districts, production chains, networks & credit | networks of firms and relationships with credit institutes

presentation leaflet

rome, january 2015

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agendaintro

research perimeter

measurement of phenomena

method

output

quality plan and authors

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Starting from February 2015, Format Research is proposing a new field study

to be realized on a representative sample of Italian firms, particularly those

embedded in (formal and / or informal) networks.

The study aims at investigating:

1) the demography of firms (the perimeter of firms embedded in networks);

2) relationships with banks (changes in firms' relationships with banks,

when embedded in networks);

3) expectations towards banks (firms' expectations in terms of service

when embedded in networks).

All analyses envisage segmentation by bank brand (main bank groups).

It should be noticed that another survey focusing on Italian firms embedded in

networks has been realized for five years by our research institute, on behalf of the

Italian Ministry of Economic Development.

intro |

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research perimeter | observed phenomena

The reference universe is represented by the entirety of Italian firms that are embedded in

any of the following forms of networking (with the exception of firms operating in agriculture,

finance, and professional activities)...

firms that are – occasionally or

regularly – mutually embedded

through non-written agreements.

exchanging technological and

commercial information

represents the most common type

of agreement

informal networksnetwork of two or more firms with no formalized / conctractualized agreement

formal networksnetwork of two or more firms with formalized / contractualized agreement

consortia: legal institutions governing recognized voluntary aggregations, coordinating and regulating joint initiatives targeted to specific business activities either by private and public entities.

districts: agglomerations of firms located in a circumscribed and historically determined area, specialized in one or more phases of the production process and incorporated into a network of interrelated economic and social activities.

production chains: aggregations of actors collaborating to product processing and finalization (from the purchase of raw materials at the various processing stages, to the finalization and implementation of marketing activities).

groups: financially and organizationally interconnected groups of firms (legally autonomous units, subject to a single economic entity).

network contracts: contracts stipulated by several entrepreneurs with the aim of enhancing - both individually and collectively – their capacity for market innovation and competitiveness (D.L. 179/2012 converted into law 221/2012).

Other forms, such as Temporary Association Of Enterprises (ATI or RTI), joint venture, etc.

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Significant benefits deriving from

networking…

Efficient collaborationwith mutual safeguarding

of autonomy

Additional Scale Economies (efficiency in

terms of costs, negotiable

power towards clients and

suppliers)

Overcoming of the

concepts of "territoriality"

and "dimensional threshold" (and relevant

limitations)

Sharing of risks and benefits

in new project investmentsand openings to new

markets.

measurement of phenomena | perimeter (1)

The phenomenon of (either formal and

informal) networking will be studied

according to the following parameters:

• Incidence (amount of Italian firms

embedded in networks)

• Structure of firms embedded in

networks (dimension, sector, area,

legal form)

• Longevity of firms embedded in

networks (natality / mortality of firms

and networks)

• Other topics of interest.

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Particular attention will be paid to the relationships between firms embedded in networks

and credit institutes...

1 Analysis of different forms of networking by identification of the "decision-maker" within the network, with respect to bank policies(e.g. "who is making decisions within the group?")

2 Analysis of the banks used by those firms belonging to either formal and informal networks(e.g. do firms belonging to networks use the same banks or conversely, different banks? and within a single network, do firms make use of the same bank used by the Coordinator or conversely, different banks?)

3 Analysis of the providers used by those firms belonging to either formal and informal networks.(e.g. do firms belonging to networks use the same providers or conversely, different banks? and within a single network, do firms make use of the same provider used by the Coordinator or conversely, different banks?)

4 Facilitated / restricted access to credit for firms embedded in networks, groups, or production chains.

All analyses envisage

segmentation by bank

brand (main bank

groups).

measurement of phenomena | relationships with banks (2)

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Support to domestic and foreign growth

Analysis of expectations and expectancies of firms embedded in (formal or

informal) networks towards banks and credit institutes...

Financial and technical advisory

Legal support(e.g. in stipulating networking

contracts)

Support to the identification of possible

industrial partners

Facilitated Services (e.g. dedicated account,

collection, payments)

Financial offer tailored to firms embedded in

networks

Services targeted to "research &

innovation" projects

Services targeted to “internationalization"

projects

Tailored consultancy /

advisory services

Banks as local “aggregators” of

firms

The expectations of firms embedded in networks will be analyzed according to the firms' actual "needs" asexpressed in the course of the interview. The analysis envisages segmentation by bank brand (main bank groups).

measurement of phenomena | firms' expectations (3)

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method | survey's architecture…

Within each cell (e.g. micro trade enterprises

operating in the North-East of the country), three

levels of analysis are provided:

1) Business tendency

2) Relationship with banks

3) Expectations towards banks

Survey of firms resulting embedded in networking,

groups, districts, or production chains.

N = 2,500 cases

Study domains:

• dimension – micro (1-9 employees), small

(10-49), medium (50-249), big (over 249

employees) enterprises;

• economic sector – manufacturing,

construction, trade, tourism, services;

• macro area – north west, north east, center,

south and islands;

Confidence interval: 95% (Error: +2,0% constant within

strata, i.e. each of the seven considered areas).

625625

625

625

2,500

The analysis includes segmentation by main Italian bank brands (bank groups)

In order to pursue the research goals, a dedicated study will be realized...

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output | delivery of results

The following products will be delivered…

Research results are represented through graphs and synthetic

statistical tables.

Format: Ms PowerPoint

Sampling results are reported to the universe. Answers to all questions included in the

questionnaire will be segmented by firms' dimension, area, sector, etc.

Format: SPSS, Ms Excel.

Database of

Macrodata

Research

Report

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Quality audit of the services provided will be guaranteed by means of specific project cycle management

procedures and preliminary identification of management responsibilities. Periodic checks and

assessments will allow continuous monitoring of the state of the project and relevant activities, their

compliance with organizational, logistical, time, and quality standards with respect to the expected product

and the program shared with the Client. In case of proven non-compliance, in agreement with the Client,

major determinants will be investigated, and subsequently valid corrective actions will be systematically

implemented. The approach offered by our institute is either simple and structured, as it focuses on eight

priority objectives that are consistent to the ISO9001 certification:

Garantire la sicurezza e la riservatezza

Accurate procedure interne per la sicurezza fisica e logica dei dati e dei deliverable

Garantire la continuità

Corretta allocazione e gestione delle risorse durante la realizzazione del progetto e costante trasferimento del know how

Verificare la soddisfazione del cliente

Monitoraggio periodico dei livelli di soddisfazione del cliente mediante l’utilizzo di strumenti standard (es. Questionari, interviste, …)

Assicurare la qualità dei deliverables

Analisi e revisione della documentazione prodotta a più livelli (es. Responsabile di progetto, Consulenti senior)

Pianificare il progetto

Pianificazione di dettaglio di attività, risorse, tempo, milestones, deliverables

Monitorare l’andamento del progetto

Indicatori quantitativi di performance sulle attivitàsvolte (es. APQ rilevati)

Consuntivare i risultati

Schede di avanzamento lavoro standard per tutta la durata del progetto

Comunicare e condividere i risultati

Riunioni di lavoro ed utilizzo di strumenti informatici per la condivisione dello stato del progetto e della base informativa disponibile

Piano della qualità

1

2

3

45

6

7

8

Ensuring Safety and Confidentiality

Accurate internal procedures aimed at ensuring

physical and logical protection of data and

deliverables

Ensuring Continuity

Allocation and management of resources

over the whole project execution and

constant know-how transfer

Customer Satisfaction

Periodical customer satisfaction analyses

by means of standardized tools

(questionnaires, interviews, ...)

Project Management

Detailed planning of activities, resources,

time, milestones, deliverables

Project Monitoring

Estimation of quantitative activity

performance indicators (e.g. APQ)

Preliminary Results Exploration

Production of reports on the state-of-the-

project over the whole project execution

Sharing of Final Results

Live and remote sharing of final results

and the available information base

by means of meetings and electronic tools

QualityPlan

QUALITY PLAN – PRIORITIES

Quality Assessment of Deliverables

Multi-level assessment and review of

deliverables (by Project Leaders, Senior

Consultants, etc.)

quality and authors | quality plan

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RIGHTS

All rights of the are the property of Format Srl – ricerche di mercato. It isexplicitly prohibited to disclose it to third parties for commercial purposes.Customizations are the property of the Client.

ETHICAL CODE

The study is conducted in respect of the following rules:

� ICC/ESOMAR Code on Market and Social Research

� ASSIRM Code

� Code of the SIS (Italian Statistical Society)

� Italian Law on Privacy D.lgs 196/03

quality and authors | ethical code and certification

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Pierluigi AscaniChairman of the Board of Directors

Philosopher. Founder, President and Scientific Director of Format Research

since 1992. Twenty-year experience in marketing research, customer

satisfaction, political, economical and social studies. Adjunct Professor in

Social Research Methods at Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of

Philosophy.

Mobile +39 320 7489273

Email pierluigi.ascani@formatresearch.com

Daniele SerioProject Leader

Statistician, working in Format Research since 2008. Manager and

coordinator of several quantitative research projects in the area of economics

and its application to financial systems and organizations.

Mobile +39 345 3397685

Email daniele.serio@formatresearch.com

quality and authors | authors

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Sono proibite riproduzioni, anche parziali, delcontenuto di questo documento, senza la previaautorizzazione scritta di Format.

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