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District leaders as open networks: emerging business strategies in Italian industrial districts

Author

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  • Eleonora Di Maria

    (University of Padova)

  • Stefano Micelli

    (University of Venice)

Abstract

Italian industrial districts are no longer self-contained systems of small firms, where firms' competitiveness is the result of physical proximity and links with global economy are limited to export sales. A new generation of firms is taking the lead, reshaping the form of districts through their innovative strategies focused on R&D, design and ICT. Most of these firms are leaders within their markets and organize their value chains by coupling district knowledge and competencies with opportunities offered by globalization processes. The rise of these open networks contributes to the transformation of industrial districts and the real drivers of the district firm's competitiveness. Based on a survey of 650 Italian SMEs from 41 Italian districts, the paper describes the characteristics of this new firm model, compared to the traditional district one. The paper also discusses implications for districts in terms of innovation dynamics and governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Eleonora Di Maria & Stefano Micelli, 2007. "District leaders as open networks: emerging business strategies in Italian industrial districts," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0038, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    • Handle: RePEc:pad:wpaper:0038
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    Cited by:

    1. Fioretti, Guido, 2010. "Trajectories in Physical Space out of Communications in Acquaintance Space: An Agent-Based Model of a Textile Industrial District," MPRA Paper 24902, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Jinn-Yuh Hsu & Le-Xin Lin, 2010. "The Leader Firms and the Evolution of an Industrial District: A Case Study of Hosiery District in Taiwan," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(6), pages 1021-1041, May.
    3. Guido Fioretti, 2014. "Trajectories in geographical space out of communication in acquaintance space: An agent-based model of a textile industrial district," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93, pages 179-201, November.
    4. Guido Fioretti, 2002. "Individual Contacts, Collective Patterns - Prato 1975-97, a Story of Interactions," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 02-109/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    5. Giuseppe Tattara, 2009. "The Internationalisation of Production Activities of Italian Industrial Districts," Chapters, in: Giacomo Becattini & Marco Bellandi & Lisa De Propis (ed.), A Handbook of Industrial Districts, chapter 48, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Fabrizio Cafaggi & Paola Iamiceli, 2010. "Inter-firm Networks in the European Wine Industry," EUI-LAW Working Papers 19, European University Institute (EUI), Department of Law.

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    Keywords

    district firms; open networks; global value chain; innovation; governance;
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