Abstract
The paper aims to examine how ambidextrous strategies can be effectively adopted by small businesses to face the economic crisis. Ambidextrous strategies combine defensive and offensive approach, retrenchment and investment/innovation, short- and long-term perspective. According to the main literature, ambidextrous strategies are more likely to be successful in an economic downturn.Nevertheless, they are considered a challenge for small businesses, which have often limited financial and managerial resources, especially during an economic crisis.Through the analysis of a “prelude case”, small businesses’ approach for ambidextrous strategies to deal with economic crisishas been identified, together with factors and conditions (necessary or facilitating)that can favor small firms to adopt these strategies.
References
Altobelli C. (2014), “La piccola impresa sfinita dalla crisi rivive tra fallimenti, metamorfosi e piccoli successi”, Microimpresa – Imprese tra crisi e fiducia, 35 (1), pp. 17-52.
Amann B., Jaussaud J. (2012), “Family and Non-Family Business Resilience in an Economic Downturn”, Asia Pacific Business Review, 18 (2), pp. 203-223.
Antonelli G., Vigano E. (2012), “Il ruolo dei marchi di qualità dell’Unione Europea nelle strategie competitive delle piccole e medie imprese agroalimentari italiane”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 3, pp. 31-47
Bocconcelli R., Tunisini A. (2007), “ICT e supply network distrettuali: dinamiche in atto nel settore meccanico”, in Ferrero G. (a cura di), Le ICT per la qualificazione delle piccole imprese marchigiane, Carocci, Roma.
Bortoluzzi G. (2011), “Risorse, competenze e internazionalizzazione nelle pmi di subfornitura. Un’analisi esplorativa nel comparto plasto-meccanico”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 11-38.
Brenner B. (2009), “The Value of Increasing Investment in Employee Benefits during an Economic Downturn”, Journal of Financial Service Professionals, 63 (1), pp. 29-31.
Carnazza P. (2014), “La performance congiunturale delle imprese artigiane e i principali fattori di competitività: i principali risultati di un’indagine ad hoc”, Microimpresa – Imprese tra crisi e fiducia, 35 (1), pp. 85-102.
Cerved (2014) “Osservatorio su fallimenti, procedure e chiusure di imprese”, Marzo, disponibile online all’indirizzo .
Cesaroni F.M., Sentuti A. (2010), “Nuove generazioni ed evoluzione dell’impresa familiare: la sfida della successione imprenditoriale. Analisi di alcuni casi di successo”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 2, pp. 63-89.
Cesaroni F.M., Sentuti A. (2014), Imprese femminili e crisi economica. Credito, competitività e conciliazione in una prospettiva di genere, FrancoAngeli, Milano.
Chattopadhyay P., Glick W.H., Huber G.P. (2001) “Organizational actions in response to threats and opportunities”, Academy of Management Journal, 44 (5), pp. 937-955.
Chowdhury S.D., Lang J.R. (1996), “Turnaround in small firms: an assessment of efficiency strategies”, Journal of Business Research, 36 (2), pp. 169-179.
Chrisman J.J., Chua J.H., Steier L. (2005), “Sources and Consequences of Distinctive Familiness: an Introduction”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29 (3), pp. 237-247.
Curran J. (1996), “Small Business Strategy”, in Warner, M (ed)
International Encyclopedia of Business and Management, International Thompson Press, Routledge, London and NY.
Dagnino G.B., Merendino P. (2011), “L’interazione fra capacità d’impresa, opportunità strategiche, risorse finanziarie e performance: un’analisi multivariata su un campione di piccole e Medie imprese operanti nel mezzogiorno”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 91-124.
Deans G.K., (2009), “Making a key decision in a downturn: go on the offensive or be defensive?”, Strategic Direction, 25 (8).
DeDee J.K., Vorhies D.W. (1998), “Retrenchment activities of small firms during economic downturn: An empirical investigation”, Journal of Small Business Management, 36 (3), pp. 46-61.
Duncan R.B. (1976), “The ambidextrous organization: Designing dual structures for innovation”, in Kilmann R.H., Pondy L.R., Slevin D.P. (eds.), The Management of Organization Design, Vol. 1. Strategies and Implementation, North-Holland, New York, pp. 167–188.
Eisenhardt K.M. (1989), “Building theories from case study research”, Academy of Management Review, 14 (4), pp. 532-550.
European Commission (2013), 2013 SMEs’ Access to Finance Survey. Analytical Report, Novembre, disponibile online all’indirizzo http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/finance/files/2013-safe-analytical-report_en.pdf.
Gregori G. L., Temperini V., Perna, A. (2013), “Quale possibile ruolo delle PMI nello sviluppo del marketing territoriale? Analisi del caso ‘Land of Value (LOV)’”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 115-134.
Istat (2014), Rapporto sulla competitività dei settori produttivi. Edizione 2014.
Kitching J., Blackburn R., Smallbone D., Dixon S. (2009) “Business Strategies and Performance During Difficult Economic Conditions”, URN 09/1031, Kingston University and Bath University, Project Report, disponibile online all’indirizzo http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/5852/1/Kitching-J-5852.pdf.
Latham S. (2009) “Contrasting Strategic Response to Economic Recession in Start-up Versus Established Software Firms”, Journal of Small Business Management, 47 (2), pp. 180-201.
Le Breton-Miller I., Miller D. (2006), “Why do Some Family Businesses Out-Compete? Governance, Long-Term Orientations, and Sustainable Capability”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 30 (6), pp. 731-746.
March J.G. (1991), “Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning”, Organization Science, 2, pp. 71-87.
Michael S.C., Robbins D.K. (1998), “Retrenchment among small manufacturing firms during recession”, Journal of Small Business Management, 36 (3), pp. 35-45.
Miles R.E., Snow C.C. (1978), Organizational strategy, structure, and process, McGraw Hill, New York.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., Saldana, J. (2014), Qualitative data analysis. A Methods Sourcebook, Sage Publications: California.
Nicolai D. (2014), “Le difficoltà di liquidità delle piccole imprese”, Microimpresa – Imprese tra crisi e fiducia, 35 (1), pp. 103-116.
O’Gorman C. (2006), “Strategy and the small business”, in S. Carter and D. Jones‐Evans (eds) Enterprise and Small Business (2nd ed), Financial Times/Prentice Hall, Harlow.
Pace R. (2013), “Piccole e micro imprese italiane tra crisi e vincoli finanziari: un’indagine empirica”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 57-83.
Papaoikonomou E., Segarra P., Li X. (2012), “Entrepreneurship in the Context of Crisis: Identifying Barriers and Proposing Strategies”, International Advances in Economic Research, 18 (1), pp. 111-119.
Patton M.Q. (1990), Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods, 3th edition, Sage.
Pearce J.A., Michael S.C. (1997), “Marketing strategies that make entrepreneurial firms recession-resistant”, Journal of Business Venturing, 12 (4), pp. 301-14.
Pearce J.A., Michael S.C. (2006), “Strategies to prevent economic recessions from causing business failure”, Business Horizons, 49, pp. 201-209.
Pencarelli T., Splendiani S., Nobili E., (2010), “Small Businesses Strategies in Times of Crisis: Empirical Evidence from the Province of Pesaro-Urbino”, Atti del Convegno, 10th Global Conference on Business & Economics, Ottobre 15-16, Roma, Italia.
Penrose E. (1959), The Theory of the Growth of the Firm (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Raisch S., Birkinshaw J., Probst G., Tushman M.L. (2009), “Organizational ambidexterity: Balancing exploitation and exploration for sustained performance”, Organization Science, 20 (4), pp. 685-695.
Robbins D.K., Pearce II J.A. (1992), “Turnaround: Recovery and Retrenchment”, Strategic Management Journal, 13 (4), pp. 287-309.
Roberts K. (2003), “What strategic investments should you make during a recession to gain competitive advantage in the recovery?” Strategy & Leadership, 31 (4), pp. 31-39.
Rhodes D., Stelter D. (2009), “Seize advantage in a downturn”, Harvard Business Review, 87 (2), pp. 50-58.
Sirmon D.G., Hitt M.A. (2003), “Managing Resources: Linking Unique Resources, Management, and Wealth Creation in Family Firms”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 27(4), pp. 339-358.
Smallbone D., Cumbers A., Syrett S., Leigh R. (1999), “The Single European Market and SMEs: A Comparison of its Effects in the Food and
Clothing Sector in the UK and Portugal”, Regional Studies, 33 (1), pp. 51-62.
Sorrentino M. (2013), “L’accounting standard overload: ‘l’hangman’s noose’ delle small business anglosassoni”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 2, pp. 85-108.
Sternad D. (2012), “Adaptive Strategies in Response to the Economic Crisis: A Cross-Cultural Study in Austria and Slovenia”, Managing Global Transitions: International Research Journal, 10 (3), pp. 257-282.
Street C.T., Cameron A.F. (2007), “External relationships and the small business: A review of small business alliance and network research”, Journal of Small Business Management, 45 (2), pp. 239-266.
Tunisini A., Bocconcelli R. (2013), “Medie imprese in sviluppo: gli assetti relazionali nei processi di integrazione post-acquisitiva”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 9-32.
Volery T., Mueller S., von Siemens B. (2013), “Entrepreneur ambidexterity: A study of entrepreneur behaviours and competencies in growth-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises”, International Small Business Journal, 33 (2), pp. 109-129.
Wan W.P., Yiu D.W. (2009), “From crisis to opportunity: Environmental jolt, corporate acquisitions, and firm performance”, Strategic Management Journal, 30, pp. 791-801.
Wolcott H.F. (1994), Transforming Qualitative Data: Description, Analysis, and Interpretation. Sage.
Yin R.K. (1994), Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Sage Publication, London.
Amann B., Jaussaud J. (2012), “Family and Non-Family Business Resilience in an Economic Downturn”, Asia Pacific Business Review, 18 (2), pp. 203-223.
Antonelli G., Vigano E. (2012), “Il ruolo dei marchi di qualità dell’Unione Europea nelle strategie competitive delle piccole e medie imprese agroalimentari italiane”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 3, pp. 31-47
Bocconcelli R., Tunisini A. (2007), “ICT e supply network distrettuali: dinamiche in atto nel settore meccanico”, in Ferrero G. (a cura di), Le ICT per la qualificazione delle piccole imprese marchigiane, Carocci, Roma.
Bortoluzzi G. (2011), “Risorse, competenze e internazionalizzazione nelle pmi di subfornitura. Un’analisi esplorativa nel comparto plasto-meccanico”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 11-38.
Brenner B. (2009), “The Value of Increasing Investment in Employee Benefits during an Economic Downturn”, Journal of Financial Service Professionals, 63 (1), pp. 29-31.
Carnazza P. (2014), “La performance congiunturale delle imprese artigiane e i principali fattori di competitività: i principali risultati di un’indagine ad hoc”, Microimpresa – Imprese tra crisi e fiducia, 35 (1), pp. 85-102.
Cerved (2014) “Osservatorio su fallimenti, procedure e chiusure di imprese”, Marzo, disponibile online all’indirizzo .
Cesaroni F.M., Sentuti A. (2010), “Nuove generazioni ed evoluzione dell’impresa familiare: la sfida della successione imprenditoriale. Analisi di alcuni casi di successo”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 2, pp. 63-89.
Cesaroni F.M., Sentuti A. (2014), Imprese femminili e crisi economica. Credito, competitività e conciliazione in una prospettiva di genere, FrancoAngeli, Milano.
Chattopadhyay P., Glick W.H., Huber G.P. (2001) “Organizational actions in response to threats and opportunities”, Academy of Management Journal, 44 (5), pp. 937-955.
Chowdhury S.D., Lang J.R. (1996), “Turnaround in small firms: an assessment of efficiency strategies”, Journal of Business Research, 36 (2), pp. 169-179.
Chrisman J.J., Chua J.H., Steier L. (2005), “Sources and Consequences of Distinctive Familiness: an Introduction”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29 (3), pp. 237-247.
Curran J. (1996), “Small Business Strategy”, in Warner, M (ed)
International Encyclopedia of Business and Management, International Thompson Press, Routledge, London and NY.
Dagnino G.B., Merendino P. (2011), “L’interazione fra capacità d’impresa, opportunità strategiche, risorse finanziarie e performance: un’analisi multivariata su un campione di piccole e Medie imprese operanti nel mezzogiorno”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 91-124.
Deans G.K., (2009), “Making a key decision in a downturn: go on the offensive or be defensive?”, Strategic Direction, 25 (8).
DeDee J.K., Vorhies D.W. (1998), “Retrenchment activities of small firms during economic downturn: An empirical investigation”, Journal of Small Business Management, 36 (3), pp. 46-61.
Duncan R.B. (1976), “The ambidextrous organization: Designing dual structures for innovation”, in Kilmann R.H., Pondy L.R., Slevin D.P. (eds.), The Management of Organization Design, Vol. 1. Strategies and Implementation, North-Holland, New York, pp. 167–188.
Eisenhardt K.M. (1989), “Building theories from case study research”, Academy of Management Review, 14 (4), pp. 532-550.
European Commission (2013), 2013 SMEs’ Access to Finance Survey. Analytical Report, Novembre, disponibile online all’indirizzo http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/finance/files/2013-safe-analytical-report_en.pdf.
Gregori G. L., Temperini V., Perna, A. (2013), “Quale possibile ruolo delle PMI nello sviluppo del marketing territoriale? Analisi del caso ‘Land of Value (LOV)’”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 115-134.
Istat (2014), Rapporto sulla competitività dei settori produttivi. Edizione 2014.
Kitching J., Blackburn R., Smallbone D., Dixon S. (2009) “Business Strategies and Performance During Difficult Economic Conditions”, URN 09/1031, Kingston University and Bath University, Project Report, disponibile online all’indirizzo http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/5852/1/Kitching-J-5852.pdf.
Latham S. (2009) “Contrasting Strategic Response to Economic Recession in Start-up Versus Established Software Firms”, Journal of Small Business Management, 47 (2), pp. 180-201.
Le Breton-Miller I., Miller D. (2006), “Why do Some Family Businesses Out-Compete? Governance, Long-Term Orientations, and Sustainable Capability”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 30 (6), pp. 731-746.
March J.G. (1991), “Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning”, Organization Science, 2, pp. 71-87.
Michael S.C., Robbins D.K. (1998), “Retrenchment among small manufacturing firms during recession”, Journal of Small Business Management, 36 (3), pp. 35-45.
Miles R.E., Snow C.C. (1978), Organizational strategy, structure, and process, McGraw Hill, New York.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., Saldana, J. (2014), Qualitative data analysis. A Methods Sourcebook, Sage Publications: California.
Nicolai D. (2014), “Le difficoltà di liquidità delle piccole imprese”, Microimpresa – Imprese tra crisi e fiducia, 35 (1), pp. 103-116.
O’Gorman C. (2006), “Strategy and the small business”, in S. Carter and D. Jones‐Evans (eds) Enterprise and Small Business (2nd ed), Financial Times/Prentice Hall, Harlow.
Pace R. (2013), “Piccole e micro imprese italiane tra crisi e vincoli finanziari: un’indagine empirica”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 57-83.
Papaoikonomou E., Segarra P., Li X. (2012), “Entrepreneurship in the Context of Crisis: Identifying Barriers and Proposing Strategies”, International Advances in Economic Research, 18 (1), pp. 111-119.
Patton M.Q. (1990), Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods, 3th edition, Sage.
Pearce J.A., Michael S.C. (1997), “Marketing strategies that make entrepreneurial firms recession-resistant”, Journal of Business Venturing, 12 (4), pp. 301-14.
Pearce J.A., Michael S.C. (2006), “Strategies to prevent economic recessions from causing business failure”, Business Horizons, 49, pp. 201-209.
Pencarelli T., Splendiani S., Nobili E., (2010), “Small Businesses Strategies in Times of Crisis: Empirical Evidence from the Province of Pesaro-Urbino”, Atti del Convegno, 10th Global Conference on Business & Economics, Ottobre 15-16, Roma, Italia.
Penrose E. (1959), The Theory of the Growth of the Firm (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Raisch S., Birkinshaw J., Probst G., Tushman M.L. (2009), “Organizational ambidexterity: Balancing exploitation and exploration for sustained performance”, Organization Science, 20 (4), pp. 685-695.
Robbins D.K., Pearce II J.A. (1992), “Turnaround: Recovery and Retrenchment”, Strategic Management Journal, 13 (4), pp. 287-309.
Roberts K. (2003), “What strategic investments should you make during a recession to gain competitive advantage in the recovery?” Strategy & Leadership, 31 (4), pp. 31-39.
Rhodes D., Stelter D. (2009), “Seize advantage in a downturn”, Harvard Business Review, 87 (2), pp. 50-58.
Sirmon D.G., Hitt M.A. (2003), “Managing Resources: Linking Unique Resources, Management, and Wealth Creation in Family Firms”, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 27(4), pp. 339-358.
Smallbone D., Cumbers A., Syrett S., Leigh R. (1999), “The Single European Market and SMEs: A Comparison of its Effects in the Food and
Clothing Sector in the UK and Portugal”, Regional Studies, 33 (1), pp. 51-62.
Sorrentino M. (2013), “L’accounting standard overload: ‘l’hangman’s noose’ delle small business anglosassoni”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 2, pp. 85-108.
Sternad D. (2012), “Adaptive Strategies in Response to the Economic Crisis: A Cross-Cultural Study in Austria and Slovenia”, Managing Global Transitions: International Research Journal, 10 (3), pp. 257-282.
Street C.T., Cameron A.F. (2007), “External relationships and the small business: A review of small business alliance and network research”, Journal of Small Business Management, 45 (2), pp. 239-266.
Tunisini A., Bocconcelli R. (2013), “Medie imprese in sviluppo: gli assetti relazionali nei processi di integrazione post-acquisitiva”, Piccola Impresa/Small Business, n. 1, pp. 9-32.
Volery T., Mueller S., von Siemens B. (2013), “Entrepreneur ambidexterity: A study of entrepreneur behaviours and competencies in growth-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises”, International Small Business Journal, 33 (2), pp. 109-129.
Wan W.P., Yiu D.W. (2009), “From crisis to opportunity: Environmental jolt, corporate acquisitions, and firm performance”, Strategic Management Journal, 30, pp. 791-801.
Wolcott H.F. (1994), Transforming Qualitative Data: Description, Analysis, and Interpretation. Sage.
Yin R.K. (1994), Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Sage Publication, London.
Copyright and licensing: The journal supports the principles contained in the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to scientific literature (2003), reiterated in the Italian CRUI Guidelines on Open Access journals. Copyright Notice: papers made open to the public are published under the CC BY--4.0 license.
Archiving : This journal uses the LOCKSS system to create an archiving system, which is distributed between participating libraries and enables them to search through the permanent archives of the journal for the purposes of conservation and restoration. All journal data and publications are also saved and stored directly on the platform