Paolo Gubitta

Governance and Flexibility in Family-Owned SMEs

This article presents an empirical study that uses a sample of 83 small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) based in Northeast Italy. The study analyzes the impact of nonfamily management on the corporate governance structure. We employ an original framework, based on the New Theory of Property Rights, to analyze corporate governance models in SMEs. Moreover, this article offers a definition of flexibility of the corporate governance model. We also analyze the correspondence between corporate governance systems and organizational structures.

Patenting in family firms

In this paper we analyze patenting activities of family businesses, as compared to non-family ones. The main question is whether family business patent more or less. Then, we also analyze the composition of the inventor group and patent characteristics. To investigate these issues we analyzed a sample of 234 Italian businesses. We find some evidence that family firms differ in their patenting strategy from non-family ones.

The Role of Entrepreneurs’ Human and Social Capital in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services

Over the past few years, the increasing importance of knowledge and learning has enhanced the interest in knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) as a strategic sector. Interest in KIBS has increased considerably because of their role in the growth of employment rates (according to the Eurostat, employment in knowledge-intensive activities in the business sector accounted for 10–20 per cent of total employment in the majority of countries in 2009, with a mean 13.4 per cent in the European Union) and in innovation (for instance, the Sectoral Innovation Watch — a consortium funded by the European Union to provide policy-makers and innovation professionals with detailed insight into sectoral innovation dynamics across Europe — included KIBS as a sector to monitor in years to come).

Fostering performance through leaders’ behavioral competencies: An Italian multi-level mixed-method study

This paper aims to identify which top leaders’ behavioral emotional intelligence (EI)-competencies affect firm performance when considering the overall organization orientation toward efficiency, human resources and adaptability to the external environment as an interface (i.e. a filter) between the individual leader and firm outcomes.,The research was conducted on a sample of Italian top leaders. The authors used a cross-level analysis that distinguishes individual characteristics, mid-level performance determinants and organizational results. The authors used a variety of methods of assessment: behavioral event interviews for top leaders’ EI-competencies; subject matter experts’ evaluations for organizational orientation; a non-parametric statistical analysis for distinctive competencies; objective financial data for firm financial performance. To identify which competencies impact on financial performance, factor and regression analysis was used.,In firms oriented toward efficiency, human resources and adaptability to the external environment, top leaders’ people management EI-competencies are the most frequent distinctive abilities. These distinctive competencies can be further distinguished into task, relationship and change-oriented behaviors, although only the first two appear to be related to firm performance.,To foster firm performance, top leaders should leverage certain EI-related competencies, especially those that are task and relationship oriented. Leaders should not only see the organization as an extension of themselves but also be aware that the organization might obstacle their individual impact.,This original empirical study uses different data sources and methodologies, it assesses a multi-level model and is conducted in Italy. No previous empirical study has considered the organization as a filter – and not an enhancer – between the top leader and firm performance.

Does slack always affect resilience? A study of quasi-medium-sized Italian firms

Abstract Research on organizational slack, which has focused mainly on its effect in large, publicly traded firms and on transitional economies, has found that slack functions as a buffer in periods of crisis. However, little work has been done on the value of slack resources for smaller firms in mature industries. This study contributes to the resource-based literature with a quantitative analysis of a broad sample of Italian SMEs that operate in the traditional ‘Made in Italy’ industries. The purpose of the paper is to use longitudinal data from before and after the 2008 world financial crisis to determine whether slack resources drive growth and profitability in organizations with limited resources that operate in mature industries in periods of recession. The results of two-stage least squares regression indicate that, similar to their larger counterparts, small firms must secure high levels of profitability in order to achieve sound growth during recessions. Potential financial slack is equally important in driving profitability in these periods, although it is not related to higher growth. Investing in R&D does not affect small firms’ ability to be profitable and grow during recessions.

Educational Context and Entrepreneurial Intentions of University Students: An Italian Study

Abstract In this chapter the authors explore some drivers of entrepreneurial intentions using the theory of planned behaviour on a sample of Italian students. Our objective is twofold. First, the study investigates if both perceiving that becoming an entrepreneur is risky and having non-financial career motivations affect university students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Second, it investigates if students’ perception that university education has an effect on their entrepreneurial skills and attitudes and their perception that the university favours and supports entrepreneurship moderate the relationship between cognitive antecedents of intentions (i.e. attitudes, norms and control) and entrepreneurial intentions. This chapter presents an analysis of a sample of more than 1,500 students from the University of Padova (Italy). According to the national ranking, this University – which is one of Italy’s oldest and largest universities – has been classified as the one with the best Faculty of Economics and Statistics in terms of teaching for more than 10 years among 45 Italian public universities. Data from the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey (GUESSS) carried out in 2013 was used. Our analysis highlights not only on the importance of individual characteristics, but also on the role of the learning experience students have during their university studies. This means that it is important to consider how much students perceive that their university education has an effect on entrepreneurial skills and attitudes.