Enrico Scarso

Information technology management: a knowledge-based perspective

Abstract In management studies knowledge is increasingly recognised to be a primary source of firms competitiveness. The creation, management, and transfer of knowledge are regarded as central issues by scholars and practitioners. In the process of knowledge transfer a vital role is also ascribed to computer and telecommunication systems. Based on recent theoretical approaches to knowledge management, and in particular Nonakas perspective, the paper examines the critical issues associated with the inter-organisational transfer of knowledge. The various kinds of knowledge generated and exchanged by the firms are compared and contrasted, as well as the specific problems of knowledge management which arise. The implications of the applications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are then illustrated. In particular, it is discussed that different ICT systems, which are designed to handle different kinds of information and data, are appropriate to the transfer of different kinds of knowledge. The interpretative framework proposed here is then applied to a number of case studies of various ICT applications implemented in the northeast of Italy.

International manufacturing strategies: experiences from the clothing industry

In traditional sectors, due to the strong incidence of labour costs, the progressive delocalization of manufacturing activities in low‐wage countries has been typically considered unavoidable. However, this process appears to be very different at national, industrial, and also corporate level. Empirical studies are needed to investigate the existing linkages among industry general conditions, each firm’s global operations strategy and specific operative choices for implementing it. Presents empirical research on the patterns and the factors characterizing the international relocation of manufacturing followed by Italian clothing firms.

Electronic communication and knowledge transfer

The paper focuses on the process of inter-organisational knowledge transfer and on the potential of Electronic Communication systems (ElCom). First, the different forms of knowledge exchanged by firms are classified. Then, different models are proposed of inter-organisational communication, in order to describe each particular kind of knowledge transfer process. As a result, it is argued that, although today various ElCom applications are available, a universal communication tool is far from being available, so that different applications may be necessary for any specific communication need of the users. In particular, since the most critical challenge is represented by tacit communication, it is discussed that the development of ElCom systems for such kind of communication depends on the availability of a wide range of tools for carrying a large variety of contents. At the same time, any effective solution requires customising in accordance with the specific needs.

Timing the adoption of a new technology: an option‐based approach

Deals with the problem of timing the adoption of a new technology. This is a very important question of strategy which directly affects the firm’s competitive capability and whose analysis cannot be adequately faced by conventional capital budgeting techniques. Aims to provide a procedure for deciding on the appropriate adoption time, which is based on the option pricing approach. In particular, since innovative technologies generally disclose a set of strategic opportunities, makes the assumption that adoption occurs when it is possible to profit better from these opportunities. The decision procedure introduced also provides the starting point for developing a practical, option‐based framework to formulate a technology strategy. In this perspective, a proactive attitude of firms towards the planning and looking for future technology opportunities is proposed.

Technology Transfer to Supplier-dominated Sectors. Lessons from the Diffusion of CAD in the Fashion Industry

The growing interest in the mechanisms of technology transfer (TT) and the underlying factors derives from the fact that TT is widely recognised to be at the heart of the growth of productivity and competitiveness in many industries, especially those labelled as supplier–dominated. In this case, since it is a new process technology that has to be transferred to an industrial sector from an external source, useful suggestions about the forces which drive the transfer can be gathered by the innovation diffusion theory. Nevertheless, in order to understand the absolute importance of each factor and the interactive effects among them, lessons from empirical evidence are needed. Taking this into consideration, the paper investigates the history of the diffusion of CAD in the Italian fashion industry. Indications about the variables which have affected the spread of these systems are drawn, and guidelines for governing TT are formulated.

A knowledge management reading of electronic commerce: experience in the Italian clothing industry

The paper aims to explore the application of a knowledge-based approach for the practical understanding of the potential of Electronic Commerce (Ecom). It firstly discusses the main elements that should (or may) characterise a knowledge-based view of Ecom, based on the analysis of recent literature on knowledge management. Then the application of such elements is suggested for analysing Ecom in a specific context of application, the Italian clothing industry. The recent experience in that sector is examined, as well as the way the knowledge-based view proposed can be of use to understand the success and limitations of specific Ecom projects; this is done with particular reference to a specific case-study (Ecom projects of the Italian clothing firm Basic Net). The potential and limitations of the approach adopted here is then discussed, as well as possible future research directions.