Mario Pezzillo Iacono

Knowledge creation and inter-organizational relationships: the development of innovation in the railway industry

Purpose – The main purpose of the paper is to explore the relationship between the design of inter‐organizational connections, the processes for knowledge creation and transfer, and innovation. The study aims to focus on the partnership between Firema, a medium‐large Italian company in the rail industry sector, and TEST, a research consortium.Design/methodology/approach – The coordination model defining the cooperative relationship is interpreted in the temporary project network (TPN) framework. In applying the methodology of case study analysis, a semi‐structured in‐depth interview was used as a tool and, in particular, interviews aimed at privileged observers.Findings – TEST, acting as a meta‐organizer, has the crucial role of organizing, governing and tuning the network of university departments, in synergy with Firema. The analysis draws attention to the possibility that TPNs are embedded in “latent networks”, in which inter‐organizational ties are routinely activated in order to accomplish a specific...

Dealing with knowledge in the Italian public universities

Purpose – This article sets out to investigate the relationship between performance management systems (PMSs) and knowledge in public universities. In particular, this paper intends to verify how different choices related to PMS affect the nature of knowledge, in terms of the well‐known tacit vs explicit dichotomy.Design/methodology/approach – The empirical focus is on the recent PMS changes that have been developing in the “modernisation agenda” of the Italian public sector. In particular, 15 case studies of PMS design in Italian universities are presented. The interpretation of the results is based on the Simons theoretical framework related to the four levers of control.Findings – Results show how PMSs (in the different forms presented in the universities’ evaluation plans) could represent an important social tool to facilitate the management of organizational knowledge, combining explicit and tacit forms of knowledge.Originality/value – This paper tackles a topic neglected in the knowledge management...

Dealing with Critical IS Research: Artifacts, Drifts, Electronic Panopticon and Illusions of Empowerment

The chapter explores the diversity of topics, views and perspectives focused on the relationship between information systems (IS) and control, from a critical perspective. The work reflects upon the framework of Critical IS Research and its relation to Foucaultian approach and IS practice, informing the discussion on the ways IS and managerial Discourses framing the organizational reality. For this purpose, a case study of call centre outsourced industry is presented. We have explained how the overlapping between “electronic panopticon” and “commitment practices” used by management becomes a powerful tool for exerting influence and control in the sense of self-discipline and self-regulation. From this point of view, these tools are merely illusions of empowerment, representing only an apparent departure from traditional form of control, reiterating the idea of technological Discourse as a means of manipulation.

Temporary project network and innovation: research on the Italian regional wine industry

Purpose – This study aims at exploring the characteristics of the Temporary Project Networks (TPNs) in small and medium‐sized wine producing enterprises, both from a theoretical and an empirical perspective. It aims to discuss different types of temporary inter‐firm collaboration clusters both in terms of structural/organizational features and in terms of innovation tasks development. It also aims to develop an empirically derived taxonomy of TPNs within the Sannio wine industry.Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on the literature supporting the argument that the act of innovating is related strongly with the creation of new knowledge. In particular, the knowledge‐based theory places primary emphasis on inter‐organizational knowledge exchanges in explaining enhanced knowledge creation toward better innovative outcomes. The design of forms of coordination between companies is investigated with reference to TPNs, a form of collaboration that has been less investigated in the literature, especia...

The boundaries of a performance management system between learning and control

Purpose – This paper aims to consider how and to what extent it is possible to interpret a performance management system (PMS) as a typical control mechanism or in a more innovative way as a learning tool. PMSs are typically used for planning and coordination purposes. However, they may also be used as an opportunity to foster learning inside the organization. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical analysis was carried out during January-May 2014. A single case study was developed, in the first phase, through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with three top managers, to investigate the purpose and rationale of the design of the PMS. The investigation then continued with non-participant observation. Findings – The picture shows the dominance of “command and control” thinking, based on a cybernetic control system connected to targets and linking the achievement of these targets to individual performance. Practical implications – This paper helps to contextualize reflections on PMSs and p...

Coping with Power of Control: The Role of IS in an Italian Integrated Tariff System

The study explores the role of the Electronic Ticketing Systems in the Integrated Tariff Systems (ITS), focusing on the relationship between technology and control from the perspective of the Critical IS Research. More specifically our work reflects upon the impact of the “smart card technology” on the process of control and power centralization from the perspective of the ITS meta-organizer. It is for this purpose that a case study of UnicoCampania, an Italian ITS, is analyzed and discussed. We show that UnicoCampania’s power to control the transport operators is not only extended through technology, but also becomes more pervasive and more effective. So the electronic ticketing could be considered an artifact which enabled the power relations within the tariff network, establishing itself as the strength of the process that the drive the network. Our chapter provides an empirical example of the application of critical approach to an Italian local transport system, confirming that the two categories analyzed—political and technological—do not denote a specific and separated belonging.

Governance models in the local transport industry: an empirical research on tariff integration systems

The aim of this research is to analyze governance models for tariff integration systems in the local public transport sector both in Italy and in some regions of Europe. In particular, it aims to study and compare coordination models chosen by the key players, their role (especially that of the political policy-driver) and the degree of decisional centralization/decentralization within the network.For this purpose ten case studies (AMT Barcellona, CRTM Madrid, Formula Torino, Metrebus Lazio, Pegaso Toscana, Sitam Milano, Stib Bruxelles, Stif Parigi Ile-de-france, Stimer Emilia Romagna, UnicoCampania) will be presented and compared in the paper. Data was collected through direct (semi-structured interviews and structured questionnaires) and indirect sources (analysis of internal documents).The analysis brings to light two organizational models for governance: the focal organization and the agency model. Features and implications of these two models will be outlined.Practical implications.The intention of this paper is to provide strategic and operative considerations for designing governance structures for tariff integration systems.

Myth #1: The Healthcare System Is Failing

Many people say that Health Care Systems are not financially sustainable and so they are all ultimately doomed.

Dealing with knowledge in a product development setting: an empirical analysis in the automotive industry

Abstract The relationship between the management of knowledge and the Japanese concept of obeya is a neglected topic. Previous studies have classified the different tools and methods adopted in Lean Product Development in the light of the Socialisation–Externalisation–Combination–Internalisation (SECI) theoretical framework for knowledge management. Following these studies, the aim of this paper is to understand empirical context how obeya is used to integrate knowledge and how its adoption fits with the SECI model. We investigated this relationship using two obeya experiences in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, within a project that was part of the development of a new longitudinal-engine for Alfa Romeo Giulia.

The adoption of knowledge integration mechanisms in an interdisciplinary research project

Purpose This paper aims to study knowledge integration mechanisms in an interdisciplinary research project. It develops the theoretical literature on the concept of knowledge integration, particularly the adoption of different organizational mechanisms. The research helps to explain how to adopt different integration mechanisms in the various steps of a typical university industry research project. Design/methodology/approach This research relies on a case study. The authors used three data collection techniques: internal document analysis, observation/site visits and semi-structured interviews. Documentary analysis was used to understand the organizational structure and to identify knowledge integration issues. Observation and site visits at university research laboratories were used to increase understanding on particular issues. Staff interviewed included managers and academic researchers. Findings Findings are primarily related to a better understanding of choices of knowledge integration mechanisms in a university industry research project. A crucial aspect was the level of mutual understanding of specialist knowledge. When project members were derived from different sides of the university-industry border, there was a major need for recurring to more structured knowledge integration mechanisms, even if the scientific background of participants was homogeneous. Originality/value Previous studies on the relationships between university and industry deals with the issue of governing the knowledge exchange on the border at a macro level; conversely, an interesting research gap is represented by knowledge integration mechanisms to be deployed on the university-industry border, especially at micro level. In this paper, the authors do not cope explicitly with university-industry coordination mechanisms but use the University-Industry border to study knowledge integration in interdisciplinary setting. The study is exploratory, which may be useful in generating future research hypotheses, connecting the features of research projects with the need to achieve knowledge integration.