New Information Technology and Industrial Change: The Italian Case

1 A New Industrial Organization Approach.- 1.1. Introduction.- 1.2. Production Functions and Governance Functions.- 1.3. The Effects of Telematics on the Governance Function.- 1.4. Telematics and Alternative Modes of Governance.- 2 The Emergence of the Network Firm.- 2.1. The Adoption of Telematics.- 2.2. The Uses of Telematics.- 2.3. The Network Firm.- 2.4. A Generalization.- 3 Manufacturing Networks: Telematics in the Automotive Industry.- 3.1. From Mass Production to Flexible Production.- 3.2. The Fiat Group Case.- 3.3. Telematics in the Logistic Function.- 3.4. Telematics in the Engineering and Production Planning Functions.- 4 Networks Between Manufacturing and Demand: Cases From Textile and Clothing Industries.- 4.1. Manufacturing Flexibility and Interaction with Consumers.- 4.2. Manufacturing Networks and Market Networks: The Benetton Case.- 4.3. Internationalization of Technological Assets and Demand Monitoring: The Miroglio Case.- 4.4. Shrinking Idle Times, Decreasing Working Capital and Growing Flexibility: The GFT Case.- 4.5. Problems and Perspectives.- 5 Area Networks: Telematic Connections in a Traditional Textile District.- 5.1. The Role of Telematics in Industrial Districts.- 5.2. Telematic Experiments in the Prato District.- 5.3. Problems and Perspectives.- 6 Interorganizational Networks and Market Structures.- 6.1. The Interorganizational Networks.- 6.2. The Impact of Telematics on Competitive Strategies and Market Structures.- 6.3. The Econornic Role of Standards.- 6.4. Voluntary versus Compulsory Standards.- 7 Supply Conditions of Telematic Network Services and Public Policy Implications.- 7.1. Technological and Supply Push versus Demand Pull in Telematic Diffusion.- 7.2. Information Quality, Supply Conditions and Demand Factors in Telematic Diffusion: A Matrix.- 7.3. Technological Factors.- 7.4. Institutional Context, Telecornmunication Supply and Marketing Factors.- 7.5. The Structure of Value Added Network and Services in Some Industrial Countries: The Italian Paradox.- 7.6. Conclusions and Policy Implications.