Abstract
The roots of this research lie in the awareness that there is a relationship of mutual interdependence between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the local system. These firms are strongly rooted in the territory from which they draw resources often not available inside the firms. The competitiveness of the territory positively influences the competitiveness of those enterprises able to establish relationships with the local actors. But what happens when the territory that was a fertile basis becomes an enemy? This research poses the hypothesis that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is introduced as an enterprise-level strategy to overcome the negative effects produced by the territory and to restore the level of competitiveness of the firm. In fact if the CSR efforts are organised in a synergistic way, they can create a virtuous path in which the enterprise efforts stimulate improvements in the local network, which then regenerates resources and competencies usable by the enterprises located within it.References
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Alastair A. (2009). Literature Review and Conceptual Framework for the Drivers and Barriers to Imparting Free Environmental Knowledge and Training to SMEs. Proceedings of the Corporate Responsibility Research (CRR), 731-748.
Bagnasco A. (1977). Tre Italie. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Baldarelli M.G. (2007). New prospective in inter-company relations, social responsibility (CSR) ans social, ethical and environmental accounting in Italy by way of the government CSR-SC project: theory and praxis. Economia Aziendale 2000web, pp 1-26, n.1
Bartels R.(1967). A model for ethics in marketing. Journal of marketing 31 ( January), 20-26.
Battaglia, M., Campi, S., Frey, M., & Iraldo, F. (2006). A ‘‘cluster’’ approach for the promotion of CSR among SMEs. EABIS/CBS International Conference Integration of CSR into SMEs business practice, Copenhagen business school, Denmark, 26 October,
Becattini G. (Ed) (1989). Modelli locali di sviluppo. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Beccatini G. (2000). Dal distretto industriale allo sviluppo locale. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri.
Bowen H.R. (1953). Social responsibility of the businessman. New York: Harper & Brothers.
Buckeley P. J.& Casson M. (1976). The future of the multinational enterprise. London:MacMillan.
Cantù C. & Gavinelli L. (2008). Reti di territorio: la valorizzazione delle risorse intangibili in un orizzonte internazionale. Atti del Convegno AIDEA giovani, “L’internazionalizzazione delle piccole e medie imprese italiane”, Università degli Studi di Macerata, 25-26.
Capra F. (1997). La rete della vita. Milano: Rizzoli.
Caroli M. (2006. ) Il marketing territoriale: strategie per uno sviluppo sostenibile del territorio. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Caroll A.B. (1979). A three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate performance. Academy of Management Review 4: 4, 497-505.
Caroll A.B. (1991).The pyramid of corporate social responsibility. Business Horizon 34:4 (June-august), 39-48.
Caroll A.B. (2004). Managing ethically with global stakeholders: a present and future challenge. Academy of Management Executive 18: 2, 114-120.
Caselli L. (1998). Etica dell’impresa e nell’impresa. Sinergie 45, 85-88.
Cavusgil S.T. (1980). On international process of firms. European Research 8, 273-281
CERFE Group (2001). Action research on corporate citizenship among European small and medium enterprises. CERFE Laboratory
Commissione Cultura (2007). Vademecum per la diffusione della CSR nelle piccole e medie imprese. Confindustria,
Czinkota M. R. & Tesar G. (Ed) (1982). Export management, New York: Praeger Publishers.
De Chiara A. & Minguzzi A. (1996). Servizi e competitività internazionale nelle piccole imprese. Sinergie 40: Maggio-Agosto, 155-207.
Del Baldo M. (2009). Corporate Social Responsibility e corporate governance: quale nesso nelle PMI? Rivista Piccola Impresa/Small Business, 3, 61-102.
Dunning J. H.(1977). Trade, location of economic activity and the M.N.E.: a search for an eclectic approach. In B. Ohlin (Ed). The international allocation, of economic activity London: MacMillan, 395-418.
Eisenhardt K.M. (1989). Building theory from case study research. The Academy of Management Review; 14 (4) 532-550.
European Commission (2002). Corporate Social Responsibility: a business contribution to sustainable development. Brussels, July.
European Commission, (2001). Promuovere un quadro europeo per la responsabilità sociale delle imprese, Libro Verde,Bruxelles.
European Expert Group on CSR and SMEs (2007). Responsabilità nuove propsettive. Come aiutare le piccole imprese ad agire in modo socialmente e ambientalmente responsabile.
European Multi-stakeholder Forum on CSR (2002-2004). Final results & recommendations. Brussels, Belgium: Commission of the European Communities. http://ec.europa.eu.
Ferraris Franceschi R. (Ed) (1990). Il modello della ricerca. Milano: Giuffrè Editore.
Ferrucci L.& Varaldo R. (1993). La natura e la dinamica dell’impresa distrettuale. Economia e Politica Industriale 80, 73-97.
Freeman R.E. (1984). Strategic Management: a stakeholder approach. Boston: Pitman.
Freeman R.E. (2005). Più qualità e più profitti. Milano: Il Sole 24 Ore.
Fuà G. (1983). Industrializzazione nel Nord Est e nel Centro. In G. Fuà & C. Zacchia (Ed). Industrializzazione senza fratture. Bologna: Il Mulino, 7-46.
Fugazza S., Pandini L., Gostner C., von Stefenelli & Equalitas (2006). Interreg 3 A Project. A Model for the Development of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Province of Bolzano. EABIS/CBS International Conference on The Social Responsibility of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise. Integration of CSR into SME Business Practices, Copenhagen business school,Denmark, 26 October, http://www.cbs.dk/forskning_viden/kinferencer/csr_in_smes/menu/accepted_paper.
Garofali G. (1999). Sistemi locali e performance dell’impresa minore in Italia. In F. Traù (Ed). La questione dimensionale nell’industria italiana. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Garofoli G. (1983). Industrializzazione diffusa in Lombardia, Irer, Milano: Franco Angeli Editore.
Garofoli G. (1991). Modelli locali di sviluppo. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Grandinetti R. & Rullani E. (1992). Internazionalizzazione e piccole imprese: elogio della varietà. Piccola Impresa/Small Business, 5 (3), 3-43.
Harvey B., Van Luijk K. & Corbetta G. (Ed) (1991). Market morality and company size. London: Kluver.
Hirsch S. (1976). An international trade and investment theory of the firm. Oxford Economic paper 28:2, 258-270.
Horst T. (1972). Firm and industry determinants of the decision to invest abroad: an empirical study. Review of Economics and Statistics 54:3, 258-266.
Hu Y. (1995). The International trasferability of the firm’s advantages California Management Review 37:4,73-88.
Hunt S.D.& Morgan R.M. (1995). The comparative advantage theory of competition. Journal of Marketing59: April, 1-15.
Jenkins H M. (2004). A critique of conventional CSR theory: an SME perspective. Journal of General Management, 29(4), 37-57.
Jenkins H. (2006). Small Business Champions for Corporate Social Responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 67 (3), 241-256.
Marshall A. (1919). Industry and trade. A study of industrial technique and business organization. London: MacMillan.
Matacena A., Del Baldo M. (2009). Responsabilità sociale d’impresa e territorio. L’esperienza delle piccole e medie imprese marchigiane. Milano : Franco Angeli.
Matten D. & Moon J. (2004). Corporate Social Responsibility Education in Europe. Journal of Business Ethics, 54 (4), 323-337.
Ministero del Lavoro e degli Affari Sociali (2005). Progetto CSR-SC. www.welfare.gov.it/CSR.
Molteni M. & Todisco A. (2008). Piccole e medie imprese e CSR. La CSR come leva di differenziazione. Rapporto di ricerca. www.isvi.org.
Molteni M.(2004). Responsabilità sociale e performance d’impresa. Milano: Vita & Pensiero.
Molteni M., Antoldi F. & Todisco A. (2006). SMEs and CSR: a empirical survey in Italian industrial disctrict. EABIS/CBS International Conference on The Social Responsibility of
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. Integration of CSR into SMEs Business Practice, Copenhagen, 26 October.
Observatory of European SMEs (2004). Ex post evaluation of the observatorory of European SMEs. Final report. http://ec.europa.eu.
Perrini F. & Tencati A. (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility. Milano: Egea.
Perrini F. (2006). SMEs and CSR Theory: Evidence and Implications from an Italian Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 67(3), 305–316.
Perrini F. (2007). Encouraging CSI in Italy: The enabling role of government in mandating. Motivating, and supporting responsible business practices. Working paper n. 35 of the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative – Harvard University, 1-33.
Porter M.E. (1991). Il vantaggio competitivo delle nazioni. Milano: Mondatori Editore.
Richardson J. D. (1977). On going abroad. The firm’s initial foreign investment decision. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Business 11:Winter, 7-37
Roth M.S & Romeo G.B. (1992). Matching product category and country image perceptions: a framework for managing country of origin effects. Journal of International Business Studies 3:Winter, 447-497.
Rullani E. (1997). Più locale e più globale: verso una economia postfordista del territorio. In A. Bramanti & M.A. Maggioni (Ed). La dimensione dei sistemi produttivi territoriali: teorie,
tecniche, politiche. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Rullani E. (2004). La fabbrica dell’immateriale. Carocci: Roma.
Rullani E. (Ed) (2003). The Technological Evolution of Industrial Districts. Amsterdam: Kluwer.
Sacconi L. (2004). Responsabilità come governance allargata dell’impresa: una interpretazione basata sulla teoria del contratto sociale e della reputazione. In G. Rusconi & M. Dorigatti (Ed). La responsabilità sociale d’impresa. Milano: Franco Angeli, 107-152.
Schmitz H. (1995). Collective efficiency: growth path for small-scale industry. Journal of development studies, 34:4,529-566.
Sciarelli S. (2007). Etica e responsabilità sociale nell’impresa. Milano: Giuffrè Editore. Tencati A., Perrini F.& Pogutz S. (2004). New tools to foster corporate socially responsible behaviour. Journal of Business Ethics 53:1/2, 173-190.
Unido (2002). Corporate Social Responsibility and the Development Agenda:Should SMEs Care? Sme Technical Working Papers Series , Working Paper No. 13.
Usunier J. C.& Lee J.A (2005). Marketing across cultures IV ed. England: Prentice-Hall.
Vaccà S. (1993). Grande impresa e concorrenza tra passato e futuro, Proceedings Covegno Economia Politica Industriale 1973-93, Milano, Novembre.
Vernon R. (1966). International investment and international trade in the product cycle. Quarterly Journal of Economics 2: May, 190-207.
Viesti G. (2000). Come nascono i distretti industriali. Bari: Laterza, 2000.
Werther W.B. & Chandler D. (2006). Strategic Corporate Responsibility: Stakeholders in a global environment. United Kingdom: Sage publications.
Yin R. (1984). Case study research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Pubblications.
Alastair A. (2009). Literature Review and Conceptual Framework for the Drivers and Barriers to Imparting Free Environmental Knowledge and Training to SMEs. Proceedings of the Corporate Responsibility Research (CRR), 731-748.
Bagnasco A. (1977). Tre Italie. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Baldarelli M.G. (2007). New prospective in inter-company relations, social responsibility (CSR) ans social, ethical and environmental accounting in Italy by way of the government CSR-SC project: theory and praxis. Economia Aziendale 2000web, pp 1-26, n.1
Bartels R.(1967). A model for ethics in marketing. Journal of marketing 31 ( January), 20-26.
Battaglia, M., Campi, S., Frey, M., & Iraldo, F. (2006). A ‘‘cluster’’ approach for the promotion of CSR among SMEs. EABIS/CBS International Conference Integration of CSR into SMEs business practice, Copenhagen business school, Denmark, 26 October,
Becattini G. (Ed) (1989). Modelli locali di sviluppo. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Beccatini G. (2000). Dal distretto industriale allo sviluppo locale. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri.
Bowen H.R. (1953). Social responsibility of the businessman. New York: Harper & Brothers.
Buckeley P. J.& Casson M. (1976). The future of the multinational enterprise. London:MacMillan.
Cantù C. & Gavinelli L. (2008). Reti di territorio: la valorizzazione delle risorse intangibili in un orizzonte internazionale. Atti del Convegno AIDEA giovani, “L’internazionalizzazione delle piccole e medie imprese italiane”, Università degli Studi di Macerata, 25-26.
Capra F. (1997). La rete della vita. Milano: Rizzoli.
Caroli M. (2006. ) Il marketing territoriale: strategie per uno sviluppo sostenibile del territorio. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Caroll A.B. (1979). A three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate performance. Academy of Management Review 4: 4, 497-505.
Caroll A.B. (1991).The pyramid of corporate social responsibility. Business Horizon 34:4 (June-august), 39-48.
Caroll A.B. (2004). Managing ethically with global stakeholders: a present and future challenge. Academy of Management Executive 18: 2, 114-120.
Caselli L. (1998). Etica dell’impresa e nell’impresa. Sinergie 45, 85-88.
Cavusgil S.T. (1980). On international process of firms. European Research 8, 273-281
CERFE Group (2001). Action research on corporate citizenship among European small and medium enterprises. CERFE Laboratory
Commissione Cultura (2007). Vademecum per la diffusione della CSR nelle piccole e medie imprese. Confindustria,
Czinkota M. R. & Tesar G. (Ed) (1982). Export management, New York: Praeger Publishers.
De Chiara A. & Minguzzi A. (1996). Servizi e competitività internazionale nelle piccole imprese. Sinergie 40: Maggio-Agosto, 155-207.
Del Baldo M. (2009). Corporate Social Responsibility e corporate governance: quale nesso nelle PMI? Rivista Piccola Impresa/Small Business, 3, 61-102.
Dunning J. H.(1977). Trade, location of economic activity and the M.N.E.: a search for an eclectic approach. In B. Ohlin (Ed). The international allocation, of economic activity London: MacMillan, 395-418.
Eisenhardt K.M. (1989). Building theory from case study research. The Academy of Management Review; 14 (4) 532-550.
European Commission (2002). Corporate Social Responsibility: a business contribution to sustainable development. Brussels, July.
European Commission, (2001). Promuovere un quadro europeo per la responsabilità sociale delle imprese, Libro Verde,Bruxelles.
European Expert Group on CSR and SMEs (2007). Responsabilità nuove propsettive. Come aiutare le piccole imprese ad agire in modo socialmente e ambientalmente responsabile.
European Multi-stakeholder Forum on CSR (2002-2004). Final results & recommendations. Brussels, Belgium: Commission of the European Communities. http://ec.europa.eu.
Ferraris Franceschi R. (Ed) (1990). Il modello della ricerca. Milano: Giuffrè Editore.
Ferrucci L.& Varaldo R. (1993). La natura e la dinamica dell’impresa distrettuale. Economia e Politica Industriale 80, 73-97.
Freeman R.E. (1984). Strategic Management: a stakeholder approach. Boston: Pitman.
Freeman R.E. (2005). Più qualità e più profitti. Milano: Il Sole 24 Ore.
Fuà G. (1983). Industrializzazione nel Nord Est e nel Centro. In G. Fuà & C. Zacchia (Ed). Industrializzazione senza fratture. Bologna: Il Mulino, 7-46.
Fugazza S., Pandini L., Gostner C., von Stefenelli & Equalitas (2006). Interreg 3 A Project. A Model for the Development of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Province of Bolzano. EABIS/CBS International Conference on The Social Responsibility of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise. Integration of CSR into SME Business Practices, Copenhagen business school,Denmark, 26 October, http://www.cbs.dk/forskning_viden/kinferencer/csr_in_smes/menu/accepted_paper.
Garofali G. (1999). Sistemi locali e performance dell’impresa minore in Italia. In F. Traù (Ed). La questione dimensionale nell’industria italiana. Bologna: Il Mulino.
Garofoli G. (1983). Industrializzazione diffusa in Lombardia, Irer, Milano: Franco Angeli Editore.
Garofoli G. (1991). Modelli locali di sviluppo. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Grandinetti R. & Rullani E. (1992). Internazionalizzazione e piccole imprese: elogio della varietà. Piccola Impresa/Small Business, 5 (3), 3-43.
Harvey B., Van Luijk K. & Corbetta G. (Ed) (1991). Market morality and company size. London: Kluver.
Hirsch S. (1976). An international trade and investment theory of the firm. Oxford Economic paper 28:2, 258-270.
Horst T. (1972). Firm and industry determinants of the decision to invest abroad: an empirical study. Review of Economics and Statistics 54:3, 258-266.
Hu Y. (1995). The International trasferability of the firm’s advantages California Management Review 37:4,73-88.
Hunt S.D.& Morgan R.M. (1995). The comparative advantage theory of competition. Journal of Marketing59: April, 1-15.
Jenkins H M. (2004). A critique of conventional CSR theory: an SME perspective. Journal of General Management, 29(4), 37-57.
Jenkins H. (2006). Small Business Champions for Corporate Social Responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 67 (3), 241-256.
Marshall A. (1919). Industry and trade. A study of industrial technique and business organization. London: MacMillan.
Matacena A., Del Baldo M. (2009). Responsabilità sociale d’impresa e territorio. L’esperienza delle piccole e medie imprese marchigiane. Milano : Franco Angeli.
Matten D. & Moon J. (2004). Corporate Social Responsibility Education in Europe. Journal of Business Ethics, 54 (4), 323-337.
Ministero del Lavoro e degli Affari Sociali (2005). Progetto CSR-SC. www.welfare.gov.it/CSR.
Molteni M. & Todisco A. (2008). Piccole e medie imprese e CSR. La CSR come leva di differenziazione. Rapporto di ricerca. www.isvi.org.
Molteni M.(2004). Responsabilità sociale e performance d’impresa. Milano: Vita & Pensiero.
Molteni M., Antoldi F. & Todisco A. (2006). SMEs and CSR: a empirical survey in Italian industrial disctrict. EABIS/CBS International Conference on The Social Responsibility of
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. Integration of CSR into SMEs Business Practice, Copenhagen, 26 October.
Observatory of European SMEs (2004). Ex post evaluation of the observatorory of European SMEs. Final report. http://ec.europa.eu.
Perrini F. & Tencati A. (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility. Milano: Egea.
Perrini F. (2006). SMEs and CSR Theory: Evidence and Implications from an Italian Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 67(3), 305–316.
Perrini F. (2007). Encouraging CSI in Italy: The enabling role of government in mandating. Motivating, and supporting responsible business practices. Working paper n. 35 of the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative – Harvard University, 1-33.
Porter M.E. (1991). Il vantaggio competitivo delle nazioni. Milano: Mondatori Editore.
Richardson J. D. (1977). On going abroad. The firm’s initial foreign investment decision. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Business 11:Winter, 7-37
Roth M.S & Romeo G.B. (1992). Matching product category and country image perceptions: a framework for managing country of origin effects. Journal of International Business Studies 3:Winter, 447-497.
Rullani E. (1997). Più locale e più globale: verso una economia postfordista del territorio. In A. Bramanti & M.A. Maggioni (Ed). La dimensione dei sistemi produttivi territoriali: teorie,
tecniche, politiche. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Rullani E. (2004). La fabbrica dell’immateriale. Carocci: Roma.
Rullani E. (Ed) (2003). The Technological Evolution of Industrial Districts. Amsterdam: Kluwer.
Sacconi L. (2004). Responsabilità come governance allargata dell’impresa: una interpretazione basata sulla teoria del contratto sociale e della reputazione. In G. Rusconi & M. Dorigatti (Ed). La responsabilità sociale d’impresa. Milano: Franco Angeli, 107-152.
Schmitz H. (1995). Collective efficiency: growth path for small-scale industry. Journal of development studies, 34:4,529-566.
Sciarelli S. (2007). Etica e responsabilità sociale nell’impresa. Milano: Giuffrè Editore. Tencati A., Perrini F.& Pogutz S. (2004). New tools to foster corporate socially responsible behaviour. Journal of Business Ethics 53:1/2, 173-190.
Unido (2002). Corporate Social Responsibility and the Development Agenda:Should SMEs Care? Sme Technical Working Papers Series , Working Paper No. 13.
Usunier J. C.& Lee J.A (2005). Marketing across cultures IV ed. England: Prentice-Hall.
Vaccà S. (1993). Grande impresa e concorrenza tra passato e futuro, Proceedings Covegno Economia Politica Industriale 1973-93, Milano, Novembre.
Vernon R. (1966). International investment and international trade in the product cycle. Quarterly Journal of Economics 2: May, 190-207.
Viesti G. (2000). Come nascono i distretti industriali. Bari: Laterza, 2000.
Werther W.B. & Chandler D. (2006). Strategic Corporate Responsibility: Stakeholders in a global environment. United Kingdom: Sage publications.
Yin R. (1984). Case study research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Pubblications.
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