Future trends and Italian SMEs

2020 ◽  
pp. 52-59
Author(s):  
Corinne Celant ◽  
◽  
◽  
Irina V. Pustokhina

The stagnation of the domestic market has brought the majority of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to their knees, leading them to reinvent their way of doing business and find new strategies in order to survive and grow when the environmental conditions are deeply changing. On the one hand, new trends create a strong disruption on a structural level among the productive fabrics, but on the other hand, they represent also an opportunity, which opens new scenarios and new possibilities for the relaunch of SMEs. Among the most important challenges for Italian SMEs is internationalization, which is the possibility for enterprises to trade their goods not only on the domestic market but also on the foreign markets trying to find new opportunities to obtain some advantages. This is a very complicated process, traumatic and challenging in term of resources, but the possibility to have a genetic patrimony and a productive value, as the ones of the “Made in Italy, gives to the products of Italian enterprises a high level of competition and strong differentiation, making this process more accessible. The growth and competitiveness of enterprises, in particular SMEs, increasingly depend on the ability to apply new knowledge, working methods, and technologies as well as on the opportunity to participate in the commercialization of research developments in order to create new products, services or processes. Therefore, companies should strive to benefit from the opportunities and competitive advantages that innovation brings. SMEs play an important role in economic growth and provide most of the new jobs in Italy. Within the framework of this paper, the insight into the SMEs internationalization process is presented. The article provides an analysis of SMEs in the process of internationalization. Besides it concentrates on the new threats and opportunities represented by the new industrial revolution - Industry 4.0. Analyzing the impact of Industry 4.0 on the internationalization of Italian SMEs, the authors explain the solutions that are being used and the ones that should be taken.

Author(s):  
Nataliya Ryvak ◽  
Anna Kernytska

In this paper, digital technologies development was analyzed as the basis for the so-called “fourth industrial revolution” with the potential for the qualitative transformation of the Ukrainian economy based on EU countries’ experience. Industry 4.0 is a new control chain over the entire chain of creating value throughout the product lifecycle. When developing an economic policy, it is important to pay attention to Industry 4.0. It increases productivity, produces new, better, and individualized products, and implements new business models based on “undermining” innovations. A comparative analysis of national initiatives I4.0 with their characteristics according to the main dimensions, including funding, focus, direction, was conducted. Particular attention was paid to considering deterrents to the successful implementation and enforcement of the I4.0 initiative in European countries. The factors of successful implementation of I4.0 initiatives in the EU countries were analyzed. Drawing on the analysis of the European experience of digital transformations in industry and national economies in general, the necessity of critical focus of such transformations in Ukraine was highlighted, and the need for state support of industrial transformation was substantiated. The emphasis was placed on the cooperation development between stakeholders within the implementation of Industry 4.0 – it is necessary to create national and regional 4.0 platforms, following the example of EU countries, which would bring together government institutions, businesses, and academics. The successful positioning of the Ukrainian modern industrial complex on the world markets depends on the high level of the interconnected system providing factors that characterize its development process. Considering the influence of a list of inhibiting factors on implementing the country’s industry accelerated development, a set of measures needed to transform Ukraine’s industry based on European experience was substantiated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 208-225
Author(s):  
Lyudmila Belova

The article traces the impact of innovation on employment and workers income during industrial revolutions. The aim of the study is to identify the business model that contributes to improving the well-being and reducing negative impact of innovative transformations on employees. To achieve this goal, we analyze: the conceptions of industrial revolutions; the “Engels pause”, which arose during the First Industrial Revolution as a “surge” in inequality due to the contradiction between productivity growth and profit, on the one hand, and the stagnation of workers’ real incomes, on the other; the effect of replacing manual labor with automated one; the problems of technological unemployment; the digital business model of sharing economy. The findings report conclusions concerning the change in economic development paradigm as a result of the replacement of classical consumption models by sharing economy business model, on the prospects of the sharing economy business model in the context of its ability to solve employment problems, overcome technological unemployment and increase employees’ income. The achieved results can be useful for policymakers and corporate structures that design innovative development strategies.


Economies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Ziaei Nafchi ◽  
Hana Mohelská

Industry 4.0 is the essence of the fourth Industrial revolution and is happening right now in manufacturing by using cyber-physical systems (CPS) to reach high levels of automation. Industry 4.0 is especially beneficial in highly developed countries in terms of competitive advantage, but causes unemployment because of high levels of automation. The aim of this paper is to find out if the impact of adopting Industry 4.0 on the labor markets of Iran and Japan would be the same, and to make analysis to find out whether this change is possible for Iran and Japan with their current infrastructures, economy, and policies. With the present situation of Iran in science, technology, and economy, it will be years before Iran could, or better say should, implement Industry 4.0. Japan is able to adopt Industry 4.0 much earlier than Iran and with less challenges ahead; this does not mean that the Japanese labor market would not be affected by this change but it means that those effects would not cause as many difficulties as they would for Iran.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 82-91
Author(s):  
Mykola Gennadiyovych Nikolaev

Purpose – to analyze strategic company management in the digital business environment. Design/Method/Approach. General scientific methods are applied: systematization, comparison, generalization, analysis, and synthesis. Findings. The essence of strategic management and its significance to a company has been analyzed. The relationship between strategic company management and digital business environment has been elucidated. Basic trends for doing business in the digital environment have been defined. Theoretical implications. Theoretical significance of the research is in the advancement of opinion on the strategic company management in digital business environment. Practical implications. The practical value of the research is in the possibility of applying the results obtained by both international and domestic companies for strategic management in the digital business environment that emerged as a result of the Fourth industrial revolution. Originality/Value. The main trends of modern business in the digital environment have been identified. The choice of strategies of multinational companies has been identified, as well as the areas of their application in digital business environment. Research limitations/Future research. The prospects for further research are to study the strategic management of international companies and analyze the impact of digital business environment on their development. Paper type – theoretical.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-40
Author(s):  
Arfah Arfah

The era of the industrial revolution 4.0. In the last century, experts have increasingly convinced that the intellectual resources of an organization determine the competitive advantage of an organization in accelerating the effectiveness of artificial intelligence, especially in presenting the best customer service innovation products. However, there are only a few studies on the relationship between intellectual capital and innovation. Based on the importance of these issues, this study aims to examine the impact of intellectual capital on organizational innovation. Questionnaires have been distributed to 100 employees of PT. Pelindo from Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), and 82 usable questionnaires were returned. The regression statistical method analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The results of the research simultaneously show that intellectual capital has a positive and significant effect on organizational innovation. The next test results partially prove that human capital, organizational capital, and relational capital have a significant and positive effect on organizational innovation. This study opens several pathways for innovation program projects in future Indonesian organizations. The significance of the findings of this study shows the practical implications of the support in the next roadmap on research and development (R&D) of Human Resources and innovation of Indonesian BUMN organizations, particularly at PT. Pelindo as one of the important pillars in the success of the vision of the Indonesian government's maritime axis. Based on the high level of socio-cultural heterogeneity in Indonesia, the implications of follow-up studies are important to expand the sample of employees to a larger and more diverse range and combine other independent variables (such as demographic factors, organizational culture, organizational climate, leadership, job satisfaction or other motivational factors) which may result in different study findings and recommendations.


InterConf ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 54-59
Author(s):  
Bohdana Hunko

The paper analyzes the role of Industry 4.0 in the process of overcoming the global economy from the crisis situation associated with the total Covid-19 pandemic. The aspect of economic profitability of using the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution to improve world economic development in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic was also identified. The author identified the positive and negative consequences of the involvement of technology Industry 4.0, on the basis of which a number of recommendations for small and medium-sized businesses were formed in order to quickly overcome the negative effects of the crisis. Based on the work, the author formulated a number of trends and prospects for global economic development, taking into account the current conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 965-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Bienhaus ◽  
Abubaker Haddud

Purpose While digitisation is a key driver of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0); organisations have different approaches to deal with this topic to get a clearer picture of the opportunities and challenges concerning the digital transformation. The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of digitisation on procurement and its role within the area of supply chain management. The research will also explore potential barriers to digitising procurement and supply chains and ways to overcome them. Finally, the significance of potential enabling technologies to the digitisation will also be examined. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative approached utilising an online survey was used to collect the primary data for this study. Data were collected from 414 participants directly involved with procurement or related business functions and work for different organisations in different industries. The survey included eight items about the impact of digitisation on organisational performance in the area of procurement and supply chains; ten items related to key barriers to digitisation of organisations and ways to overcome them; and seven items about enabling technologies to leverage procurement procedures and processes digitisation. All of these items utilised the Likert five-point level of agreement scale. Findings The findings indicate that digitisation of procurement process can yield several benefits including: supporting daily business and administrative tasks, supporting complex decision-making processes, procurement will become more focussed on strategic decisions and activities, procurement will become a strategic interface to support organisational efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability, and supporting the creation of new business models, products, and services. The authors were also able to confirm that there are barriers to digitising procurement process and supply chains and such barriers found in existing procedures, processes, capacities, and capabilities. Finally, the significance of a number of enabling technologies to the digitisation process was revealed. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of its kind with participants located world-wide. Industry 4.0 as a topic had been explored within different business areas and functions but very limited research specifically explored potential impact, barriers, and enabling technologies of procurement 4.0. The results can be beneficial for organisations already implemented Industry 4.0 or planning to do so. The study can also benefit academic scholars interested in the researched topic, business professionals, organisations within different sectors, and any other party interested in understanding more the concept of procurement 4.0.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-318
Author(s):  
Sidasha Singh ◽  
Juanitta Calitz

Within the context of the fourth industrial revolution, cryptocurrencies pose several challenges in the framework of corporate insolvency law. In South African law, no statutory framework vis-à-vis cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, currently exists. This has however not prevented entities from engaging in the cryptocurrency market. The specific dilemma is that insolvency practitioners do not have legislative guidelines to assist them in dealing with the subject of cryptocurrencies. Consequently, international judicial developments must be consulted and analysed with the aim to close the gap between the legislature and Industry 4.0. This article unpacks the South African legal position on cryptocurrencies within the context of the statutory powers and duties of insolvency practitioners. It engages in an analysis of selected international courts cases that have dealt with the concept of cryptocurrencies within the context of insolvent estates and continues to make recommendations for the development of an efficient and effective regulatory model.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
Lo Thi Hong Van ◽  
◽  
L. Guzikova ◽  

The purpose of the study is to identify the challenges, prospects and ways for the development of the manufacturing industry in Vietnam in the context of Industry 4.0, after COVID-19. The article examines the development of the manufacturing industry in the context of Industry 4.0. The research methodology includes comparative analysis, elements of positive and normative analysis. The study is based on statistical information available within the period of writing the article (till October 1, 2020). The data of Vietnamese and international research organizations and statistics bodies, in particular, the websites of World Bank and General Statistics Office of were used. The leading role of the manufacturing industry in achieving sustainable economic development in developing countries, including Vietnam, was determined. Based on an assessment of the levels of development of the manufacturing industry in Vietnam from 2011 to 2019 and the state of production of the main manufacturing industries under the influence of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, urgent problems of the development of the manufacturing industry in the context of Industry 4.0 in Vietnam were identified. The coronavirus pandemic, on the one hand, is seen as the reason for the slowdown in production growth in the manufacturing industry, and on the other hand, as a condition for accelerating digital transformation in industrial manufacturing enterprises. The article identifies the main challenges and prospects for the development of the manufacturing industry in Vietnam in the fourth industrial revolution. The human resource challenge for the development of manufacturing in the context of the fourth industrial revolution was identified in some specific industries such as textiles, food processing, machinery and equipment manufacturing by analyzing the Report of 2019 about Industry 4.0 Readiness of Vietnam’s industrial enterprises. The main priority areas for improving the production of the manufacturing industry in Vietnam to achieve sustainable industrial development are presented. The results of the work can be used in the development of policies for the development of the manufacturing industry not only in Vietnam, but also in other developing countries


Author(s):  
Sibel Yildiz Çankaya ◽  
Bülent Sezen

Modern industry developed over several centuries and three industrial revolutions. Today, we experience the fourth era of the industrial revolution, Industry 4.0. The advance of industrialization brought along many problems, including environmental pollution, global warming, and depletion of natural resources. As a result, the concept of sustainability began to gain importance. Sustainability can be achieved through a balance between economic, social, and environmental processes. In order to establish such balance, businesses need new business models or insights. At this point, Industry 4.0 can be regarded as a new business mindset that will help businesses and communities move towards sustainable development. The technologies used by Industry 4.0 bear a strong promise to solve these problems, after all. Even though Industry 4.0 attracts a lot of attention lately, few works are available on its impact on sustainability. This chapter examines the impact of Industry 4.0 on sustainability.


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