Title: Tools and abilities for continuous improvement: what are the drivers of performance?

Authors: Mariano Corso, Andrea Giacobbe, Antonella Martini, Luisa Pellegrini

Addresses: Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci, 32 – 20133 Milano, Italy. ' Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, P.zza L. da Vinci, 32 – 20133 Milano, Italy. ' Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi, 2 – 56126 Pisa, Italy. ' Faculty of Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi, 2 – 56126 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: This article reports findings of the Italian part of the 2nd International Continuous Improvement (CI) survey, where 440 firms were randomly contacted and 60 responses received (response rate of 13.6%). Three research questions are investigated in this article: the CI tools and enablers adopted in Italy (RQ1); the state of the improvement activities and their evolution (RQ2); and finally, the relations between CI tools, ability development and performance (RQ3).

Keywords: continuous improvement; tools; abilities; performance; Italy; surveys.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2007.012268

International Journal of Technology Management, 2007 Vol.37 No.3/4, pp.348 - 365

Published online: 02 Feb 2007 *

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