Andrea Boccardi

How to match technological and social innovation: insights from the biomedical 3D printing industry

The purpose of this paper is to understand the transition from technological innovation to social innovation by analysing insights from the biomedical context. Specifically, the study investigates how entrepreneurs manage such a transition focusing on their motivations and awareness about social innovation. The study adopts a qualitative approach, in the form of multiple case studies of Italian firms that produce and use 3D printing in the biomedical field. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, backed by available documentary evidence and observation. This study points to the need for further investigation providing researchers with new information about the transition from technology innovation to social innovation. The transition has been studied from an exploratory perspective, considering 3D printing as a recent phenomenon in the biomedical field. Main results refer to social benefits resulting from the transition of technological innovation to social innovation, particularly focusing on the origin of such a transition.

Finding the extraordinary and creating the unexpected: Gnome and genius combined in an exceptional ethical heuristic

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated framework for ethical decision making in uncertain conditions, such as those of entrepreneurship. The model aims to build an exceptional ethical heuristic employable by entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical framework is anchored to Aquinas’ theory of practical reason (PR) virtue, specifically its minor virtue gnome, and the Kantian faculty of genius or to better say its modus operandi. Thanks to the composition of these prima facie distant ontologies it is possible to build a “ready-to-use” heuristic. Findings – The paper through a philosophical discussion offers a ready-to-use heuristic that may help entrepreneurs and businesspersons when “navigating” uncertain and troubled situations. In such situations, first it is important to recognize the “exceptionality” of the situation, disregarding where necessary the ordinary criteria of judgment (an act directed by gnome). Second, a creative reconstruction of available knowl...

Bricolage and Social Entrepreneurship to Address Emergent Social Needs: A “Deconstructionist” Perspective

Social entrepreneurship is one of the most discussed issues in recent management literature. In partcular, social entrepreneurship has recently gained the atenton of management scholars interested in understanding its sociological and anthropological aspects. This paper focuses on Claude Levi-Strauss’s noton of “bricolage” and the way it can represent a signifcant opportunity to address emergent social needs. Building on a postmodernist philosophical perspectve, namely Jacques Derrida’s “deconstructonism,” we atempt to unpack the bricolage phenomenon within the social entrepreneurship feld. Following the fndings of an in-depth longitudinal case study, we provide a theoretcal conceptualizaton of possible entrepreneurial solutons to social needs, exploring the signifcant role of bricolage that is consequently interpreted as a suitable entrepreneurial opportunity to address partcular types of social needs that we shall defne, in a way, as emergent.

Additive Manufacturing in SMEs: Empirical Evidences from Italy

Research on innovative technological methods in SMEs’ production processes is progressively receiving attention. However, little is known about the emerging phenomenon of additive manufacturing (AM), which may represent a significant strategic lever for fostering a company’s competitiveness and performance, especially for SMEs. Our aim is to investigate the effects of AM on SMEs’ production process, in order to better understand the relative outcomes of such an innovative technique. We used latent content analysis for empirically analyzing SMEs present in one of the most important Italian gold jewelry districts. Our findings suggest that the AM introduction in a company’s production process effectively results in many positive outcomes, such as process innovation, customer satisfaction, costs, revenues, profits, and competitive advantage. Specifically, there is a positive linkage between AM and a company’s performance. Hence, such an innovative technique may be interpreted as a viable growth strategy for ...

Comprendere gli elementi intangibili dell’esperienza turistica heritage: una ricerca netnografica / Understanding the intangible elements of the heritage-based tourism experience: a netnographic study

Lo scopo di questo articolo e di comprendere quali elementi intangibili del patrimonio culturale influenzino maggiormente la percezione di una destinazione turistica. La metodologia utilizzata e di natura qualitativa; in particolare sara utilizzato il metodo netnografico per l’analisi dei racconti di viaggio concernenti quattro citta italiane (Firenze, Napoli, Roma e Venezia) presenti in una comunita online di viaggiatori. I risultati mostrano una elevata quantita di citazioni riferite a prodotti enogastronomici tipici del luogo visitato, nonche a tradizioni legate al territorio, dimostrando la significativita che tali elementi intangibili rivestono nella esperienza turistica. Sotto il profilo delle implicazioni pratiche, emerge la possibilita di ampliare la consapevolezza afferente al ruolo degli elementi intangibili del patrimonio culturale nei responsabili di politiche di marketing turistico e territoriale. The aim of the study is to investigate how intangible elements of cultural heritage influence visitors’ perception of a particular tourist destination. This study uses the qualitative research method of netnography, examining travel diaries from online communities in order to analyze the recorded perceptions of heterogeneous visitors of four different tourist destinations (Florence, Naples, Rome and Venice). Evidences show a high quantity of references related to local food and visited communities (everyday life, contact with locals, etc.) in the examined diary texts. Such a result indicates how these elements remain anchored in the mind of tourists and, therefore, may be interpreted as significant factors in the evaluation of holiday experiences. Regarding the practical implications, this study aims to improve the decision makers’ awareness about the importance of intangible heritage elements, specifically concerning heritage tourism.

CUSTOMERS’ PERCEPTION OF HERITAGE AND AUTHENTICITY IN LUXURY FASHION BRAND: A STRUCTURAL PATH DIAGRAM

One of the most significant challenges of modern strategic marketers refers to the ability of expressing the authentic value of fashion brand. This is particularly important for luxury goods, which are able to effectively impact on customers’ social attitude and behavior. Hence, pertinent literature is progressively focusing on the role of authenticity as a strategic element for marketing theory. Specifically, three elements have been associated with brand’s authenticity, namely quality commitment, heritage, and sincerity. In the present research we apply a validated empirical instrument concerning brand authenticity and its aforementioned three elements. Precisely, we will present and discuss the results of a survey implemented in the Tuscany region (Italy), thus aiming at investigating possible differences and/or similarities characterizing Tuscan customers’ perception of luxury brand authenticity. A structural equation model will be conceptualized and assessed in order to analyze the existing relationships between brand’s authenticity elements, namely quality commitment, heritage, and sincerity. The results confirm the hypothesized significance of these relationships among variables. Further, we will introduce the notion of mythopoiesis, which will be interpreted as a strategic vehicle able to appropriately communicate the traditional values, culture, and historical symbolic meanings of luxury fashion brand. Actually, marketing mythopoiesis results in being an effective element for translating a historical ‘stock’ of heritage into a strategic ‘flow’ of narrative capabilities by marketing managers.