Understanding of the long term effects of marketing mix policies on firm's financial outcomes is counted as an essential issue in marketing studies. Managers really need to know the efficiency of... Show More

Understanding of the long term effects of marketing mix policies on firm's financial outcomes is counted as an essential issue in marketing studies. Managers really need to know the efficiency of their decisions in marketing efforts. A large number of researches have been already conducted so as to disclose these consequences, although all of them have got some limitations. In the present paper, the authors have made use of system dynamics to develop a dynamic marketing system and analyze the effect of different marketing mix policies on firm's financial indicators. For this purpose, they have introduced two dynamic marketing models based on the related literature review. The first one, that is a qualitative model, represents the logic of marketing efforts based on system dynamic rules and the second one is a quantitative model which is based on five important loops of the qualitative model. The quantitative model has been manipulated in order to analyze several marketing mix policies (scenarios). The results indicate that decision making for selecting appropriate marketing mix is a complicated process usually leading to nonlinear and complex results. Considering this point, the authors' study suggests the utilization of dynamic simulation in order to predict and analyze the effects of marketing policies on firm's financial indicators. Finally, the findings clearly show the ability of system dynamics in measuring and anticipating firm's marketing initiatives and adapting the most effective policy for its success.

In the Viable System Approach, the firm and its environment form a complex system, modelled as a network of networks. This paper explores how some tools coming from the research on Complex Networks... Show More

In the Viable System Approach, the firm and its environment form a complex system, modelled as a network of networks. This paper explores how some tools coming from the research on Complex Networks are applicable to the firm and its environment in the context of Business Development Plan. A brief survey of the main concepts underlying the Viable System Approach (VSA) and of the very last results attained in the Complex Network Theory (CNT) is presented, focusing on the results regarding the dynamical processes on Complex Networks. Some correspondence between the main entities in the two frameworks will be derived, to highlight the possible contribution of CNT to the government and the management of the firm as a Viable System. This paper doesn't expect to be exhaustive because of the topic complexity and the still ongoing research's work. In the business case, the Social Network Analysis tools are applied into the business reengineering process.

In the current global scenario, it is essential to ensure the stability and sustainable development of the socioeconomic system. The literature shows that there is so far no clear understanding of... Show More

In the current global scenario, it is essential to ensure the stability and sustainable development of the socioeconomic system. The literature shows that there is so far no clear understanding of the nature of the sustainability and development of socioeconomic system. Systems thinking may be the right approach for the transition to sustainable development, supplying a way to understand the universality of the laws of development. This theoretical paper shows how the management of firms can be based on the universal laws of evolution and development

It is common to think of sustainability in the context of environmental issues. However as companies are downsizing, the human dimension of sustainability, i.e. the organizational sustainability is... Show More

It is common to think of sustainability in the context of environmental issues. However as companies are downsizing, the human dimension of sustainability, i.e. the organizational sustainability is at stake. The sole focus on cost competitiveness pushes already stressed-out employees to be excellent and do more with less at the same time. When employees are caugth between such paradoxal injunctions and organizational defense routines hinder dialog, some employees develop dysfunctional coping strategies and end up being burned out. Burnout is associated with depression, lack of motivation, absenteeism, and intention to leave. It has both human and economic consequences threatening the sustainability of an organization. The study of the experience of burnout among three Information and Communication Technology (ICT) workers in Norway conducted as an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is presented as the case and the pathological communication patterns in the organizational culture behind burnout are identified.

Knowledge sharing in organizations is influenced by several interconnecting factors, but there is little written on the individual perspective of those involved in sharing. An interpretivist, action... Show More

Knowledge sharing in organizations is influenced by several interconnecting factors, but there is little written on the individual perspective of those involved in sharing. An interpretivist, action research methodology was used to help members of a research organization determine what knowledge means for them and the knowledge sharing issues they face. Their shared Appreciations were that although they believed “knowledge-as-practice” was an essential aspect of their work, it was undervalued by the organization's clients and fund-holders, causing difficulties for the maintenance of knowledge capability, and influencing organizational subcultures. These included a “you should know” subculture and a risk-averse subculture, where staff perceive that there is a tendency to assign blame rather than to accept and learn from errors. An officially mandated culture of knowledge sharing is subverted by these subcultures, affecting individuals' motivation to share their tacit knowledge, their self-efficacy and consequent sharing behaviours.