Change management as thriving force in the creation of Sustainable Value in the Italian SMEs: the case of MEP S.p.a.

Abstract

Organizations today face high levels of uncertainty and complexity within the environment they operate in. Not only have the old ways of doing business become obsolete, shaped by the increasing competition, but the deep transformations the world is undergoing dictate the urgency for organizations to respond to new needs. Companies therefore have to bear the weight of two primary challenges: adapting to the new market requirements by reinventing, transforming and changing their old ways, and becoming active players with regards to the issues of scarcity of resources, waste disposal, polluting emissions as well as social inequality, well-being and safety. Darwin’s “Survival of the fittest” theory fully applies to today’s industrial scene, as well. Firm’s inertia and failure to anticipate or respond to change have become errors very difficult to recover from. The thesis intents to portray an accurate picture of the new challenges the Italian international SMEs face, and describe the successful reaction of such key actors through a deeper understanding of the new managerial requirements and available change management instruments. To do so, the case of M.E.P. S.p.A. is taken into consideration and analyzed.