Internationalisation : threat or opportunity for the survival of the Italian district model?

National borders in Europe have been opening since 1992 and the Union is expanding to embrace more countries prompting enterprises to consider alternative and more attractive locations outside their home country to handle part of their activities (Van Dijk and Pellenbarg, 2000; Cantwell and Iammarino, 2002). International relocation is becoming more and more popular even for small and medium-sized firms that are involved in a growing internationalisation process, mirroring the path of multinational enterprises. Italy, like other industrialised countries, is experiencing a fragmentation of the production chain: firms tend to shift high labour-intensive manufacturing activities to areas characterised by an abundance of low-cost labour (i.e. Central Eastern Europe, India, South East Asia, Latin America, Russia and Central Asia). The internationalisation process by Italian district SMEs has assumed significant dimensions. It has become a relevant topic in recent economic debate because of its consequences for the local context and, in particular, the implication for the survival of the Italian district model (see, among others, Becattini, 2002; Rullani, 1998 and Cor, 2000). The purpose of the paper is twofold: it aims at (i) identifying the managerial approaches to the internationalisation process adopted by the Italian district SMEs and by the Industrial District (ID) itself and (ii) at investigating whether the international delocalisation to the South Eastern European countries (SEECs) constitutes a threat or an opportunity for the Italian district model. The paper is organised as follows. The general introduction is followed by a description of the evolution of the internationalisation processes in Italy over the last three decades. Section three presents a discussion of the internationalisation strategies adopted by Italian SMEs. Section four focuses on the internationalisation process of the Italian industrial districts SMEs. A review of the studies on the subject is offered in section five. Section six presents a qualitative study on the internationalisation process as undergone by sports shoes manufacturers in the Montebelluna district, in north-east Italy. This study shows different managerial strategies to the internationalisation process and emphasises that the motivations can evolve over time, from originally cost-saving to increasingly market-oriented or global strategies. On the basis of a literature review, section seven investigates whether internationalisation constitutes a threat (i.e. loss of jobs and knowledge) or an opportunity (i.e. enlargement of the ID, update district s competitiveness) for the district model. Finally, some summarising remarks in section eight conclude the paper

The Economics of Lotteries: An Annotated Bibliography

This paper presents an annotated bibliography of all papers relating to the economics of lotteries as of early to mid 2011. All published scholarly papers that could be identified by the authors are included along with the published abstract where available.lotto, lottery, public finance, gambling

Recognizing Speech in a Novel Accent: The Motor Theory of Speech Perception Reframed

The motor theory of speech perception holds that we perceive the speech of another in terms of a motor representation of that speech. However, when we have learned to recognize a foreign accent, it seems plausible that recognition of a word rarely involves reconstruction of the speech gestures of the speaker rather than the listener. To better assess the motor theory and this observation, we proceed in three stages. Part 1 places the motor theory of speech perception in a larger framework based on our earlier models of the adaptive formation of mirror neurons for grasping, and for viewing extensions of that mirror system as part of a larger system for neuro-linguistic processing, augmented by the present consideration of recognizing speech in a novel accent. Part 2 then offers a novel computational model of how a listener comes to understand the speech of someone speaking the listener's native language with a foreign accent. The core tenet of the model is that the listener uses hypotheses about the word the speaker is currently uttering to update probabilities linking the sound produced by the speaker to phonemes in the native language repertoire of the listener. This, on average, improves the recognition of later words. This model is neutral regarding the nature of the representations it uses (motor vs. auditory). It serve as a reference point for the discussion in Part 3, which proposes a dual-stream neuro-linguistic architecture to revisits claims for and against the motor theory of speech perception and the relevance of mirror neurons, and extracts some implications for the reframing of the motor theory

Creating value within "Florida Swimming Club" : strategic imperatives for 2008 and beyond.

The essence of the research undertaken was to put a NPO, the Florida Swimming Club clearly on the map with regards to developing a strategy for them to capitalise upon in the 2008/2009 swimming season. A number of key issues relevant to their identified key stakeholders were identified from the research that they are busy capitalising upon this season. A thorough investigation into the existing infrastructure (both strategy and structure) of the Florida Swimming Club (NPO) was initiated with a view to devising a strategy that more closely aligns the Club to the strategic imperatives of its umbrella body affiliates: Central Gauteng Aquatics-CGA and Swimming South Africa-SSA. Strategic plans were developed for the Club after a thorough SWOT analysis was undertaken. Emanating from the SWOT analysis the Club investigated the possible values that could be created for its relevant stakeholders being: SSA, CGA, Swimmers, Coaches, Parents, Schools, Committee and Previously Disadvantaged Individuals, amongst others. Flowing from this investigation the club also questioned its own norms and values and is now successfully repositioning itself to capitalize upon the various transformation issues confronting it. The Club has developed above all a sense of urgency 'in the transformation issues that it needs to tackle going forward. The revised strategy has also necessitated a total revamp of the Club's existing committee. The committee members that will drive the strategy forward in the 2008/2009 season have each been given clearly demarcated portfolios. The portfolios developed are aligned to achieving the strategic imperatives for "2008 and beyond" and each committee member is now fully accountable for the intended achievement of the Club's objectives and goals set. The main objective of this research was to put something back into the community by our active engagement within the Club in assisting it to develop a workable strategy that would stretch it in achieving measurable goals that would make a meaningful difference to its stakeholders. The researcher's have also assisted the Club in putting together an application to the Lotto to dome and heat their swimming pool. Thus something positive and tangible has been put back into the Club as a result of the researchers' active interventions

Spartan Daily, March 3, 1999

Volume 112, Issue 25https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/9382/thumbnail.jp

Spartan Daily, March 3, 1999

Volume 112, Issue 25https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/9382/thumbnail.jp

Spartan Daily, March 3, 1999

Volume 112, Issue 25https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/9382/thumbnail.jp