Technology, Firm Size, and Entrepreneurship

Author(s):  
Franco Amatori ◽  
Matteo Bugamelli ◽  
Andrea Colli

Firms are one of the main characters of any economy and an excellent observatory for monitoring a nation's evolution. The history of Italy's productive system in the last 150 years is divided into three parts, corresponding to a similar number of industrial revolutions. While firms obtained excellent results in the first two, their inability to grow further inhibited the wide use of the Third Industrial Revolution's features, information and communication technologies. This became a serious obstacle for Italy reaching the international economic frontier. There are many causes-political and economic, macro and microeconomic, domestic and international-behind the turnaround in Italy's economic performance, but the key one was firm size. The argument is developed along three steps. First: firm size is positively correlated to innovation, internationalization, adoption of advanced technologies, and ability to face new competitive challenges; larger firms record higher productivity both in levels and growth rates. Second: the distribution of firms in terms of dimensions was adequate until the 1970s, but defective later on. Finally: because firm size is not a given (but an endogenous choice of entrepreneurs), this chapter examines some key entrepreneurs and managers so as to identify the main features of Italian entrepreneurship.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa Gagarina ◽  
Grigoriy Kuznecov ◽  
Evgeniy Portnov ◽  
Anna Doronina

The textbook examines the main milestones in the history of the development of information technologies, computing and computer technology abroad and in Russia. Special attention is paid to the methodology of scientific research in the field of infocommunications. The current sections of the development of telecommunications technologies in the field of multimedia networks and network operating systems are presented. In order to develop practical skills, a laboratory workshop is given. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. For senior students of technical specialties, postgraduates, researchers, teachers of higher educational institutions, students of advanced training institutes.


Author(s):  
Serhiy Danylenko ◽  
Olena Shcherbatiuk

The political instrumentalization of the history of Ukraine carried out by the Russian Federation in the framework of the information war against Ukraine is covered in this article. This instrumentalization is exercised through media communication employing historical and political myths and narratives to vindicate Russia’s aggressive actions. The latest information and communication technologies used by the Kremlin in the information war against Ukraine have been identified in this paper. Such destructive efforts often derail Ukrainian-Polish relations, which are particularly sensitive to historical and political issues. The reasons for the drawbacks of the Ukrainian authorities in counteracting the information aggression on the part of the Russian Federation are distinguished, and the measures that would contribute to an effective response to such aggression are outlined.


Author(s):  
Liudmila Burtseva ◽  
Svetlana Cojocaru ◽  
Constantin Gaindric ◽  
Galina Magariu ◽  
Tatiana Verlan

In this chapter the authors introduce the digital-divide concept to the reader, bring its different definitions, and describe the short history of the problem. The basic figures and facts, which characterize the information and communication technologies’ usage in different countries and regions, are given as well. Also, basic indicators that allow the monitoring of the country’s advancement on the way to bridging the digital divide are stated. The main purpose for the authors was to show that the digital divide is not only (and not as much) a technical problem, but rather a social and political one. Hence, the approaches to this problem decision, both in the world community as a whole and in separate countries, are described.


Author(s):  
Eduardo Espinheira ◽  
Fernando Almeida

Traditional management models reveal issues with the introduction of unnecessary hierarchies, slow decision making, among other obstacles, which left a large number of workers out of the process of seeking efficiency and growth. In this sense, the third generation of management models focused on agility and collaboration emerged. Instead of focusing on hierarchies and functions, there is a priority on the way people behave and relate. In this sense, this study aims to analyze this phenomenon and to understand the various dimensions of Management 3.0. Furthermore, it intends to explore and understand the practices and challenges that are posed in its business implementation, focusing on the role of people and information and communication technologies.


Author(s):  
Liudmila Burtseva ◽  
Svetlana Cojocaru ◽  
Constantin Gaindric ◽  
Galina Magariu ◽  
Tatiana Verlan

In this chapter the authors introduce the digitaldivide concept to the reader, bring its different definitions, and describe the short history of the problem. The basic figures and facts, which characterize the information and communication technologies’ usage in different countries and regions, are given as well. Also, basic indicators that allow the monitoring of the country’s advancement on the way to bridging the digital divide are stated. The main purpose for the authors was to show that the digital divide is not only (and not as much) a technical problem, but rather a social and political one. Hence, the approaches to this problem decision, both in the world community as a whole and in separate countries, are described.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Wibren van der Burg ◽  
Wouter de Been

The toleration of religious minorities is changing in the Netherlands. In this paper we analyze three recent developments in Dutch society that are important for understanding the way the Dutch regime of religious tolerance is adjusting to 21st century circumstances. The first one concerns the growing homogenization of Dutch society and the emergence of a secular and liberal majority. The second is the dominance in policy and public debate of a “Protestant” conception of what religion amounts to. The third development is the fragmentation of religion and its simultaneous combination into new networks and groups made possible by new information and communication technologies. These developments pose challenges to constitutional rights and principles. There are no simple solutions to these challenges, but the Dutch tradition of consociationalism, as a liberal tradition in its own right, may provide some valuable perspectives.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 103-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Linchuan Qiu ◽  
Lin Lin

This paper connects the scholarship of labour sociology with studies of information and communication technologies (icts). It contends that, despite the wonders of social progress associated with digital technologies, the emergence of the digital electronics manufacturing industry in Asia has led to serious regressions in society. Among the worst of such digital disruptions is the challenge of Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and one of the most notorious sweatshops in the history of industrial capitalism. Tragedies at Foxconn force us to reconsider industrialization and the role oficts so fundamentally that it requires us to revisit old regimes of slavery in order to fully understand these events. From a critical historical perspective, this paper examines disruptive moments in Foxconn while developing the idea of iSlavery and, in particular, manufacturing iSlaves, as a conceptual device to rethink the Foxconn suicides as emblematic of a disruptive and disrupted digital Asia.


1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Michael Macdonald-Ross

University libraries are facing the farce of NICT (New Information and Communication Technologies). Libraries are ancient indeed - they date from the third century BC. Their staff are, as a rule, not well equipped to judge the impact of technological change (who is?). Instead of being too conservative, they are often naïvely accepting of technological overclaims. As a result, librarians plan to reduce access to print in favour of text on screen. Here I counter-attack, arguing that the day of the printed book is far from over.


2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Vladyslav Ye. Velychko

Information processes in the society encourage the formation of a revision of the forms and methods of learning; involve the use of didactic capabilities of information and communication technologies in teaching. No less important in this context, the problem of professionals training who are able to use modern possibilities of computer technology. Training of highly qualified teachers is only possible using advanced technologies that cover the entire range of existing opportunities. The analysis used in the formation of the software has showed insufficient use of a whole class of software - free software in the educational process. To overcome this problem, the proposed implementation strategy of free software in the preparation of teachers of mathematics, physics and computer science is proposed.


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