According to the above analysis, Table 3 reports the main
ICTs and e-business models that best fit the characteristics
of geographical clusters, and the related opportunities
offered to the three value-creating processes carried out
within clusters.
In the next section, the case of Italian geographical
clusters, called industrial districts (IDs), is discussed. In
particular, the analysis aims to evaluate the ICT spread
within IDs.
5. ICT spread within geographical clusters: the case
of Italian industrial districts
A recent survey carried out on 51 Italian IDs (RurCensis, 2001) highlights that the process of adoption of
ICTs within IDs is still in the early stage. A big gap exists
between Internet connectivity and e-business models
adoption and, more in general, between the possession of
new ICTs and their actual exploitation.
In particular, the survey points out that the connection
to the Net does not support the unstructured and informal
communication processes within IDs. For example,
the utilisation of e-mails for the inter-firm relationships
or for intra-firm informal communications is very limited.
In 15% of IDs, there are no significant experiences of
informal exchanges of e-mail, in 35% of IDs, less than
10% of firms communicate via Internet (Fig. 2). These
percentages are even lower in the case of other forms of
ICT-based interactions, such as mailing list and discussion forum.
However, there are experiences of inter-firm web sites
(district portals) testifying that the connection to the Net is
used to support the networking processes within IDs. These
are aimed at creating a virtual space supporting the
collaboration among firms and/or at promoting the district
on a global scale and/or at opening the ID firms across the
district boundaries. In particular, 36% of IDs have
implemented inter-firm web sites aimed at supporting the
networking processes, exchanging information for the
customers seeking, and creating purchasing groups.
Even higher is the percentage (40%) of IDs that have
developed web sites aimed at promoting on a global scale
the single firm, using specific business windows and
informative spaces.
Significant is the presence (28%) of inter-firm portals
aiming not only at promoting the ID firms but also at trading
on line their products (business-to-business and business-toconsumer).
Yet, a low level of diffusion characterises the most
advanced ICT solutions, such as the adoption of shared