Title: Innovation paths management in collaborative enterprise clusters

Authors: Maurizio Bielli, Alessandro Bielli

Addresses: Institute of Systems Analysis and Informatics, National Research Council, Viale Manzoni 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. ' Key Products &ndash Trading Company, Via N. Ricciotti 4, Rome 00162, Italy; 351 Tianhe Road, 510620 Guangzhou, China

Abstract: Current scenario in supply chains and logistic networks is characterised by industrial districts, SMEs clusters and networking organisations, which are formal or informal connected to follow the common aim of development improvement. In this paper, particular reference is made to collaborative demand and supply networks, where main problems concern the coordination of distributed and autonomous agents and the application of suitable methodologies and models able to represent cooperative behaviour and to evaluate global performances. In particular, a conceptual model of a SMEs network is presented and the approach of the European project CO-DESNET is illustrated. Then, the adoption of information and communication technologies for the innovation path development in the management of enterprise networks is discussed. Finally, a case study is outlined relative to the transition to the Net Economy of SMEs in the Lazio Region in Italy.

Keywords: innovation management; enterprise clusters; collaboration; performance evaluation; information technology; collaborative networks; cooperative behaviour; SMEs; SME network; small and medium-sized enterprises; ICT; innovation path development; Italy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENM.2008.020639

International Journal of Enterprise Network Management, 2008 Vol.2 No.4, pp.366 - 376

Published online: 06 Oct 2008 *

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