Newsletter n. 20/2017, September / October - Editorial

A new season for Italian corporateism

by Alberto Pastore

Care/i colleghi,

as you know, about a year ago a process was launched aimed at redefining the structure and methods of collaboration between the Scientific Societies of the company area, carried out by a Commission constituted by the presidents of the 7 SISR, ADEIMF, ASSIOA, AISME). The design phase has been completed and shared with the Boards of the various companies and will shortly lead, where the relevant Shareholders' Meetings approve it, to the revision of the statutes of the companies mentioned and the implementation of the new model. The project is presented in detail in the document published on the SIMA website. I think it is appropriate and useful to summarize below the rationale, the objectives, the solutions identified, the operational implications, the timing of the related activities.

A) Introduction

The historical phase we are experiencing is characterized by great discontinuities and the system of Italian academic corporateism is called upon to provide its associates, especially the younger ones, with concrete collective support to safeguard their interests and to favor the occurrence of the conditions suitable for better conduct of their business. The demand for an economic-corporate culture latu sensu is growing among all the reference interlocutors, be they students, companies, institutions, so it is necessary to equip oneself to satisfy it adequately. We believe that some current and prospective conditions of the national academic context may jeopardize the tendential ability to face these challenges. Hence the need to define a new model of collaboration between scientific societies aimed at maximizing our effectiveness.

B) Strategic objectives of the aggregate model

1. Specify and affirm the scientific and cultural peculiarities of business disciplines
2. Exercise a strong and unambiguous dialogue with the reference institutions (the Ministry and Anvur in primis)
3. Enhance the elements of a common identity dimension (company area) and at the same time strengthen the elements of a specific identity dimension (disciplinary sectors)
4. Maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the system of scientific societies in the corporate area, through a rational division of roles and tasks between common level and specific level
5. Integrate and rationalize the associative system, increase the value offer to associates and simplify the associative landscape
6. Create the conditions for the Italian academic corporate system to maximize the creation of value for society and the economy. As a result of the above, the scientific companies of the corporate area have identified some areas of priority action, such as: (i) the identification of organizational solutions, within the CUN and Anvur, aimed at enhancing the specificities of the economic-company area; (ii) the revision of the didactic regulations of the economic area, in order to enhance the business component; (iii) the definition of a basket of common assets.

C) The articulation of activities at a common (AIDEA) or specific (sector company) level

The logic that allows you to trace the perimeter of common activities, for the benefit of all, is inspired by efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, activities carried out at a common level will be those in which: the size of the membership base is relevant in terms of the expected final result (for example, relationship activities with the Institutions); the common level gives greater balance and reliability to the results (e.g. accreditations, rankings); the common level allows relevant synergies and / or avoids overlapping (for example, didactic school). At the specific level of companies in the sector, activities of a scientific nature are expressed in particular, such as the organization of conferences and workshops, the management of journals, the promotion of research groups and projects, partnerships with scientific societies or international conferences , the organization of research methodology schools. Furthermore, at a specific level, relations with the associative base, with the territory, with the productive world develop. All other activities not expressly referred to the common level are to be referred to the specific level.

D) Members

The membership bases of the Sector Companies and the common level (the new AIDEA) coincide. The sector companies acquire the shareholders, who also automatically become shareholders of the new AIDEA, thus being able to benefit from the common activities. In this way, moreover, the effective and proportional representativeness of all scientific sectors is guaranteed at the common level.

E) The governance of the "New AIDEA"

From the SIMA perspective, all of the above can be shared also in light of the fact that in the new AIDEA the role of SIMA and P / 08 will be very relevant. In fact, the new governance is inspired by two fundamental principles:

1. Strong integration with leading companies in the sector
2. The fair representation of the scientific sectors Therefore, the Board of Directors of the Nuova AIDEA will be composed of 17 members, of which:

• 7 members designated by the reference companies of each sector in the persons of the Presidents of all the sector companies: 2 members P / 08 (the Presidents of SIMA and SIM), 2 members P / 07, 1 member P / 10, 1 member P / 11, 1 member P / 13).
• 10 members elected by the shareholders (coincidence based on the association between sector companies and common level), divided by sector in relation to the size of the MIUR staff: 4 members P / 07, 3 members P / 08, 2 members P / 11-P / 09, 1 member P / 10.

It should be noted that the number of Directors of the P / 08 goes from the 3 currently present in the AIDEA Council to the 5 foreseen by the new Statute of the new AIDEA . The President will be appointed by the Council from among the elected Directors.

G) Path for the approval and implementation of the new model

The implementation of the aggregate model provides for the modification of the statutes of all the scientific societies involved. AIDEA proceeded in this sense at the Assembly held on 15 September. The other Scientific Societies will address the issue all together during a one-day event to be held on 6 December in Rome and in which:

• The Sector Scientific Societies will amend their Statutes to incorporate the guidelines of the so-called "aggregate model"
• The AIDEA members, who by virtue of the new setting coincide with the sum of the members of the Sector Companies, will elect the Bodies of the new AIDEA
• Our business community will meet the institutions as part of a workshop on the role of business disciplines in the development of society and the economy. The Minister of Economic Development, the Minister of Education, University and Research, the President of Anvur will be invited.

The new structure will be operational from 1 January 2018.

As SIMA we have carried out this project with conviction, in concert with SIM, believing that the new model can:

1. strongly favor the pursuit of the strategic objectives reported in point B)
2. strengthen the role and position of our scientific sector within the company area.

After approval by all the Shareholders' Meetings, from 1 January 2018 the collaboration between the Scientific Societies of the corporate area will be regulated according to the principles of the so-called "Aggregate Model".

Trusting that you share the meaning and value of this important initiative, I send you my best regards.

Alberto Pastore