The current dynamics of business systems require new ways of conceiving the role of single entities. On this basis, a complex of interactions between the company and the reference context must be activated to guarantee survival dynamics. From these considerations re-emerge the ideas of Peccei ( 2013) and King ( 2013) that recognise in the systemic thought the foundations for a sustainable society. The present study derives from these considerations, and aims at contributing to the advancement of the knowledge necessary to overcome the challenges in the sustainability field. The methodological approach, albeit heuristic, can be traced back to the positive scientific and constructivist method. The results of the study showed the prevalence of qualitative and subjective techniques, accompanied by the so-called inductive method, testifying to the intense interaction between the scholar and the object investigated. With regard to future research, it would be interesting to construct a flexible, scalable and extensible model to recover both a database and an ontology for the theoretical framework.

This research aims to verify, through a case study, if a firm operating in a sector plagued by the crisis can successfully overcome the start-up phase by creating shared value with stakeholders, supporting and anticipating the trends of its reference environment. The study of the choices that have enabled the company to establish itself and its results, if consistent with the assertions of the literature, will, therefore, allow to validate the thesis and to measure the effectiveness of the theories and observations cited. The originality of the work lies in the proposed case study: a company that, since the start-up phase, every day "listening" to the needs of the market, and thanks to the propensity to technological innovation in addition to dimensional growth both nationally and internationally, has been at the center of the transformation processes in its industry, rather than be guided by it. All associated with the voluntary adoption of structural and organizational, production and communication models that enable the social responsibility of the Renner Italy SPA to generate values and not just profits.

Internationalization represents an obligatory path for firms in order to compete and survive in the current competitive environment. However, many enterprises, especially the SMEs, sometimes lack the necessary resources to grow and succeed in international markets. Several authors argue that SMEs constantly need to create, adapt and reconfigure their relationships and network resources to remain competitive in an international environment, that is, they need to develop dynamic capabilities. The aim of this paper is to analyze the international growth of gradual global SMEs by adopting the dynamic capabilities framework. Through the case study of a firm from South Italy, this paper aims to analyze the role played by dynamic capabilities in the growth and success of a gradual global SME in international markets. The results show that the capabilities to perceive opportunities and threats in the international context, to seize opportunities through adaptation, reactivity and reconfiguration, have been fundamental for the international success of the company analyzed.

Purpose Nowadays, in this highly dynamic and complex context, companies have to act in a socially responsible and sustainable way to survive, creating shared value. The purpose of this paper is to analyse, through descriptive statistics, the elements that Italian banks identify as strategic to increasing their relational and reputational capital and to being in consonance with stakeholder’s expectations. Design/methodology/approach This paper investigates the width (number of intermediaries that included the materiality matrix in their non-financial reports) and the depth (number of indicators in the matrix) of the phenomenon to detect the bank’s attention on critical topics for their stakeholders. Findings The focus is on materiality matrices in order to detect a correspondence among the significant indicators selected by the banks and those value generators for stakeholders. In the perspective used in this work, property is also a stakeholder; indeed, wanting to use the terminology of the viable systems approach, property represents a relevant supra-system as it is critical and influential for the decision makers. Research limitations/implications The main limits are the low number of non-financial reports published by Italian banks, and the little information on the type of stakeholder involved in the building of the materiality matrix. Originality/value The originality of this work is multifaceted. Primarily, there are no similar studies in the banking sector. The present work intends to go beyond the studies already in the literature on mapping and stakeholder prioritisation as well as on the identification and selection of material themes. Moreover, having found, during the analysis of the banks’ reports, the heterogeneity of indicators identified as material, for both banks and stakeholders, the same have been traced back to the related stages identified by Carroll in the pyramid of social responsibility.

This paper explores factors influencing the extent of exiled smoking h m workplaces: that is leaving work so as to smoke a cigarette. Exiled smoking may be disruptive to work practices and it is a means by which smokers minimise the effects of workplace smoking bans on their daily consumption. As such it reduces possible health benefits that might have resulted from a greater decrease in consumption. Smokers (n= 145) were recruited while engaging in exiled smoking. The results indicate that among this group (of largely regular exiled smokers), indices of addiction were only loosely related to the extent of exiled smoking, and it did not appear to be primarily driven by social benefits. While most preferred taking breaks with company, the lack of company would only inhibit a minority. Perceived improvements in capacity to work was a common reason, as was the opportunity to discuss work related problems. Enjoyment of the cigarette and the opportunity to break up the day were also important. It appears exiled smoking is multiply determined. To the extent addiction is involved, it is not through strongly felt urges to smoke, but is more due to minor irritation such a s reduced ability to concentrate. It is suggested that such experiences provide the extra motivation to take a break that non-smokers may think about but rarely feel sufficiently motivated to do.