A Game of One/Two Strategic Friendly Jammers Versus a Malicious Strategic Node

We present a game-theoretic analysis of the interaction between a malicious node, attempting to perform unauthorized radio transmission, and friendly jammers trying to disrupt the malicious communications. We investigate the strategic behavior of the jammers against a rational malicious node and highlight counterintuitive results for this conflict. We also analyze the impact of multiple friendly jammers sharing the same goal but acting without coordination; we find out that this scenario offers a better payoff for the jammers, which has some strong implications on how to implement friendly jamming

Performance Measurement Systems in Theatres: The Case of the Municipal Theatre of Ferrara

In recent years, cultural organisations have introduced and tested new management tools to achieve their institutional goals of efficiency, effectiveness and social cohesion. This process has been widely linked to New Public Management for public sector cultural organisations, but the introduction of these tools has been an interesting process in private cultural organisations too. This paper aims at considering more specifically one kind of management tools: performance measurement systems. Their goal is to give to the management a set of information of quantitative and qualitative nature that could guide the strategic choices in the long-term. With this work, we will consider the real possibilities of application of a good performance measurement system in cultural organisations, with a particular focus on theatres. Our research starts with the analysis of the theoretical framework of performance measurement systems and theatres management. The theoretical approach is supported by the analysis of a case study, the Municipal Theatre of Ferrara (Italy). In this way, we will try to verify and discuss opportunities and critical points implied by the introduction of a performance measurement system in theatres.New Public Management; Management Tools; Performance Measurement; Theatres; Municipal Theatre of Ferrara

Contents and Aims of Management Plans for World Heritage Sites: A Managerial Analysis with a Special Focus on the Italian Scenario

This paper aims to discuss the use of management tools for the UNESCO World Heritage sites. In particular, it focuses on the specific tool of the “management plan”. We have carried out a three dimension research project: 1) Analysis and development of a strong theoretical background, in order to consider the economic and managerial dimension of the management plans, even from the perspective of cultural tourism; 2) Deep study of Italian state of the art about use and application of management plans by the organizations managing World Heritage sites; 3) Comparison among some national and international case studies, in order to get empirical evidences which could be useful for theoretical considerations, regarding the general management system of the World Heritage sites. These first phases of research highlight the necessity for further studies in the next years. Notwithstanding, we are able to evidence some elements that can lead the next steps of drafting and monitoring the management plans. The final goal of these processes should be the realization of effective management systems for cultural and natural heritage. The most important points to be considered are: - The awareness of the absence of a unique “model” for every kind of UNESCO site; as far as this aspect is concerned, the aim should be the study and application of general guidelines that could be applied to different situations; - The necessity to realize a real sharing among all the stakeholders of the site with regard to vision, mission and strategies that should be implemented; - the introduction of performance measurement systems, to get both support to the management and accountability to the community

La corporate governance nei servizi pubblici locali a rilevanza economica: strumenti per la gestione del consenso sociale

In this work we consider the link between corporate governance and social responsibility (CSR) in local utilities companies. More specifically, we use the term 'tool of corporate governance' as a tool able to support the governance of a company to reach its strategic aims, reconcile efficiency and effectiveness, verify (and demonstrate) social responsibility. Social 'consensus' considers the necessity (particularly critical for local utilities) for a company to get the external stakeholders' ap-proval. Social consensus and social responsibility are important for every kind of company, but they become critical resources for a local utility company, likewise the concept (and the concrete appli-cation) of accountability. The empirical part of this work considers eight local utilities companies, listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. Specific subjects of the empirical analysis are the level of CSR consideration, through the presence of social/sustainability reporting and its level of 'quality'. We conclude that the corporate governance tools for managing social consensus in local utilities com-panies should consider the environmental effect of the corporate activities, the level of transparency and responsibility in providing services, the capacity to develop confidence within the territory, the satisfaction of expressed and un-expressed needs of the community and the internal satisfaction of the company's human resources.local utilities; corporate governance; social consensus; sustainability reporting

Intangibili e dimensione sociale della performance nelle aziende di servizio pubblico

This paper aims to analyze the relevance of intangible assets, in particular linked to social re-sponsibility, with reference to performance measurement systems in local utilities companies. Other two aspects can be connected to the emerging role of intangibles for the performance measurement: i) the development of multidimensional systems, and ii) the spread of corpo-rate social responsibility. While the first part of the paper is dedicated to an analysis of the theoretical aspects, in the second part we evaluate if and how, in practice, these aspects have to be considered in order to visualize, measure and manage intangibles, in performance measurement systems of some local utilities companies, which constitute the case studies for this work.Intangibles; Social Responsibility; Public Utilities

L'esigenza di elementi manageriali nei piani di gestione UNESCO. I risultati di uno studio condotto su due siti patrimonio mondiale dell'umanita' in Italia e Spagna

This work is the final result of a research project, funded by the Italian Nation Research Centre (CNR) about the cultural identity like integration factor. The project aim was to study, from a business economics perspective, the management system of the cultural sites, belonging to the World Heritage List of the UNESCO. In particular, the paper examines the informative systems and tools, implemented by the organizations (normally local authorities or cultural institutions) responsible for the management of the UNESCO sites. The methodological approach is deductive-inductive, coherently with the traditional business economics formulations: it consists in practice of two parts, the first one focused on the literature review and the context analysis, the second one based on the case studies of two cultural sites. They are Ferrara (Italy) and Granada (Spain), where respectively two and three organizations, responsible of the site management, have been identified. The conclusions of this work enlighten the importance of a specific tool, requested by the UNESCO, called “management planâ€, for the administration of the site and the necessity on one hand of a managerial approach in its process of drafting and on the other hand of including economic and managerial aspects in its contents.Management Plan; World Heritage List; Governance; UNESCO Site of Ferrara; UNESCO Site of Granada

The quality assessment of stakeholder engagement disclosure in the EU mandatory non-financial reporting framework

PurposeThis article investigates the quality of stakeholder engagement (SE) process disclosure in the context of non-financial reporting (NFR) introduced by Directive 2014/95/EU (NFRD). SE implies the involvement of the subjects interested in the organization's activity, according to the principle of inclusiveness and the key concepts of the stakeholder theory (ST).Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a content analysis on 75 non-financial statements (NFSs) published by companies listed on the Italian Stock Exchange in 2018 and 2021 to evaluate the evolutionary profiles of SE quality through the years.FindingsThe average level of SE is not significantly high. The research showed an overall poor quality of disclosure concerning stakeholders' key expectations and issues to be addressed and answered. Furthermore, a certain variability emerged in the quality of the disclosure between the various reports, and no significant improvements in SE quality were noted from 2018 to 2021.Research limitations/implicationsThe conclusions provide a replicable method for the analysis of SE quality in NFSs and the development of new standpoints in the ongoing debate on the implications of mandatory legislative frameworks for NFR. Content analyses intrinsically present margins of subjectivity. The sample was limited to a subset of NFS from Italy; hence, the results could be country specific.Practical implicationsThis work suggests some possible ways of improvement of SE practices by companies.Originality/valueOriginal assessment model based on eight variables identified from the academic literature and the most common international sustainability reporting standards. These variables were stakeholder identification, stakeholder selection process, degree of involvement, SE approach, dialogue channels, SE results, different points of view and integration of the SE process

Management perspectives for ecomuseums effectiveness: a holistic approach to sociocultural development of local areas

Considering their focus on participation and sustainable tourism promotion, ecomuseums can play a crucial role in the sociocultural development of local areas. Through three exploratory case studies of Italian ecomuseums located in the Emilia-Romagna region, this study shows the emergence of three different profiles of ecomuseum development strategies: they relate to the sustainable tourism, the cultural districts, and the holistic approach to sociocultural development. These kinds of strategic profiles not only emerge in opposition to each other but can also overlap and appear jointly within different situations of ecomuseums. The final aim of this work is to reflect on the applicability of management tools to support the implementation of these strategic aspects, especially in the current scenario, in which new perspectives are emerging about the role of communities in interpreting and enhancing their tangible and intangible cultural heritage in relation to sustainable tourism and local development linked to cultural and natural heritage preservation and promotion

Training for museums and the National Charter for museum professions in Italy: a new prospective for development

Cadernos de SociomuseologiaTraditionally Italian universities have trained researchers and professionals in conservation: archaeologists, art historians and architects. It is only with the reform of the universities, from 1999, that the teaching of museology and museography have also been expanded.Italian museums are for the most part public museums, depending on local bodies or the national ministry; they lack autonomy and do not possess specific professional figures. The task of conservation has predominated over the other roles of museums, but with the reform of the conservation law in 2004 the definition of „museum‟ has been introduced in Italy as well, and regulations regarding the development of heritage have been issued; in addition the Regions have also taken on a more active role for museums belonging to local bodies and for the development of their territory.Museum professions are not officially recognised, but the museum community, through the various associations and ICOM Italia, has put together a document to act as a general reference, the National Charter of Museum Professions, which has been followed by the Manual of Museum Professions in Europe. Now there is a need to plan the content and outlines ofvocational training courses for museum professionals, together withthe universities, the regions and the museums themselves, alongwith the associations and ICOM – ICTOP, utilising the mostinnovative Master‟s courses which offer an interdisciplinaryapproach, a methodology which combines theory and practice, andan element of hands-on experimentation in museums, or withmuseums

Training for museums and the National Charter for museum professions in Italy: a new prospective for development

Traditionally Italian universities have trained researchers and professionals in conservation: archaeologists, art historians and architects. It is only with the reform of the universities, from 1999, that the teaching of museology and museography have also been expanded.Italian museums are for the most part public museums, depending on local bodies or the national ministry; they lack autonomy and do not possess specific professional figures. The task of conservation has predominated over the other roles of museums, but with the reform of the conservation law in 2004 the definition of „museum‟ has been introduced in Italy as well, and regulations regarding the development of heritage have been issued; in addition the Regions have also taken on a more active role for museums belonging to local bodies and for the development of their territory.Museum professions are not officially recognised, but the museum community, through the various associations and ICOM Italia, has put together a document to act as a general reference, the National Charter of Museum Professions, which has been followed by the Manual of Museum Professions in Europe.Now there is a need to plan the content and outlines ofvocational training courses for museum professionals, together withthe universities, the regions and the museums themselves, alongwith the associations and ICOM – ICTOP, utilising the mostinnovative Master‟s courses which offer an interdisciplinaryapproach, a methodology which combines theory and practice, andan element of hands-on experimentation in museums, or withmuseums