworks of organizational learning and dynamic capabilities. The preliminary empirical investigation of four5 case study firms allows to critically discuss the topic
Collaborative networks for innovation in the meat supply chain
No full textThe main objective of this chapter is to gain a better understanding of the main processes concerning the development of innovation-related business relationships and networks by SMEs active in the meat supply chain. This analysis will place emphasis on two distinctive and inter-re- lated aspects: i) the “contextualised” dimension of SMEs and of their en- trepreneurial effort, with a focus on the arising of relationships also with non-business actors such as government organisations and Universities/ research centres; ii) the main patterns concerning resource access, de- velopment, and combination, in the light of SMEs’ limited capabilities
Rethinking business models for sustainability-oriented innovation: implementing collaborative logistics in manufacturing SMEs
No full textThe organization of Small Marketing Agencies at a crossroads: combining standardization and innovation
No full textProfessional service firms (PSFs) are key actors in the knowledge economy, providing intangible, knowledge-intensive, and customized services and promoting innovation processes in marketing-related activities. A particular type of PSFs is that of marketing agencies, which have acquired an emerging role in the last decades and are currently facing emerging business challenges. This is particularly true for small marketing agencies (SMAs), which, despite their prevalence and relevance, have only attained limited attention in the literature so far. This short paper aims to provide an initial contribution to fill this relevant gap by discussing an explorative case study on the changes that SMAs undergo in terms of organizational configuration to meet the evolving market challenge. Preliminary findings provide insights in terms of emerging organizational configurations at the Actors, Resources, and Activities’ (ARA) layers
Applying blockchain technologies to marketing processes: what impacts relationships in the agri-food industry?
No full textThis paper deals with the application of blockchain technologies to marketing processes in the agri-food industry, by focusing on the wine sector. By addressing two gaps emerging from the extant literature, i.e., the application of blockchain to the marketing process in a comprehensive way and the potential benefits and challenges of blockchain in the agri-food industry, this still ongoing research presents preliminary insights from two case studies of two wineries located in the Italian Apulia region. Preliminary findings highlight the potential of blockchain technology to transform consumer relationships by enhancing data and information transparency, reducing information asymmetries, and establishing and strengthening a direct relationship with the final consumer
Applying blockchain technologies to marketing processes: what impacts relationships in the agri-food industry?
No full textThis paper deals with the application of blockchain technologies to marketing processes in the agri-food industry, by focusing on the wine sector. By addressing two gaps emerging from the extant literature, i.e., the application of blockchain to the marketing process in a comprehensive way and the potential benefits and challenges of blockchain in the agri-food industry, this still ongoing research presents preliminary insights from two case studies of two wineries located in the Italian Apulia region. Preliminary findings highlight the potential of blockchain technology to transform consumer relationships by enhancing data and information transparency, reducing information asymmetries, and establishing and strengthening a direct relationship with the final consumer
The organization of Small Marketing Agencies at a crossroads: combining standardization and innovation
No full textProfessional service firms (PSFs) are key actors in the knowledge economy, providing intangible, knowledge-intensive, and customized services and promoting innovation processes in marketing-related activities. A particular type of PSFs is that of marketing agencies, which have acquired an emerging role in the last decades and are currently facing emerging business challenges. This is particularly true for small marketing agencies (SMAs), which, despite their prevalence and relevance, have only attained limited attention in the literature so far. This short paper aims to provide an initial contribution to fill this relevant gap by discussing an explorative case study on the changes that SMAs undergo in terms of organizational configuration to meet the evolving market challenge. Preliminary findings provide insights in terms of emerging organizational configurations at the Actors, Resources, and Activities’ (ARA) layers
Actors, resources, and activities in Digital Servitization: a business network perspective
No full textDigital Servitization (DS), that is the development of new services through the use of digital technologies, is an emerging research stream characterized by an inherent complexity that requires understanding changes occurring over time and impacting relationships and network dynamics. Scholars have argued for the need to move towards an analysis of the micro-interaction processes and the adoption of a networking perspective. In this direction, this study aims to explore the contribution of the business network approach, compared to other existing frameworks, in the analysis of complex digital phenomena. To reach this aim, the study undertakes a single case study of an Italian manufacturer which is undertaking a DS process. The empirical analysis is guided by the three dimensions of the interpretative Actors-Resources-Activities (ARA) framework, developed within the Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) approach. The analysis has provided insights into each of the three layers of the ARA framework and has pointed to a continuous interrelation between the internal and external context and interdependence among the three layers. The study provides a theoretical contribution to the stream of literature dealing with the DS phenomenon by providing a unified theoretical approach - i.e., the business network approach - characterized by analytical completeness. Also, the research paves the way for the business network approach and for the ARA framework to be adopted in the investigation of complex business phenomena, such as DS
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