Il global sourcing come opportunità di innovazione: un’analisi evolutiva

Purpose of the study. This paper aims at providing some conceptual insights and an evolutionary interpretation of global sourcing management, starting from a literature review, mainly on international basis.\udMethodology. The paper is fundamentally theoretical and propose a systemic review of the extant literature on the proposed subject; it presents a few MNC case histories and a couple of conceptual frameworks that allow an easier comprehension of the strategic evolution-process of global sourcing .\udFindings. The main result is to demonstrate how innovation is becoming a more and more important motive instead of the mere low-cost research for inputs.\udResearch limits. The paper is only the first step of a further research, aimed at surveying companies, investigating on their global sourcing decision process. The paper is mainly theoretical and literature review oriented.\udPractical implications. The paper allows managers and consultants to give an interpretation of the state-of-the-art of their purchasing function understanding it with more clear awareness in its strategic and innovative perspective.\udOriginality of the study. The paper provides the reader with a six-stage evolutionary paradigm of the supply management function, allowing an interesting interpretation of global sourcing