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How production offshoring impacts process innovation in the home country

Maffei, Alessandro LU (2022) EKHS34 20221
Department of Economic History
Abstract
This thesis investigates how offshoring influences process innovation in the home country. This topic, although stimulating, has been understudied in the past by academia. I have elaborated two innovative hypotheses according to which relocations would hurt process innovation in the home country because 1) they are used as an alternative to process innovation, and 2) they damage trade-unions. To explore them, I have analyzed two case studies from Italy, the Embraco plant of Riva di Chieri (Piedmont) and the GKN plant of Campi Bisenzio (Tuscany). Both are representative of the Italian economy due to historical, industrial, and geographic reasons. Methodologically, I have conducted nine semi-structured interviews with different agents... (More)
This thesis investigates how offshoring influences process innovation in the home country. This topic, although stimulating, has been understudied in the past by academia. I have elaborated two innovative hypotheses according to which relocations would hurt process innovation in the home country because 1) they are used as an alternative to process innovation, and 2) they damage trade-unions. To explore them, I have analyzed two case studies from Italy, the Embraco plant of Riva di Chieri (Piedmont) and the GKN plant of Campi Bisenzio (Tuscany). Both are representative of the Italian economy due to historical, industrial, and geographic reasons. Methodologically, I have conducted nine semi-structured interviews with different agents connected to the plants. The case studies confirm the two hypotheses. Consequently, the study can push on the research frontier on this issue, showing new ways in which relocations affect process innovation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Maffei, Alessandro LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
GKN and Embraco case studies in Italy
course
EKHS34 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
offshoring - process innovation - GKN - Embraco
language
English
id
9091302
date added to LUP
2022-06-28 10:09:10
date last changed
2022-06-28 10:09:10
@misc{9091302,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates how offshoring influences process innovation in the home country. This topic, although stimulating, has been understudied in the past by academia. I have elaborated two innovative hypotheses according to which relocations would hurt process innovation in the home country because 1) they are used as an alternative to process innovation, and 2) they damage trade-unions. To explore them, I have analyzed two case studies from Italy, the Embraco plant of Riva di Chieri (Piedmont) and the GKN plant of Campi Bisenzio (Tuscany). Both are representative of the Italian economy due to historical, industrial, and geographic reasons. Methodologically, I have conducted nine semi-structured interviews with different agents connected to the plants. The case studies confirm the two hypotheses. Consequently, the study can push on the research frontier on this issue, showing new ways in which relocations affect process innovation.}},
  author       = {{Maffei, Alessandro}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{How production offshoring impacts process innovation in the home country}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}