Abstract:
Business organizations may expand internationally by replicating part of their value chain, such as products, prices, marketing and communication tools, organizational structures and stores design through the creation of a format. However, it is difficult for replicators to find the right format, to adjust it in order to adapt to local environments and to transfer knowledge abroad. To dicover these issues, I studied the organizational structure of Calzedonia, the firm leader of underwear apparel, involving interested offices with long interviews. I find that Calzedonia, after a period of exploration, proceeded in terms of replicating a format in a flexible manner, supporting an ongoing learning process aimed to adapt what is flexible to the market. The format, in fact, presents two fundamental characteristics: fixed features used everywhere without modifications and flexible ones able to adapt locally. Another finding is how Calzedonia uses the format in its internationalization strategy, through franchising network. I conclude the thesis with an overview of the future challenges just approached by the firm: US and China markets.
