The relevance of network capabilities in business networks context: RPM thesis case study at Pisa University
Posted by RPM on 09/12/2020

On December 9th 2020, Elia Marcucci graduated from the Economic & Management Department Pisa University presenting a Thesis by the title  “Le Network Capabilities nelle Reti di imprese: un’analisi dell’industria Motorsport” (Network capabilities within a formal network of companies: an analysis in the Motorsport Industry”. He graduated with the highest score.

Elia work was guided by Professor Riccardo Giannetti and Riccardo Paterni, RPM board member.

The topic of his thesis reflects the relevance of network capabilities (such as coordination, relationship skills, partner knowledge, internal communication and new relationship building capacity) to initiate and above all to handle and create value from a formal business network and, in general, from any inter-organizational relationship.

16 of the 18 RPM members participated in a survey based on the existing international literature to elucidate the level of network capabilities possessed by RPM and verify how these capabilities affected the innovativeness potentiality and execution relevant to the e whole formal network. Elia, after the data collection, had also the opportunity to present the results of a customised survey during a recent  RPM’s general assembly that took place at the Autopromotec headquarter, close to Bologna on the 13th October 2020.

We believe this is a current interesting topic, considering the VUCA (acronym for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) environment that we are undergoing and that characterizes the Motorsport (and automotive) industry. Elia’s thesis (available, in Italian, upon request) could be useful for managers and entrepreneurs of SMEs that are facing turbulent market and want to utilise at best  new opportunities rising from formal networks of companies. Moreover, it presents interesting insights relevant to best practices regarding network management and knowledge/technology transfer mechanisms.