With the original features of the many historical, industrial and human events marking the life of CIFA, the company makes a highly interesting case study. The steps along its path to technological evolution, reflected in both its products and processes, as well as the unusual solutions adopted at corporate level, are indeed unique within the international business panorama. >From the American seed, germinated by the company's founder Carlo Ausenda from 1928, to the "Chinese century" which dawned with its acquisition by Zoomlion, the his-tory of CIFA presents a number of "anomalies" which were very probably the secret to its success. Here, the term anomaly loses its negative connotations to describe these original and unique features. Because a company in which suppliers become owners, engineers get their hands dirty in the workshop, workers compel the management to create new products, and outsourcing becomes a business model in an era dominated by the concept of vertical integration, is a truly unconventional company. The acquisition by Zoomlion in 2008 falls perfectly within this unconventional and original image, given that CIFA was in excellent economic, financial and strategic health when it was sold. The subsequent process of tech-nical and cultural contamination and integration between the purchaser and the purchased confirms CIFA's example as a best practice. For its ability to generate new competitive ad-vantages and distinctive, unique skills, blending and enhancing Italian and Chinese profes-sional values, cultures and experiences. A winning example.

Cifa. The winning anomaly. From the American seed to the Chinese century

SPIGARELLI, Francesca
2013-01-01

Abstract

With the original features of the many historical, industrial and human events marking the life of CIFA, the company makes a highly interesting case study. The steps along its path to technological evolution, reflected in both its products and processes, as well as the unusual solutions adopted at corporate level, are indeed unique within the international business panorama. >From the American seed, germinated by the company's founder Carlo Ausenda from 1928, to the "Chinese century" which dawned with its acquisition by Zoomlion, the his-tory of CIFA presents a number of "anomalies" which were very probably the secret to its success. Here, the term anomaly loses its negative connotations to describe these original and unique features. Because a company in which suppliers become owners, engineers get their hands dirty in the workshop, workers compel the management to create new products, and outsourcing becomes a business model in an era dominated by the concept of vertical integration, is a truly unconventional company. The acquisition by Zoomlion in 2008 falls perfectly within this unconventional and original image, given that CIFA was in excellent economic, financial and strategic health when it was sold. The subsequent process of tech-nical and cultural contamination and integration between the purchaser and the purchased confirms CIFA's example as a best practice. For its ability to generate new competitive ad-vantages and distinctive, unique skills, blending and enhancing Italian and Chinese profes-sional values, cultures and experiences. A winning example.
2013
9788848129558
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11393/182018
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