DEMI

The Department of Economics, Management and Institutions (DEMI)' main objective is to implement and improve both education and research in the fields of economics, management processes, law and quantitative methods for decisions.

Research at DEMI is articulated in two main fields:

Research themes. DEMI constantly develops theoretical and applied research activities inherent to economic, juridical and statistical disciplines. The principal Department Research fields relate to the following areas of interest: Business Economics, Business Administration, Business Organization, Political Economy, Economic theories, Statistics, Production sciences, Rural Economy, Business law, Private law, Internationalization disciplines.

Research projects. They have been carried out both within the business area and juridical area. As for the business projects, they are related with strategic management and organizational behaviour, smart tourism, social innovation, city planning, knowledge transfer systems and destination valorisation and they have been funded also Ministry Authorities as MIUR – Italian Ministry of University and Research and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Craftsmanship of Naples and by the Industrial Union of Naples. As for the juridical area, the projects mainly regarded work administration and the employee protection.

Further details can be found in www.demi.unina.it

Research output (2011-2013)

Data on the research output of the Department are extracted from the 2011-2013 Research activities Review (SUA-RD)

Staff

Data on the Department Staff is taken from the institutional website of the Italian Ministry of University and Research

Research projects

Research projects at DEMI are:

PRIN projects – Research Projects of National Interest (2011-2015) in the areas of strategic management and organizational behavior;

  • Title: Impact of polyphenols-based functional and/or nutraceutical food on energetic and sugar-fatty acid metabolism. Scientific Coordinator: RICCARDI Gabriele. Scientific Responsible: STAMPACCHIA Paolo. The aim of the research is to develop an Evaluation model to selecting innovative product with the greater potential marketing success. The model aims at providing a decision support system for the evaluation of engineering products in an integrated and systemic view of innovation. The expected results concern the development of a tool to innovation management that can be used in innovation process, with particular reference to food business and cross-industry projects.

Projects funded by Local and Ministry Authorities:

  • Title: Distinguishing between liabilities and equity. Scientific Coordinator: Roberto Maglio. The internationalisation of business activities as well as the development of new financing possibilities increase the interest of medium-sized enterprises in applying IAS/IFRS. Medium-sized businesses do, however, often shrink away from applying international standards, due to their substantial administrative costs. For thousands of firms, the accounting standard IAS 32 ("Financial instruments: disclosure and presentation") is especially a considerable barrier as far as the acceptance of the new accounting philosophy is concerned. The version published in 2004, with its strict definition of equity and liabilities, has led to a situation in which a financial instrument is a financial liability when it gives the holder the right to put it back to the issuer. Also IFRIC 2 ("Members' shares in co-operative entities and similar instruments") deals with the above-mentioned problem in an insufficient manner and explicitly indicates that the repayment of a share should be made at the Fair Value principle. The current draft for a revision of IAS 32 does not permit the appropriate classification of equity and liabilities for all enterprise types.The research aims to find a new solution to the problem of distinguishing between liabilities and equity.
  • Title: Governance of public utilities and accountability. Empirical findings in Campania Region. Legge 5. Scientific coordinator: Alessandra Allini. The research aims to analyze the level of accountability adopted by the Italian local public groups in the public utilities sector. An empirical research has been conducted focusing on 102 Italian public local Holding in order to verify the degree of transparency related to information on relations among group participants.
  • Title: Integrated logistics for agricultural SMEs in Campania Region: opportunities and weaknesses. Legge 5. Scientific coordinator: Roberto Vona. The project aims at analysing some case studies of SMEs operating in agriculture in Campania Region and mapping their logistics processes. The main goal is to identify strengths and weaknesses of current logistics models, and to propose some improvements.
  • Title: Italian Scouts in Silicon Valley. Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Scientific coordinator: Roberto Vona. The project aims at promoting youth and cultural exchanges bewteen Southern Italy and the Silicon Valley area in the field of innovative young firms and startups eco-systems
  • Title Accounting Attributes in SMEs and their reflections on fund –rising issues: an empirical study in Campania Region. L.R. N. 5 DEL 28.03.2002, ANNUALITÀ 2007. Scientific coordinator: Riccardo Viganò. The project aims to investigate the accounting attributes of SMEs located in Campania Region and their reflection on the fund-rising issues. In this kind of firms the financial statement presents different functions and the main stakeholders are represented by tax authorities and debt holders. In this perspective, the fund-rising issue play a crucial and can affect the properties and contents of accounting disclosure in SMEs.
  • Title: Financial Statement Informativeness in SMEs for access to bank credit: empirical evidence in the local region. L.R. N. 5 DEL 28.03.2002, ANNUALITÀ 2008. Scientific coordinator: Riccardo Viganò. The project presents a twofold aim: (i) to identify the factors that undermine the informativeness of financial statement, (ii) to analyze how the managing of accounting information can be moderated by the introduction of Basilea 2 Agreement. In this sense, the project unit has established a formal relationship with the Study Centre of Unione Industriali of Naples in order to carry out an empirical research on the population of firms associated with it.
  • Title: Multivariate methods for sensory analysis and the study of consumer preferences. Legge 5. Scientific coordinator: Luigi D'Ambra. The project aims to analyze the data of sensory. Sensory analysis is the set of methods with which you can analyze the "perceived" of any product through the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch. The multivariate statistical analysis is a technique of processing the data used to search for relations between different blocks of variables: (instrumental variables and variables sensory, sensory data and data of acceptability, etc.). Many phenomena are inherently complex, moldable and you need to consider a variety of indicators. Some instruments produce a large amount of data per sample. Multivariate analysis is therefore required for the study of real phenomena and for the full interpretation of the experimental data.
  • Title: Re-Enter PAC02L300035. Scientific coordinator: Roberto Vona. The project involves the construction of a network that connects the demand for craftsmen and the offer of this by persons out or leaving the world of work .
  • Title: Business Network contract: a legal tool for improving the competitiveness of Italian tobacco chain PM Italia Campus – Empowering Research Award. Scientific coordinator: Consiglia Botta. The project aims to evaluate the contractual forms of cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to promote the implementation of business network contract in the agricultural sector. This new contract, which is in line with antitrust legislation, pursues two important goals: promoting the process of modernization and optimization of Italian tobacco chain as well as improving the competitiveness of Italian SMEs.
    Web site: http://www.fondazioneemblema.it/Primo+PianoPrimo%20Piano-.html?sezione=8&articolo=85&lang=it
  • Title: OR.CHE.S.T.R.A. ORganization of Cultural HEritage for Smart Tourism and Real-time Accesibility. National Operational Programme Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013 for the regions of "Convergence" Objective. Scientific coordinator: Stefano Consiglio. The project's aim was to develop, for tourists and citizens, a set of technological solutions finalized to the promotion of cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, of the historic center of Naples in a smart and integrated view with sustainability and eco-compatibility objectives. The project have involved two other Departments of the University Federico II (Physical Sciences and Humanities Sciences) and an Interdepartmental Centre (LUPT) and was developed in collaboration with the National Research Council, IBM, Lauro.it and AutostradeTech.
    Web site: www.orchestrasmartnapoli.it/site1/
  • Title: #European Mobility Placements for Open Innovation. Erasmus +. Scientific coordinator: Marco Maffei. The outcomes of the project are: - The online course on social entrepreneurship is aimed at fostering understanding about social entrepreneurship; - The guidelines will showcase a comprehensive model of university-business cooperation; - An innovative collaboration structure will reinforce ongoing cooperation between employers and academic staff on a local and international level; - Policy recommendations will summarise the conclusions and results of the project and provide practical, evidence-based suggestions for policy-makers.
  • Title: MITO (Multimedia Information for Territorial Objects). MIUR - PAC 2007-2013. Scientific coordinator: Francesco Bifulco. Multidisciplinary project aimed at a system of long term digital preservation of the products / results. It aims at strengthening infrastructure (MITO-Lab and MITO-net) of universities and research centers (Naples Federico II, Parthenope, Palermo, Salerno, Suor Orsola Benincasa, SUN, University of Bari, Ispra) in the field of smart technology for cultural heritage, and to train experts in the innovation processes management.
    Sito web: www.mito.unina.it
  • Title: SNECS (Social Networks of the Historical Disctrict Entity). PON - National Operative Programme 2007-2013. Scientific coordinator: Francesco Bifulco. Research and testing new solutions for the representation, promotion and dissemination of the contents of the scientific knowledge of artistic, archaeological, literary, historical and philosophical, with particular emphasis on the historical centers. Pertains to DATABENC (High technology district for cultural heritage), an open innovation eco-system of public/private subjects (University of Naples Federico II, Salerno, Suor Orsola Benincasa, Parthenope, SUN, CNR, CdC, SMEs).
    Web site: www.databenc.it/progetti/centri-storici/
  • Title: CHIS (Cultural Heritage Information System). PON R&C - National Operative Programme 2007-2013. Scientific coordinator: Francesco Bifulco. Study and prototyping of innovative ICT architecture (cloud, mobile and web based) that allows to provide smartness to a given context, to enhance the Italian cultural heritage in an innovative and sustainable way. Pertains to DATABENC (High technology District for cultural heritage), an open innovation eco-system of public/private subjects (University of Naples Federico II, Salerno, Suor Orsola Benincasa, Parthenope, SUN, CNR, CdC, SMEs).
    Web site: www.databenc.it/progetti/chis-cultural-heritage-information-system/
  • Title: W.IDE (Wine IDEntification) - Development and tuning of a device for the rapid identification and chemometric automatic DOC and DOCG wines of the Campania region and for the development, traceability and defense of regional wine industry. EU co-funded project - Campania POR FESR 2007/2013. Scientific coordinator: Isabella Maria De Clemente. Research protocols designed to authenticate and trace foods are generally based on the identification of chemicals, physical, and sensory factors which must be in a well-defined range for the food to be considered authentic or traceable. These ranges must have been previously measured in reference samples, which authenticity is documented. Wine is one of the most fraud prone foods; it is produced in many countries and it is sold all over the world. Therefore really precise regulations protect its authenticity both asking producers to keep an accurate documentation and by analyzing their chemical, physical and sensorial characteristics. The chemometric methods employed in the classification of drinks usually are based on the principal component analysis (PCA) and are subject to a subsequent classification as the linear discriminant analysis, or partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), which can be considered valid to assign the samples to a class of pre-selected data. The measuring system we propose could be used as a tool to certify when a wine belongs to a given type regardless of other investigations. This tool is not just a protection against frauds, but it could help to relieve, at least in part, producers from the current strict controls they have to endure and, at the same time, to further assure final consumers.

Libraries, labs and facilities

The Department of Economics, Management and Institutions includes six meeting rooms. It hosts two libraries: the Economic library (Economia Aziendale Library) and the Law library (Diritto dell'Economia-Capotorti Library). Both Libraries provide consultation, local loan, document delivery and handouts facilities. DEMI has also available a:

  • Computer laboratory -  LIDE (Laboratorio informatico Dipartimento Economia), equipped with 35 personal computer linked to the academic web network; on each computer it is installed the Office package and a security system (Sheriff) that deletes all files introduced by the users when the computer is turned off. LIDE also includes projection and audio facilities. Prof. Sergio Scippacercola is the coordinator of computer laboratory.
  • Chemical - Commodities Sciences Laboratory - The Chemical – Commodities Sciences laboratory has born as an unavoidable need felt on the territory from the Thirties, when the increase of the commercial exchanges in the Naples port made necessary an analytic control of all goods. In the sectors of agribusiness, textile, hydrocarbon, plastic material and innovative products, the Laboratory has been a landmark: firstly, for the Public Institutions, in order to improve the quality standards of the end products, in the selection of raw materials and in order to overcome the most difficult phases of the production process. In fact, in a more and more globalized and competitive market, where consumers are increasingly demanding, conscious and informed, it becomes compulsory, for their tutelage, to respect the regulations on the products composition and treatment in defense of the national production. The link among resources – production cycle – goods – ecosystem drove the attention of the Commodities Science towards the environmental aspect. Therefore, nowadays the subject is also interested not only the goods production, but also in the process that goes from the study, analysis and evaluation of the production and transformation resources and technologies, to the consequent implications on quality and on the environment. The DEMI Chemical – Commodities Sciences laboratory, located in the 5th Building of the Monte S. Angelo Complex, is renowned for its technical-scientific peculiarity, which differentiates it from a simple laboratory of analysis. In fact, the Commodities Sciences implement specific economic and technical tools that cannot be substituted in any way. The Laboratory is also a landmark for Professional Unions active in specific sectors, like veterinaries, biologists, pharmacists and chemists: for years, the Laboratory gives a training contribution to the students enrolled to Master and Advanced Courses of our University.
  • Marketing LAB - The MARKETING LAB is a research centre recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (D.Lgs. 297/99 - D.M. 593/2000). It is in charge at Department of Economics, Management, Institutions, University of Naples Federico II. Coordinator of Lab's activities is Professor Luigi Cantone. The MARKETING LAB pursues as main goal the development of specific competencies in marketing and strategic management fields through support, education and research activities. Furthermore, the MARKETING LAB supports the Master in Marketing & Service Management. More in detail, the MARKETING LAB carries out the following activities: development of research projects within the marketing and strategic management fields; development of the competences on marketing for both Bachelor and Master students; support for advanced education programs on management , as the Master in Marketing & Service Management and the elective courses "Marketing Innovation Trends"; development of business analysis and market research supporting strategic decisions of public and private organizations. The MARKETING LAB realizes research activity in order to identify and analyse market trends, new competitive dynamics, unstable consumer behaviours, business models innovation. The MARKETING LAB has become a point of reference for both Bachelor and Master students who want to develop skills and competences in the marketing and strategic management fields. Within this scope, the MARKETING LAB, leveraging on its human resources and structures, supports students in developing project works and participating in national and international awards; structures and realizes for its target of students elective courses – fully integrated with institutional Master courses – focusing on marketing and strategic management boundary fields. Moreover, the MARKETING LAB pursues the goal to be a system integrator supporting the creation of a continuous interpenetration between students' and companies worlds. Within this scope, it regularly puts in place seminars, workshops, recruiting activities, students assessments with the participation of managers from nationally and internationally renowned companies. The MARKETING LAB is a preferred interlocutor for organizations (both public and private) which aim to adopt and develop a managerial approach for marketing and strategic management decisions.

Third mission

The Department realized several initiatives in synergy with the principal actors operating in the territory, in order to favor the exchange between the academic and the business world. In particular, there were organized Laboratories of theory and empirical research on the following themes:

  • Laboratory on Cooperative Organizations;
  • Laboratory on the Territorial and Social Responsibility;
  • Laboratory of Vocational Guidance as Accountant and Business Consultant;
  • Laboratory of Economics and Management of Criminal business:
  • Laboratory of Marketing Innovation Trends.