Nicola Cucari

How does firm diversification impact innovation

ABSTRACT This study sheds light on the relationship between business diversification and innovation. A diversification strategy is both a driver of sunk costs and strategic slack. Strategic slack is a valuable reserve of knowledge, usable to foster innovation. Using linear models, we explore the interplay between research and development (R&D) and organisational slack in large and diversified companies listed on the Euronext 100 Index. We consider the diversification pattern over time, and its interactions with the following three categories: sunk costs, slack resources, and R&D. The results show an antithetic effect of diversification and slack on R&D expenditures. In contrast to unabsorbed and potential slack, diversification and sunk costs hinder innovation. However, diversification is a huge source of strategic slack and, thus, has a positive effect on innovation, indirectly.

Civic crowdfunding e valore del territorio: un’analisi empirica attraverso due piattaforme italiane

Nel lavoro si analizza il rapporto tra l’efficacia dei progetti di Civic Crowdfunding e l’attrattivita del territorio. L’indagine, condotta attraverso lo studio di due importanti piattaforme di Civic Crowdfunding, e stata effettuata attraverso un’analisi statistica di regressione lineare e multivariata OLS. Si e cosi verificato, su un campione di 144 progetti di Civic Crowdfunding, la presenza di una correlazione positiva tra l’efficacia dei progetti e l’attrattivita del territorio, da un lato, ed il numero dei finanziatori, dall’altro. Sembra emergere, invece, una correlazione negativa con il numero dei progetti presentati. Il lavoro mostra l’importanza e la valenza del territorio attraverso la risposta data dai finanziatori aderendo ai progetti di Civic Crowdfuding, a dimostrazione dell’importanza che va assumendo questa particolare tipologia di investimento per lo sviluppo sostenibile del territorio, in linea con la tendenza, da parte dei cittadini, ad esprimere una maggiore volonta di partecipazione alla costruzione di citta e territori migliori.

Open collaborative innovation and digital platforms

Abstract This study uses contract theory to analyse the relationship between open collaborative innovation strategies and digital platforms. We argue that a collaborative mechanism and governance of the platform affect how operations are run and impact firm ambidexterity. We also explain how the twofold revealing strategy, both selective and free occurs via the platform and how governance positively impacts the coordination mechanism. A case study analysis on TIM OPEN draws a ground-breaking framework for future investigations. The analysis suggests that the combination of digital platform and collaborative innovation can facilitate the creative process and be a driver of operational synergies. Results confirm that the adoption of digital platforms for collaborative innovations reduces transaction costs.