New Companies' DNA: the Heritage of the Past Industrial Revolutions in Digital Transformation

AbstractThis paper debates the ongoing processes of digital transformation enhanced by the 4th industrial revolution in successful companies which have a long time business history and an international presence. The aim is analyzing how what they have experienced and learned in the 2nd and 3rd industrial revolutions represents key elements that have shaped their DNA and continue to inspire their transformation to the point that the gradual radical change concept is preferred to the concept of disruption. Such learning processes are primary values to transfer in companies' digital transformation in order to implement it efficiently and effectively creating new opportunities at an international level. The paper leverages on an explorative research based on the empirical setting of three international Italian manufacturing companies that have experienced challenges of the 2nd, 3rd and are now facing an important digital transformation process in a worldwide landscape. A qualitative constructive multiple case research design is conducted to evaluate the conceptual model and some considerations emerged from the analysis. The paper also benefits from 30 years of experience of one of the Authors as Business Development Director of big multinational companies accompanying many enterprises during their digital transformation. This study presents an interpretative framework that provides an exploration of main heritages coming from the past industrial revolutions according to three aspects: business drivers, supply view and entrepreneurial model. The emerged evidences can be taken as lessons by international manufacturing companies in order to implement digital transformation enhancing their international competitiveness

Strategie di modularizzazione del prodotto e creazione del valore nei mercati industriali

The chapter deeps into the strategies of product modularization in business markets according to a marketing and customer value perspective.The thesis developed is that most of studies on product modularity adopts a supplier-oriented perspective. An effective modularization strategy needs to be developed and implemented comined with a real and concrete customer orientation

Exploring the value of a resource across business contexts

Scholars are increasingly recognizing the important of the context in determining the value of resources in business to business markets. This value, in fact, depends from how resources are used and combined within different interaction contexts. To stress this point, scholars recently also developed the concept of value in context; however, there is no clear evidence until now about value across contexts, which we this is particularly evident given the multiplicity of contexts a resource is used. This paper is aimed at identifying the key elements that determine the value in use of a resource across different contexts. Empirically, we studied the case of Gottifredi Maffioli Group (GMG), a company that operates in the business of ropes for yachting. In particular, we made 47 interviews in the company’s business network. The study will find out that considering the value of a resource across contexts implies managing the meanings associated to the resource, the value for the user, and activate the network. This has important managerial implications by increasing the effectiveness of resources with respect to different contexts of application

ESPERIENZE MODULARI NELLA PRODUZIONE

The book develops a theoretical analysis od strategies of modularity in the procust and in the production process. It then collects a number of case studies of companies that have implemented experiences modular production processes

Exploring the value of a resource across contexts

Scholars are increasingly recognizing the importance of contextual elements in determining the value of resources in business to business markets. This value, in fact, depends from how resources are used and combined within different interaction contexts. To stress this point, the concept of value in context has been recently developed; however, it is quite common that resources move from one context to another one. Given the multiplicity of contexts a resource is used this paper is aimed at identifying the key elements that determine the value in use of a resource across different contexts. Empirically, we studied the case of Gottifredi Maffioli Group (GMG), a company that operates in the business of ropes for yachting and which is moving to other business exploring new application of the rope. In particular, we made 47 interviews in the company’s business network. The study will find out that considering the value of a resource across contexts implies managing some key elements: technological aspects, meanings associated to the resource, the value for the user, and to activate the network