Academic literature on the topic 'Academy aziendali'

Applicants for habilitation to Associate and Full professor in Economia Aziendale has during two years been evaluated by a commission, containing four Italian professors and one international professor. Me, being the international evaluator, present here some of my observations and impressions from the evaluation and present some reflections about the evolution of the Italian academic system and the subject, Economia Aziendale. My main conclusion, that the tradition of the subject is, at least in the short run, at threat due to the push towards internationalisation, could be regarded as rather pessimistic. But it is also a call for governed development, which should benefit all of us in the area, the whole international community.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical overview of the academic output of eminent Italian scholars in the period from the end of the Second World War to the 1970s on the subject of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Design/methodology/approach Through the use of content analysis, possible logical and conceptual similarities between the theories of the scholars and present-day definition of CSR have been identified. Findings Concepts as ethical values and stakeholders included in definition of CSR come from the thinking of the Italian Economia Aziendale scholars, so that it is possible to get pioneering aspects in the light of the international debate on CSR today. Originality/value The originality of this paper derives from the fact that the theme of CSR has rarely been examined from a historical point of view and that the development of the theme in Italy has rarely been examined through analysis of the ideas of the leading Italian Economia Aziendale Scholars.

The paper relies upon the recent discovery of the textbook of Accounting adopted in Palermo’s High Business School (the ‘ancestor’ of the Faculty of ‘Economics & Business’, founded after in 1936), just in its first years of opening (academic year 1930-31). It is a printed manuscript. This book was written by the local professor of Accounting, Emilio Ravenna, who operated in Sicily between the last decades of XIX century and the firstones of XX one, commonly considered (Guzzo, 2003) an intermediate scholar between the ‘Venetian’ (Besta) and ‘Tuscan’ (Cerboni) Italian Schools, adhering to the former for the accounting method and to the latter for the general theory of administrative functions, but here revealing more as belonging to the latter. The book is placed within a period of strong debate for the Italian community, after Zappa’s manifesto for the new science of “Economiaaziendale”, and also includes a full conception of Accounting as an open criticism to “Economia aziendale”. The interest for this discovery is due to the explicit answer to the defy launched at ‘Ca’ Foscari’ (University of Venice) by Gino Zappa. But the most relevant issue is that this answer does not come from the main ‘Venetian School’ of Besta disciples, then dominating in Italy, but from a true ‘survivor’ of the older ‘Tuscan School’, strictly follower of Giovanni Rossi work, and in those times already declined. It is noteworthy the fact Ravenna generally agrees with Zappa, confuting, however, only that his conceptions would be really new. The following paper, then, presenting the basic contents of the aforementioned book, with a peculiar stress on the doctrinal items concerning Accounting and “Economia aziendale”, reveals a continuity, perhaps overestimated by Ravenna,between the late XIX-century ‘Scientific Accounting’ by Cerboni and the early XX-century “Economia aziendale” by Zappa.

Purpose The issue of gender inequality in the Italian universities and academic context does not seem to be particularly debated and is really rare. Starting from this “lack of interest”, the paper aims to inquire into the “state-of-the-art” of existing inequality in the scientific and academic path of Italian female scholars and academia, answering the following research question: Is discrimination between women and men linked to the number of scientific contributions in periodicals and their presence within academic boards of scientific accounting associations and journals in Italy? Design/methodology/approach The methodology is primarily developed through a deductive analysis of the literature strands concerning gender accounting, accounting in academia and the role of women in universities and academia. Second, within the inductive perspective, the authors have chosen to inquire into the scientific publications of women on the oldest Italian journal in the accounting field – the Rivista Italiana di Ragioneria e di Economia Aziendale (RIREA). Subsequently, the position and career of women were analysed in academia investigating their presence and role within the boards of a sample of Italian journals and the main Italian accounting scientific associations Findings Accordingly, this paper concentrates on gender inequalities in university and academia in Italy and on eventual obstacles that get in the way of the existence of scientific contributions in journals and of career progress of those women who carry on scholarly work in accounting. Research limitations/implications The analysis confirms the need to open more space for women at the summits of political, economic and cultural institutions, including accounting academia and scientific journals. The paper has some limitations concerning the consideration of only Italian journals and academic associations. Then, we will develop the analysis in comparative terms, as attention will be addressed on the participation in scientific committees and boards of some of the major international scientific associations of accounting. Moreover, we will consider the narrative approach describing the stories of Italian women and accounting scholars to carefully investigate the reasons for this persistent discrimination. Originality/value The innovative contribution of the paper is due to the fact that the authors are unaware of previous studies aimed at investigating if female accounting scholars are under-represented compared to their male colleagues within the top positions of the most prestigious Italian accounting associations and scientific journals. Previous research also did not investigate the existence of correlation between Italian women’s scientific productivity, their under-representation within academia and scientific career.

IntroductionThe evaluation of treatment complications is crucial in modern oncology because they heavily influence the every day life of patients. Several authors confirmed the reproducibility of the French-Italian glossary to score the complications in patients with endometrial cancer after radiotherapy (RT), but the treatment of endometrial carcinoma is primarily surgical and chemotherapy is often used for high-risk disease.ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyze the incidence of complications in our patients treated for endometrial cancer and to verify whether the glossary is a suitable instrument in the description of complications after surgery, RT, and chemotherapy.MethodsThe data of patients affected by endometrial cancer treated in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Academic Department, Azienda Ospedaliera Mauriziano Umberto I in Turin from 2000 to 2009 (with surgery alone or integrated treatments) were prospectively collected, and complications were described using the glossary. Every patient included in the analyses had a minimum of 18 months follow-up.ResultsOf the 271 patients, 68 (25%) experienced at least 1 complication with 87 overall complications. Most of the complications were mild (63%) and were found in the urinary (30%) or cutaneous systems (30%). Forty-four (50%) complications appeared within 1 year after treatment, but 9 (10%) complications appeared after 60 months of follow-up. Patients who were submitted to both surgery and RT showed a trend of higher rate of at least 1 complication (19/58 [32.7%]) if compared with surgery alone (36/135 [26.6%]), even if the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.09). The incidence of complications in patients treated or not with lymphadenectomy was not statistically different (P = 0.088), whereas patients treated with laparotomy had a higher rate of cutaneous complications if compared with the laparoscopic approach (P = 0.018). The glossary included all observed complications.ConclusionsOne every 4 women treated for endometrial cancer develops a complication. Clinicians should check for complications especially after integrated treatments maintaining surveillance even in the long term. The glossary is a comprehensive instrument to describe the complications of endometrial cancer, regardless of the type of treatment delivered.

Abstract Introduction: Previous studies demonstrated that sickle cell disease (SCD), HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) represent high, yet under recognized health issues in Guinea Bissau, West Africa. A public National Reference Center for TB, Hospital Raoul Follereau (HRF) managed by the Italian NGO AHEAD is present in the capital city of Bissau with specialized local health staff capable of managing HIV and TB; the hospital has a SCD Clinic. Access to health services for rural population is limited and in some villages basic health care and routine screening are also seldom available due to lack of resources, specialized staff or diagnostic capacity. Therefore, people are not diagnosed or diagnosed late for SCD, HIV, TB. Nevertheless, rapid tests for both HIV and SCD are available on the market and one for TB is being developed. Simultaneous screening of three big diseases at the point of care (POC) in rural areas would allow saving of time and resources, while identifying people in need of further specialized diagnostic or follow up. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous screening of HIV, SCD and TB at the POC in a rural area of Guinea Bissau through rapid tests for HIV and SCD and a standardized clinical questionnaire (Figure 1) with clinical examination for TB. To identify patients with HIV, SCD or both and enroll them in appropriate follow up programs; to identify suspects of TB eligible for in depth diagnostic screening. Methods: During the first phase of the project a temporary outreach health post was organized for 10 days in March 2018 in the village of Fanhè, by the NGO AGB already operating in the village. 1) The chiefs of the rural community village informed all the households through collective meetings and home visits regarding the objectives and modalities of the health project after accepting the proposal made by the NGOs and the HRF staff (February-March 2018); 2) the local chiefs organized a schedule of visits according to households; 3) 3 nurses and 2 physicians from the HRF in Bissau, linguistically competent for Creole and local dialects, administered the standardized questionnaire and the physical examination respectively; 3) 2 pediatric residents from Italy aided in clinical examination, a nurse and 2 other physicians in performing the rapid tests for HIV (Determine®) and SCD (Sickle Scan, Biomedomics) after informed consent; patients with Sickle Scan positive results were immediately collected another blood sample on Guthrie card for molecular analysis confirmation to be performed in Italy at the Azienda Ospedaliera Università di Padova. During the second phase of the project (April-May 2018) subjects with suspect of TB and/or HIV received free transportation to the HRF for TB diagnostic evaluation according to the national protocol and second HIV confirmatory test. Results: All 898 inhabitants (32 families) accepted the screening and performed clinical examination with clinical questionnaire; all performed the finger prick for HIV and SCD rapid test. At SickleScan 16 were HbSA (children 9/16); none were HbAC or HbSS. All received information on the carrier state. At Determine 61 were HIV positive (children 9/61). 93 presented clinical suspect of TB (children 33/93). 12 had a suspected of TB and were HIV positive(children: 2/12). For subjects with a suspect of TB or who were HIV positive free transportation was arranged to the HRF for complete TB diagnostic workup and second HIV confirmatory Rapid Test. All HIV positive tests were confirmed and patients enrolled in clinical care in a nearby village; 30% of patients with TB suspect had the diagnosis confirmed by Xray/sputum smear examination and were enrolled in appropriate care programss. All 16 Sicklescan positive HbSA samples underwent molecular analysis and the results were confirmed. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrate the feasibility of a simultaneous population screening at the POC in rural areas for three "big diseases" (SCD, HIV and TB) through a temporary outreach clinic organized by local specialized staff in collaboration with local communities and international Academic Institutions and NGOs. The simultaneous screening with rapid test and standardized clinical examination is a model that could replicated in other rural settings in low resource countries. A further pilot study which will include a rapid test for TB, HIV and SCD is currently being planned. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Colombatti: NOVARTIS: Consultancy; Global Blood Therapeutics: Consultancy; BlueBirdBio: Consultancy; ADDMEDICA: Consultancy.

Abstract Aims Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is the cornerstone therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, a not negligible proportion of AF patients experiences major bleeding events or is affected by concomitant disorders that represent a contraindication for OAC. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) has emerged as an effective strategy to minimize the risk of thromboembolism in AF patients (without moderate/severe mitral stenosis or mechanical prosthetic heart valves) that are poor candidates for OAC. After the procedure variable regimens of antithrombotic therapy are prescribed, in order to provide protection and prevent device-related thrombus (DRT). The optimal post-procedural antithrombotic strategy remains to be assessed. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LAAO procedure and the relationship between antiplatelet therapy and outcomes at long-term follow-up. Methods and results We conducted a retrospective observational study including consecutive AF patients who underwent LAAO at Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma from October 2010 to June 2021. The incidence of major ischaemic events [DRT, ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and systemic embolism], Bleeding Academic Research Consortium major bleeding events and net adverse clinical events (major ischaemic + bleeding events) were assessed at follow-up. We enrolled 130 patients [median age 77 years (73; 81)] characterized by both high ischaemic (mean CHA2DS2-VASc 4.48) and bleeding risk (mean HAS-BLED 3.24). Technical procedure success was achieved in 123 (94.6%). Thirty-nine (31.7%) patients were discharged on short (≤1 month)-dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT); 35 (28.5%) on long-DAPT (1–12 months) and 49 (39.8%) on single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT). Antiplatelet therapy was chosen after multidisciplinary discussion on the basis on the hemorrhagic risk [mean HAS-BLED 3.55; 3.11; 2.97 (P = 0.038) in SAPT, short-DAPT and long-DAPT groups respectively], while no differences were observed in ischaemic risk between the three groups. Clinical follow-up was completed in 119 (98.2%) of successfully implanted patients. After a median follow-up of 31 ± 16 months, 24 (20.2%) patients had a major adverse event: 11 (9.2%) ischaemic events [8 (6.7%) strokes and 3 (2.5%) TIA] and 13 (10.9%) major bleedings. Patients on short-DAPT had a significantly lower occurrence of major bleedings [0 vs. 4 (11.4%) on long-DAPT vs. 9 (18.4%) on SAPT; P = 0.033] and net adverse clinical events [3 (7.7%) vs. 7 (20.0%) on long-DAPT vs. 14 (28.6%) on SAPT; P = 0.005] compared to the other two groups, while no difference was observed in the incidence of major ischaemic events [3 (7.7%) on short-DAPT vs. 3 (8.6%) on long-DAPT vs. 5 (10.2%) on SAPT; P = 0.340]. Conclusions In our cohort of AF patients with a contraindication for OAC therapy, LAAO showed high procedural success; however, long-term major ischaemic and bleeding events were not negligible. Short-DAPT therapy turned out to be the best antiplatelet regimen regarding net ischaemic-hemorrhagic balance. Evidence from well-designed randomized trials would be desirable to guide a tailored approach in the selection of post-procedural antithrombotic regimens.

This essay aims to show some approaches in the understanding of the lifelong learning concepts, knowledge, competence, from a literature review with the contributions of Dewey, Bruner, Freire, Schon and Tardif among others. Coming from theoretical studies carried out by Italian researchers and a Brazilian researcher, through their Research Centers/Laboratories and international collaborative partnership between Brazilian and Italian Universities, this text addresses from the undertake scientific literature, key terms which support the held studies. From the considerations, it is highlighted the regular understanding around lifelong learning concept, which considers the human condition for the permanent learning and valuing experiences from different contexts, such as family and school (basic and higher education). In view of this, the approximation between the concepts of competence and knowledge was also highlighted, recognized and valued as fundamental elements for the learning process and for the development of critical and reflexive thinking, and consequently transforming daily problems and challenges. The task reinforces the research network, pursuing the improving theoretical knowledge to subsidize the scientific research production in the educational field, besides Brazilian or Italian academic walls.SommarioQuesto saggio ha l’obiettivo di presentare gli approcci sulla definizione dei concetti di apprendimento permanente, saperi e competenze, partendo da una revisione della letteratura, con i contributi,tra gli altri, di Dewey, Bruner, Freire, Schon e Tardif. A partire dall’analisi teorica condotta da ricercatori italiani e una ricercatrice brasiliana, mediante i loro centri di ricerca/laboratório, e l’accordo di collaborazione internazionale tra l’università brasiliana e italiana, questo testo affronta, in base alla letteratura scientifica, i termini chiave che supportano gli studi realizzati. Dalle argomentazioni espresse, emerge la posizione comune sul concetto di apprendimento permanente o per tutta la vita, che considera l’approccio umanistico e la valorizzazione delle esperienze provenienti da diversi contesti come la famiglia e la scuola (in particolare di base e superiore). In questa prospettiva, si mette in evidenzia anche l'approssimazione semantica tra i concetti di competenza e saperi, riconosciuti e valorizzati come elementi fondamentali per il processo di apprendimento e per lo sviluppo del pensiero critico e riflessivo, e di conseguenza trasformatore rispetto ai problemi e alle sfide quotidiane della vita. Il presente contributo rafforza la rete di ricerca congiunta, con l'obiettivo di migliorare le conoscenze teoriche per supportare lo sviluppo di ricerche in campo educativo, al di là delle mura accademiche brasiliane o italiane.Keywords: Lifelong learning, Knowledge, Strategic competence, Reflexive competence.Parole chiave: Apprendimento permanente, Saperi, Competenze strategiche, Competenze di riflessione.Palavras-chave: Aprendizagem permanente, Conhecimento, Competência estratégica, Competência reflexiva.ReferencesALBERICI, A. La possibilità di cambiare. Apprendere ad apprendere come risorsa strategica per la vita. Milano: Franco Angeli, 2008.ALBERICI, A.; DI RIENZO, P. Learning to learn for individual and society. In: R. Deakin CRICK, C. S.; K. REN (Eds), Learning to Learn. International perspectives from theory and practice. New York: Routledge, 2014, p. 87-104.BALDACCI M. Trattato di pedagogia generale, Roma: Carocci Editore, 2002.BANDURA A. 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Negli ultimi anni un numero sempre maggiore di medie e grandi aziende italiane hanno strutturato, al fine di far crescere le competenze dei propri collaboratori, centri di formazione professionale chiamate Corporate University, o Academy Aziendali. Tuttavia, in letteratura non vi è una visione unitaria su un "modello" generale dell'Academy. Fine di questa tesi è cercare di fornire un primo spunto di riflessione sulle basi metodologiche dell'Academy e sull'impatto della stessa sui processi organizzativi di competenza dell'area Risorse Umane, così come sugli stakeholder dell'organizzazione all'interno del mercato del lavoro. Il contesto della società della conoscenza, della Quarta Rivoluzione Industriale e degli istituti giuridici “formativi” del mercato del lavoro fungeranno da base concettuale. Le finalità del campo di azione dell’Academy e la sua definizione verranno infine riproposte facendo un passo in avanti rispetto alle definizioni più consolidate, unendo i vari punti in comune, sulla base anche dei risvolti sociologici su ruoli e mansioni in ottica di un’evoluzione del concetto di professionalità. L’Academy come cabina di regia, organo di gestione mirata della creazione e diffusione di competenze sarà concepita come finalizzata a creare di valore nell’impresa attraverso la circuitazione positiva della conoscenza, che si traduce in idee e innovazione, e a creare le condizioni per lo sviluppo della professionalità come identità lavorativa primaria della persona.

La Quarta rivoluzione industriale e l’evoluzione tecnologica in atto stanno innescando significativi cambiamenti a livello culturale, sociale ed economico. Le rapide trasformazioni del mondo del lavoro portano in luce l’esigenza di coinvolgere i principali soggetti responsabili di guidare il cambiamento organizzativo e professionale all’interno di un percorso di ricerca partecipata e collaborativa, capace di esplicitare e descrivere diversi modi di affrontare le esperienze connesse ai mutamenti in corso. All’interno di questo contesto, il lavoro di tesi intende contribuire a delineare la nuova cultura del lavoro che sta emergendo da alcune pratiche innovative, presenti all’interno del nuovo ecosistema educativo e formativo. La ricerca scientifica, iniziata nel settembre 2019 e conclusa nel settembre 2020, si articola in quattro domande: Come sta cambiando il contesto nel quale viviamo e lavoriamo? Come si sta trasformando la cultura del lavoro? Quali Driver ne facilitano l’apprendimento? Gli elementi della cultura del lavoro sono utili anche alla luce di una nuova trasformazione radicale e improvvisa? Le risposte intendono fornire alcuni spunti di riflessione e un primo orientamento pratico per tutti coloro i quali sono coinvolti in prima persona nella costruzione di nuove soluzioni per l’apprendimento, volte a trasferire valore ai cittadini e ai lavoratori di domani.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the technological evolution in place are originating significant changes in culture, society and economy. Rapid transformations in the world of work revealed the need of involving the main subjects in charge of driving both organizational and professional change toward an engaging and collaborative research path, able to make clear and describe different ways to face the experiences connected with the undergoing changes. Within this context, the thesis aims at contributing in outlining the new work culture emerging from some innovative practices, present in the new educational and training ecosystem. The scientific research, started in December 2019 and concluded in September 2020, is articulated in four questions: How is the context in which we live and work changing? How is the work culture undergoing transformations? Which Drivers do facilitate its understanding? Are the elements of the work culture useful also in the light of a new radical and unexpected transformation? The answers intend to provide some points for reflection and a first practical guidance for all those who are directly involved in the creation of new learning solutions, aimed at transferring value to citizens and workers of tomorrow.

La Quarta rivoluzione industriale e l’evoluzione tecnologica in atto stanno innescando significativi cambiamenti a livello culturale, sociale ed economico. Le rapide trasformazioni del mondo del lavoro portano in luce l’esigenza di coinvolgere i principali soggetti responsabili di guidare il cambiamento organizzativo e professionale all’interno di un percorso di ricerca partecipata e collaborativa, capace di esplicitare e descrivere diversi modi di affrontare le esperienze connesse ai mutamenti in corso. All’interno di questo contesto, il lavoro di tesi intende contribuire a delineare la nuova cultura del lavoro che sta emergendo da alcune pratiche innovative, presenti all’interno del nuovo ecosistema educativo e formativo. La ricerca scientifica, iniziata nel settembre 2019 e conclusa nel settembre 2020, si articola in quattro domande: Come sta cambiando il contesto nel quale viviamo e lavoriamo? Come si sta trasformando la cultura del lavoro? Quali Driver ne facilitano l’apprendimento? Gli elementi della cultura del lavoro sono utili anche alla luce di una nuova trasformazione radicale e improvvisa? Le risposte intendono fornire alcuni spunti di riflessione e un primo orientamento pratico per tutti coloro i quali sono coinvolti in prima persona nella costruzione di nuove soluzioni per l’apprendimento, volte a trasferire valore ai cittadini e ai lavoratori di domani.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the technological evolution in place are originating significant changes in culture, society and economy. Rapid transformations in the world of work revealed the need of involving the main subjects in charge of driving both organizational and professional change toward an engaging and collaborative research path, able to make clear and describe different ways to face the experiences connected with the undergoing changes. Within this context, the thesis aims at contributing in outlining the new work culture emerging from some innovative practices, present in the new educational and training ecosystem. The scientific research, started in December 2019 and concluded in September 2020, is articulated in four questions: How is the context in which we live and work changing? How is the work culture undergoing transformations? Which Drivers do facilitate its understanding? Are the elements of the work culture useful also in the light of a new radical and unexpected transformation? The answers intend to provide some points for reflection and a first practical guidance for all those who are directly involved in the creation of new learning solutions, aimed at transferring value to citizens and workers of tomorrow.

L’obiettivo della ricerca è quello di comprendere come si trasformano i processi formativi all’interno di quelli che oggi sono definiti come ecosistemi formativi. Il focus principale della ricerca riguarda la trasformazione dei modelli di formazione basati sul criterio della domanda-offerta a modelli più ibridi e negoziali e di knowledge management. La definizione degli oggetti della formazione, dei bisogni formativi e delle risposte formative messe in campo dalle organizzazioni si configurano sempre più come processi distribuiti basati sul principio della gestione condivisa delle sfide organizzative e del sapere piuttosto che su logiche lineari: definizione degli obiettivi, scelta dei metodi e valutazione finale. La ricerca si inserisce all’interno della tradizione di studi sulla sociomaterialità, utilizzando come cornice teorica la Teoria dell’attività storico-culturale (Engëstrom, 1987;1999; 2001; Fenwick, 2008; 2010; 2011). La ricerca muove da una analisi della letteratura sviluppando nella seconda parte dell’elaborato un’indagine empirica. Per discutere e comprendere le potenzialità e i limiti degli ecosistemi della formazione sono state studiate le Academy aziendali, in quanto esperienze in cui da anni si sono sedimentate esperienze innovative di gestione della formazione basate sulla collaborazione tra sistemi formali e non formali di formazione. La ricerca empirica qualitativa (Creswell, 2012; Silverman, 2008) ha utilizzato lo studio di caso (Creswell, 2012) analizzando in particolare una Academy aziendale di una organizzazione italiana medio-grande leader nel settore ICT. Il piano della ricerca ha previsto l’esplorazione delle pratiche di formazione all’interno dell’Academy attraverso un’analisi documentale e l’utilizzo di interviste semi-strutturate. Nelle riflessioni finali si discuterà alla luce dell’analisi condotta di tre aspetti principali: a) la natura emergente dei bisogni formativi e il loro sviluppo e riconoscimento come evento socialmente costruito, dipendente dal contesto storico- culturale in cui esso viene generato (Fabbri, 2021); b) la spinta degli ecosistemi a ripensare gli oggetti della formazione in chiave sistemica. Se è accertato che i modelli formativi sono spinti a configurarsi certamente come azioni per rispondere ai bisogni di innovazione strumentali e ai cambiamenti tecnologici o professionali delle persone, è altrettanto interessante vedere come questi modelli sembrano evolversi anche per rispondere a esigenze nuove: creare network, aumentare la reputazione organizzativa, produrre un sapere che possa essere riconosciuto come utile anche dagli stakeholders territoriali, unire lo sviluppo professionale alle strategie aziendali, generare conoscenza partendo dal coinvolgimento delle persone e delle comunità che abitano le organizzazioni; c) la transizione da bisogni formativi di natura professionale a quelli personali.
The aim of the research is to understand how training processes are being transformed within what are now defined as training ecosystems. The main focus of the research concerns the transformation of training models based on the demand-supply criterion to more hybrid, negotiated and knowledge management models. The definition of training objects, training needs and the training responses put in place by organisations are increasingly taking shape as distributed processes based on the principle of shared management of organisational challenges and knowledge rather than on linear logics: definition of objectives, choice of methods, final evaluation. The research is part of the tradition of sociomateriality studies, using cultural-historical activity theory as a theoretical framework (Engëstrom, 1987; 1999; 2001; Fenwick, 2008; 2010; 2011). The research starts from a literature analysis and develops an empirical investigation in the second part of the paper. In order to discuss and understand the potential and limits of training ecosystems, corporate academies were studied as experiences in which innovative training management experiences based on the collaboration between formal and non-formal training systems have been settled for years. Qualitative empirical research (Creswell, 2012; Silverman, 2008) used the case study (Creswell, 2012) analysing in particular a corporate Academy of a medium- large Italian organisation leader in the ICT sector. The research plan involved the exploration of training practices within the Academy through a documentary analysis and the use of semi-structured interviews. In the final reflections, three main aspects will be discussed in the light of the analysis conducted: a) the emergent nature of training needs and their development and recognition as a socially constructed event, dependent on the historical-cultural context in which it is generated (Fabbri, 2021); b) the drive of ecosystems to rethink the objects of training in a systemic key. If it is ascertained that training models are certainly driven to configure themselves as actions to respond to instrumental innovation needs and to people's technological or professional changes, it is equally interesting to see how these models also seem to evolve to respond to new needs: to create networks, to increase organisational reputation, to produce knowledge that can also be recognised as useful by territorial stakeholders, to unite professional development with corporate strategies, to generate knowledge starting from the involvement of people and the communities that inhabit organisations; c) The transition from professional to personal training needs.

L’elaborato si concentra sul fenomeno delle corporate academy, analizzando lo sviluppo di questa formula nel tempo e il suo inquadramento in letteratura. Si concentra, nella seconda parte, sull’analisi di un caso di academy aziendale in un’azienda di abbigliamento veneta, Staff International. Dopo un’iniziale descrizione del Sistema moda e delle sue attuali/future sfide, la tesi approfondisce l’analisi del fenomeno delle academy e ne ipotizza l’utilità per il Made in Italy manifatturiero. I processi di offshoring e outsourcing hanno spinto le aziende a ricercare delle soluzioni per non disperdere la capacità produttiva ed innovativa. Tra queste si è individuato nella formazione aziendale e nello specifico nella creazione di una scuola d’impresa, la possibilità di continuare a preservare e a condividere il know-how aziendale e le relative competenze. In particolare si approfondiscono alcune tematiche riguardanti l’academy come le fasi della sua realizzazione, i vantaggi che ne comporta, le implicazioni organizzative, le metodologie didattiche, i metodi di valutazione e i comportamenti disfunzionali che possono ostacolarne lo sviluppo. La tesi procede quindi con l’analisi del caso Staff International, prima con la ricostruzione della storia dell’azienda, e successivamente con l’esposizione dei risultati dell’analisi del caso sullo sviluppo di una academy aziendale nell’impresa vicentina.

The first chapter analyzes the subject of the technology transfer process with the perspective of the institutional theory. The scope of the paper is to delineate the formal and informal institutional elements that changed in the academic entrepreneurship paradigm through a review of the literature. In particular, I use the Aoki’s theoretical point of view that unifies institutional theory and game theory, and defines the institutional context as the political exchange domain with dynamic institutional complementarities. The emergence of the university entrepreneurship paradigm has been a incremental change, recalling the theoretical idea that institutional evolution involves transitions among three aspects of institutions, which Scott (1995) called pillars: the regulative, normative, and cognitive, together shaping the creation of a new common approach. One aspect may be dominant at any given time, but the three coexist and are interconnected (Hirsch, 1997). The scope of this paper is to delineate a picture of the institutional elements that changed in the academic entrepreneurship field through an analysis of the literature contributions of the formal and informal institutions acting in the technology transfer process, applying the theory on institutional change developed by Aoki (2001). Formal and informal institutions in the university technology transfer process, in a unified perspective, suggest that the process of institutional change may not necessarily be hierarchically ordered in terms of causation, but it needs a coordination between the different institutions and domains. The second chapter analyzes the relations between the main stakeholders involved in the transfer process of scientific knowledge to society, proposing a innovative perspective on the funding gap problem, widely described in the literature regarding technological and scientific new ventures. The aim of this study it’s to appraise the influence of the commercialization funds provided through the university TTO on the probability to receive venture capital follow-on funding through the database of all the spinoffs created to exploit University of Michigan-assigned inventions from 1999 to 2010 and controlling for other important drivers of VC investments’ decisions, i.e. the spinoff’s technological endowment, the founders’ human capital and network’s resources. In line with theoretical contributions proposing a signaling role of public funding in reducing the information asymmetry faced by private investors (Chan, 1983; Takalo & Tanayama, 2010; Lerner, 1999) and suggesting a further enriched role for TTOs, the findings point out that venture capitalists perceive the gap funds as a signal about the quality and credibility of the new businesses, and use the information to identify the best spinoffs to finance. The contribution to the literature are mainly two, with important policy implications in the academic entrepreneurship environment: (i) a study of the effects of the TTO gap funding support, a practice that has become widespread in the universities’ policies, but received little attention in the academic researches; (ii) a new interpretation of the relations between scientists, technology transfer offices and venture capitalists, the main stakeholders involved in the transfer process of scientific knowledge to society. The third chapter is an extension of the second one, investigating if the provision of TTO gap funding to spinoff companies at the embryonic phase has an influence in their consequent sales growth and an impact on spinoffs development. With this scope, I analyze how the funding support provided through the University of Michigan’s technology transfer office influences spinoffs’ sales growth. To the U-M Tech Transfer’s database, are added the information regarding the spinoff’s sales through the Orbis database, in particular the absolute growth in the period 2007-2010. The methods used are descriptive, distributional and quantitative analysis. The analysis of the distribution of the spinoffs that receive (i) no economic support, (ii) only the university commercialization funds and (iii) both TTO gap funds and venture capital evidences a clear difference between the three groups of spinoffs, supporting the hypothesis of a moderate impact of TTO gap fund, and a high influence on sales growth of venture capital investments. We test the distributions equivalence and reject the null hypothesis of the equality of the distributions with the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. The regressions provide support also to the analysis of the second chapter, sustaining the presence of a mediating variable through the Baron and Kenney’s test. The results show that the sales growth was not uniform, and superior performances couldn’t be justified only by the provision of TTO gap funds. We test the indirect influence of TTO gap funding on spinoffs’ sales growth, and we find that TTO gap funding has an indirect positive effect, mediated by the VC financing, on the performance of spinoff companies. Although, TTO gap funds alone seem not sufficient to drive consistent economic performances in the spinoffs, but it substantially improves the spinoffs position the investment markets playing a certification role
Il primo capitolo analizza il tema del trasferimento tecnologico attraverso la prospettiva della teoria istituzionale. Lo scopo dell’elaborato è di delineare gli elementi istituzionali formali e informali che sono cambiati nel paradigma dell’imprenditorialità accademica nel contesto americano ed europeo attraverso un’analisi della letteratura. In particolare viene usata la specificazione di Aoki, che unisce la teoria istituzionale e la teoria dei giochi, e consente di definire il contesto istituzionale come il dominio di scambio politico con complementarietà istituzionali dinamiche. Seguendo la categorizzazione di istituzioni formali e informali fornita da North, e basata sui tre pilastri delle istituzioni definite da Scott (regolativo, normatico e culturale-cognitivo), l’elaborato prosegue raccogliendo i contributi teorici della letteratura sul tema dell’imprenditorialità accademica. Il contributo teorico si compone principalmente di due aspetti: da una parte una nuova configurazione istituzionale dell’imprenditorialità accademica utilizzando le definizioni teoriche proposte da Aoki, dall’altra una categorizzazione della letteratura per gli impatti forniti dalle varie istituzioni formali ed informali al trasferimento tecnologico universitario suggerendo che il processo di cambiamento istituzionale possa non avere un ordine gerarchico in termini di casualità ma necessiti soprattutto di coordinamento. Il secondo capitolo analizza le relazioni tra i principali stakeholders coinvolti nel processo di creazione di uno spinoff accademico, proponendo una lettura innovativa del problema del funding gap ampiamente decritto dalla letteratura quando parla di nuove aziende innovative, scientifiche o tecnologiche. Analizzando il database degli spinoffs fondati dall’University of Michigan attraverso metodologiche statistiche sofisticate e controllando per fattori importanti come le caratteristiche del brevetto dato in licenza, le caratteristiche del capitale umano e le risorse fornite dai network professionali, lo studio scopre una relazione molto stretta tra i fondi di commercializzazione forniti dall’ufficio di trasferimento tecnologico e la probabilità di ricevere poi finanziamenti privati da venture capitalists. La spiegazione fornita per spiegare questo fenomeno viene dalla teoria dei giochi, dove in caso di asimmetrie informative (Akerlof, 1970) l’uso di segnali aiuta nel differenziare le migliori aziende da tutte le altre presenti nel mercato. In particolare, il segnale fornito dai sussidi pubblici alle nuove aziende innovative era stato studiato in maniera teorica da Chan (1983), Lerner (1999), e Takalo e Tanayama (2010). I contributi innovativi della ricerca quindi sono prevalentemente due: (i) un primo studio empirico degli effetti dei fondi di commercializzazione forniti dall’ufficio di trasferimento tecnologico, nel contesto di uno stato federale nella media e quindi al di fuori degli ecosistemi altamente specializzati e difficilmente comparabili della Silicon Valley (Stanford University) e della Route 128 (MIT); (ii) un’interpretazione molto interessante del fenomeno e delle relazioni tra l’ufficio di trasferimento tecnologico e la comunità degli investori privati venture capital, dimostratasi in diversi studi essenziale per la sopravvivenza, lo sviluppo e la crescita delle nuove aziende tecnologiche, sia per le loro capacità di finanziamento che per le loro attività di supporto e coach. Il terzo capitolo si pone come un’estensione del secondo, dove la domanda di ricerca è se i fondi di commercializzazione forniti dall’ufficio di trasferimento tecnologico abbiano anche un effetto sulle performance a lungo termine degli spinoffs analizzati in precedenza. Per fare ciò, al database precedente vengono aggiunte le informazioni relative alle vendite degli spinoffs, e in particolare la crescita assoluta nel triennio 2007-2010. I metodi applicati sono analisi descrittive e analisi della distribuzione, oltre alle analisi quantitative regressive. Le analisi delle distribuzioni dei gruppi di spinoffs che non hanno ricevuto nessun supporto economico, che hanno ricevuto solo i fondi di commercializzazione e che hanno ricevuto entrambi i finanziamenti evidenzia che questi tre gruppi sono completamente diversi tra loro (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test), evidenziando quindi che sia i fondi di commercializzazione che i fondi di venture capital hanno un effetto determinante nella crescita degli spinoffs. Le regressioni a loro volta mostrano il comportamento tipico evidenziato da Baron e Kenny in caso di variabile mediatrice. Vengono quindi ulteriormente rinforzati i risultati del secondo capitolo, mentre solo le analisi delle distribuzioni permettono di affermare un impatto positivo dei fondi di commercializzazione sulla crescita degli spinoffs indipendentemente dalla presenza di venture capital, perché nelle analisi regressive impatto delle aziende finanziate da venture capital oscura invece i modesti risultati di quelle finanziate solamente dai fondi di commerciliazzazione

The third mission concept implies that universities are expected to perform several diversified activities besides teaching (first mission) and scientific research (second mission). Third mission efforts may include activities such as knowledge dissemination, technological innovation, social innovation, advisory services, or entrepreneurship. Through third mission activities, universities engage in sustainable, inclusive development and/or territorial competitiveness by interacting with a wide range of subjects far beyond their students and reference scientific communities. The third mission’s activities vary a lot according to the specific characteristics of each university, the territory in which it is located, and the intricate nature of the relations with the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems’ actors. Since these missions can be reciprocally complementary or conflicting, they can result in paradoxical tensions and competition around allocating key resources and leveraging specific drivers to enhance universities’ performance. Both the management literature and national and international ranking agencies have made huge efforts to build effective performance measurement systems. However, there are still no shared frameworks that can effectively overcome the above-mentioned difficulties and solve the possible tensions that can exist at various organisational levels. By considering how those organisations respond to logics' multiplicity, this research project primarily aims to advance a conceptual model for evaluating and managing the performance of entrepreneurial universities and the role they can play in contributing to the development of modern complex, dynamic, and knowledge-intensive societies. To achieve these objectives, the relevant literature regarding entrepreneurial universities’ role and impact is analysed in the first phase. To do so, a bibliometric analysis was conducted by applying performance and network analysis techniques. Interestingly, from the conducted analysis, three different thematic clusters have emerged as shaping the current scientific debate: (1) knowledge management and innovation; (2) performance management and economic growth; and (3) technology transfer and knowledge commercialisation. Subsequently, leveraging the institutional logics meta-theory, a cross-country comparative case study was conducted in order to identify the different institutional logics that characterise entrepreneurial universities' activities. In particular, considering entrepreneurial universities as submersed complex organisational fields, three logics have been identified in association with each of their three academic missions. So, the inclusiveness, vocational, and excellence logics emerged in relation to the first mission. The focalisation, materiality, and excellence logics were identified in relation to the second mission. Third, the dissemination, translational, and entrepreneurial logics were distinguished concerning the third mission. In the end, those nine different logics have been reconciled to the different key performance indicators used to evaluate entrepreneurial universities' performance in pursuing the three academic missions. Then, leveraging system dynamics principles, those results have been used to build a causal loop diagram to offer a dynamic viewpoint of the intertwined relationships existing between the three different academic missions and how their associated institutional logics can result in mutually complementing or conflicting with each other. Finally, a dynamic performance management chart is leveraged to offer some concluding remarks on the interrelationships existing between the strategic resources, intermediate results (i.e., performance drivers), and short-term (i.e., output) and long-term (i.e., outcomes) end results that are related to entrepreneurial universities’ activities. Hence, the proposed model contributes to the literature regarding entrepreneurial universities’ management and their performances and impact assessment, with a particular focus on their intangible resources and those organisations’ role in contributing to societal and economic developments.

Il rating creditizio è un elemento molto importante per le imprese in quanto ha impatto, ad esempio, sul costo del capitale (Bhojraj and Sengupta, 2003; Campbell and Taksler, 2003), sul prezzo delle azioni e dei titoli obbligazionari (Dichev and Piotroski, 2001; Hand et al., 1992). Anche le imprese che ottengono il rating per la prima volta, tipicamente soggetti di dimensioni più piccole e con una storia più recente, hanno molto interesse per il rating. Nel principale contributo della mia tesi (“Is Indebtedness always negative for Credit Ratings? Empirical evidence on Newly Rated Firms”), misuro empiricamente, per il periodo dal 1985 al 2013, se i soggetti che hanno ottenuto un rating per la prima volta ottengono una valutazione differente rispetto agli altri operatori. Dalle mie analisi emerge che i soggetti che hanno ottenuto un rating per la prima volta ottengono valutazioni lievemente più negative rispetto agli altri operatori ma, sorprendentemente, emerge che coloro che hanno un maggiore indebitamento hanno delle valutazioni migliori. Negli altri due articoli della mia tesi sviluppo ulteriori analisi sui rating. Nel primo articolo (“Credit Rating Agencies: a Review of Recent Academic Studies and Key Practical Implications”), presento una sistematizzazione della letteratura accademica sui rating e sulle agenzie di rating. Nel secondo articolo (“The Dynamics of Credit Rating Standards”), esamino se le agenzie di rating hanno modificato i propri standards nel corso del tempo.
Firms care deeply about their credit ratings, since ratings influence, for instance, firm’s cost of capital (Bhojraj and Sengupta, 2003; Campbell and Taksler, 2003), bond and stock market prices (Dichev and Piotroski, 2001; Hand et al., 1992). This is also true for newly rated firms, typically smaller, in a younger stage of their life cycle and with a shorter track record compared with other issuers to show to the external financial stakeholders. In the main paper of my thesis (“Is Indebtedness always negative for Credit Ratings? Empirical evidence on Newly Rated Firms”), I test the impact of being newly rated firms on credit ratings over the period from 1985 to 2013. I report a negative but pretty low effect on rating outcome for the entire sample of newly rated firms but, surprisingly, I find a strong positive relation between highly levered firms and credit rating. I develop additional research on credit rating in the other two papers of my thesis. In the first paper (“Credit Rating Agencies: a Review of Recent Academic Studies and Key Practical Implications”), I present a systematization of the latest academic contributions on credit ratings and credit rating agencies. In the second paper (“The Dynamics of Credit Rating Standards”), I examine long-term issuer credit ratings and I focus on the time variable to study how credit rating agencies have modified their standards over years.

Il rating creditizio è un elemento molto importante per le imprese in quanto ha impatto, ad esempio, sul costo del capitale (Bhojraj and Sengupta, 2003; Campbell and Taksler, 2003), sul prezzo delle azioni e dei titoli obbligazionari (Dichev and Piotroski, 2001; Hand et al., 1992). Anche le imprese che ottengono il rating per la prima volta, tipicamente soggetti di dimensioni più piccole e con una storia più recente, hanno molto interesse per il rating. Nel principale contributo della mia tesi (“Is Indebtedness always negative for Credit Ratings? Empirical evidence on Newly Rated Firms”), misuro empiricamente, per il periodo dal 1985 al 2013, se i soggetti che hanno ottenuto un rating per la prima volta ottengono una valutazione differente rispetto agli altri operatori. Dalle mie analisi emerge che i soggetti che hanno ottenuto un rating per la prima volta ottengono valutazioni lievemente più negative rispetto agli altri operatori ma, sorprendentemente, emerge che coloro che hanno un maggiore indebitamento hanno delle valutazioni migliori. Negli altri due articoli della mia tesi sviluppo ulteriori analisi sui rating. Nel primo articolo (“Credit Rating Agencies: a Review of Recent Academic Studies and Key Practical Implications”), presento una sistematizzazione della letteratura accademica sui rating e sulle agenzie di rating. Nel secondo articolo (“The Dynamics of Credit Rating Standards”), esamino se le agenzie di rating hanno modificato i propri standards nel corso del tempo.
Firms care deeply about their credit ratings, since ratings influence, for instance, firm’s cost of capital (Bhojraj and Sengupta, 2003; Campbell and Taksler, 2003), bond and stock market prices (Dichev and Piotroski, 2001; Hand et al., 1992). This is also true for newly rated firms, typically smaller, in a younger stage of their life cycle and with a shorter track record compared with other issuers to show to the external financial stakeholders. In the main paper of my thesis (“Is Indebtedness always negative for Credit Ratings? Empirical evidence on Newly Rated Firms”), I test the impact of being newly rated firms on credit ratings over the period from 1985 to 2013. I report a negative but pretty low effect on rating outcome for the entire sample of newly rated firms but, surprisingly, I find a strong positive relation between highly levered firms and credit rating. I develop additional research on credit rating in the other two papers of my thesis. In the first paper (“Credit Rating Agencies: a Review of Recent Academic Studies and Key Practical Implications”), I present a systematization of the latest academic contributions on credit ratings and credit rating agencies. In the second paper (“The Dynamics of Credit Rating Standards”), I examine long-term issuer credit ratings and I focus on the time variable to study how credit rating agencies have modified their standards over years.

The aim of the present work is to contribute to a better understanding of the relation between organization theory and management practice. It is organized as a collection of two papers, a theoretical and conceptual contribution and an ethnographic study. The first paper is concerned with systematizing different literatures inside and outside the field of organization studies that deal with the theory-practice relation. After identifying a series of positions to the theory-practice debate and unfolding some of their implicit assumptions and limitations, a new position called entwinement is developed in order to overcome status quo through reconciliation and integration. Accordingly, the paper proposes to reconceptualize theory and practice as a circular iterative process of action and cognition, science and common-sense enacted in the real world both by organization scholars and practitioners according to purposes at hand. The second paper is the ethnographic study of an encounter between two groups of expert academics and practitioners occasioned by a one-year executive business master in an international business school. The research articulates a process view of the knowledge exchange between management academics and practitioners in particular and between individuals belonging to different communities of practice, in general, and emphasizes its dynamic, relational and transformative mechanisms. Findings show that when they are given the chance to interact, academics and practitioners set up local provisional relations that enable them to act as change intermediaries vis-a-vis each other’s worlds, without tying themselves irremediably to each other and to the scenarios they conjointly projected during the master’s experience. Finally, the study shows that provisional relations were accompanied by a recursive shift in knowledge modes. While interacting, academics passed from theory to practical theorizing, practitioners passed from an involved practical mode to a reflexive and quasi-theoretical one, and then, as exchanges proceeded, the other way around.

The Venetian University Ca’ Foscari was officially established in 1968 although it roots in the ‘Regia Scuola Superiore di Commercio’ – the Advanced School of Commerce – which was founded exactly a century before. This School was the first of its kind in Italy and among the early ones as well all over the world. Indeed it represented the national reference for the following foundation of similar Institutions in our Country. During the start-up phase, the School of Commerce experienced alternate stages, given the fluctuation of the number of entrants whereas from the end of the 19th century onwards its activity would be strengthened. Henceforth, the impressive academic activity developed both by the Venetian School of Commerce and by other ‘sister-Schools’ – which had been established in the meanwhile – would lead to the ennoblement of Business curricula for University programs, thus reaching its climax with the foundation of the Business Faculties.