Despite this, they are poorly computerized with regards to everything that is not strictly linked to the product and the production process, i.e. all those techniques that are used to transform money into products and vice-versa. For Italian entrepreneurs, information technology is something that takes over later, when it is no longer possible to avoid it, with the hope of not destroying the company with this introduction. Instead, information technology must be an important element for the business: companies like Ikea, Zara, RyanAir, have information systems that are fundamental to their business. The evolution of Ikea, for example, has been accompanied by the evolution of their computer system (especially for logistics, but also for the exchange of orders and knowledge within the company).
The growth of Italian companies is however quite fast, so much so that their trend often resembles that of hi-tech industries. A criticism made by economists towards our industry is that its sectors are the "traditional" ones in which there is no growth, but thanks to innovation and radical changes in the sector, growth still happens.
For example, in the eyewear industry Luxottica has been able to restructure the market, occupying both the position of frame manufacturer and the role of seller, having a huge gain in added value (thus finding itself in direct contact with clients from which it can receive direct feedback both on its own products and on those of competitors).
Innovativeness cannot always be present: 3M has adopted a code of innovation, according to which the company must renew at least 25% of its samples every year. This is commendable, but if you think of a fashion company that in a year (or even less, 4 months in the case of Zara) completely renews its samples, it clearly requires a very different process.
Information technology must have a useful role within the company, must create added value and not be a marginal presence. We deal with information technology that takes on this role, so we are interested in understanding how we can help the Italian company.
Date that companies grow quickly, we need evolutionary information systems: the growth of the company requires the ability of the systems to be able to manage new problems; the problem to face is not only in the up-scale capacity of the systems, but it is that of making them flexible to manage new problems.
Being networked companies, their governance is closely linked to the interactions between companies: "open" systems are needed, where opening is not managed only on one side (that of the companies with which one interacts), but where it is possible to adapt, knowing how to interact with the information systems of others.
In the set of open systems, a particular one is that of logistics: being pocket multinationals, the number of countries in which they operate is important, therefore it is necessary to know how to manage shipments because any missed delivery is a potential lost sale. By organizing properly, excellent results can be achieved.
Innovative companies cannot make multi-year investments, because investments are short-lived. In the long term, choices are made that apply to entire product families. So graduated investments.
The competence of the managers is fundamental, being companies with succession problems. It is therefore essential to better manage business intelligence and knowledge. The information also depends on the value of the source: if an authoritative source comments on a certain idea, that comment takes on much more value. Apple's chief designer argues that designing a product begins with the "vision" of that product.
A company starts in a local place, while growing it still remains local, but begins to have management or offices in other territories / countries. This creates a network of places that must be familiar and comfortable for the people who move around this network. In fact, companies are spending more and more on enhancing the territory in which they are located.
The systems are therefore in situations where it is necessary to manage unexpected events, and it is important that they know how to adapt.
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