The adoption of laser technology in Italian Art restoration firms: the role of suppliers and clients

Despite the importance of the art restoration sector in Italy, as well as in many other European countries, this industry has often been ignored by management studies. For these reasons this study focused on Italian art restoration firms, with particular reference to their adoption of innovative technologies such as laser technology. The literature has widely emphasized the influence of external agents in the processes of adopting new technologies, above all in the case of small or medium-sized firms, and for those particularly linked to external forces such as suppliers and clients due to economic, regulatory and structural reasons. The study, supported by a qualitative analysis and a comparison with previously acquired quantitative data, contributes to a more comprehensive description of the art restoration sector and, analysing the role of suppliers and clients, completes the adoption model of technology innovation developed in previous research on laser technology (Verbano, Venturini, Nosella, Petroni, 2008). The results identify the factors related to restoration firms, suppliers and clients that influence the adoption of laser and outline some suggestions to encourage its adoption in the particularly complex sector of art conservation.