Expansion of Vindima: vintage clothes around the world

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Written Assignment

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Expansion of Vindima: vintage clothes around the world

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Johannes Kepler University

Department of International Management

Altenberger Str. 69, 4040 Linz

Handed in: 6/12/2022

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Word count (without references): 2576

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Vindima is a company that offers the opportunity to travel through fashion. It sells second-hand clothes tested by professionals to obtain the best possible guarantee. This way the consumer will feel comfortable and satisfied. The firm was founded in Seville, a city located in the south of Spain. As we are based in southern Spain, we were thinking of expanding into the southern Italian market.

Politics and history of Italy

Italy is an ancient and diverse country located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. It has a rich cultural heritage and a long and complex history that has shaped its current landscape.

The Italian peninsula has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and Italian civilization has existed for more than three millennia. The country has had a major influence on the development of European culture, particularly in the areas of art, literature, philosophy, and music. In the Middle Ages, Italy was the center of the powerful Roman Catholic Church and the birthplace of the Renaissance, a period of great artistic and cultural achievements.

In the 19th century, Italy was unified under the rule of the House of Savoy, and in the 20th century, it became a major force in the politics and economy of Europe. During World War II, Italy was an Axis power and was occupied by the Allies. After the war, it became a founding member of the European Union and a leader in European integration.

Today, Italy is a democratic republic and an important member of the European Union. It is a major economic powerhouse and a popular tourist destination. With its unique geography, diverse culture, and captivating beauty, Italy remains a popular destination for travelers from around the world.

Italian politics is a complex and multi-faceted topic. It has a long history of regionalism and regional autonomy, as well as a strong tradition of the Catholic Church's involvement in politics. Italy is a parliamentary republic, and the government is composed of three branches: the executive, legislative and judicial. The President of the Republic is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic.

The Italian political system is based on the 1948 Constitution, which established a parliamentary republic, with a President of the Republic as head of state and a Prime Minister as head of government. The President is elected by an indirect electoral college, while the Prime Minister is appointed by the President with the approval of the Parliament. The government is composed of the Prime Minister and the ministers appointed by the Prime Minister.

The Italian political system is characterized by a multiparty system with numerous parties, both on the left and right. The main parties are the Democratic Party (PD), the Five Star Movement (M5S), and the

League (Lega). Other important parties include Forza Italia (FI), the Brothers of Italy (FdI), and the Free and Equal (LeU).

The Italian political system is dominated by coalitions of parties which must work together to pass legislation and form governments. This has resulted in a politics of compromise and consensus building, with strong emphasis on negotiation and mediation.

In recent years, Italian politics has also been marked by a series of corruption scandals and growing dissatisfaction with the performance of the government. This has led to increasing levels of voter apathy and a growing trend of populism.

Culture of Italy

Italian culture has been shaped by the unique combination of a variety of influences, including the country’s geography, its historical context, its social and political dynamics, and the numerous ethnic and religious groups that reside in the region. Groups such as Italians, Greeks, Jews, Muslims, and immigrants from other parts of Europe and the world. This has resulted in a wide range of cultural influences and experiences, from music to art and cuisine. It includes the influence of the Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical periods, which have led to the development of various forms of art, literature, and music.

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Figure 1- Comparison table of Italy and Spain, (Hofstede Insights, 2021a)

Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory describes the effects of a society's culture on the values of its members, and how these values relate to behavior, using a structure derived from factor analysis. These values are reflected in the way people interact with each other, in their beliefs, and in their behavior. The framework consists of six dimensions, which we are now going to look at. (Hofstede, 2011)

First dimension is Power distance. It is related to the different solutions to the basic problem of human inequality. Italy has a score of 50, which means that its hierarchy involves an inequality of roles, established by convenience. (Hofstede, 2011)

Individualism is associated with the integration of individuals into primary groups. In this dimension Italy has a score of 76, so we can say that it has an individualistic culture, especially in the large cities of the north. In contrast to the north, southern Italy has a less individualistic and more family-oriented culture. (Hofstede, 2011)

Masculinity versus femininity, explains the division of emotional roles between women and men. with a score of 70 Italy is a competitive society that seeks success. (Hofstede, 2011)

Italy's second highest score is Uncertainty avoidance, which explains the level of stress that an unexpected situation may cause. Italians feel more comfortable in situations that they consider safe and that they can foresee or control. To avoid these situations, they tend to be very planned. Analyzing this dimension and the previous one, Italians can carry a heavy load and a lot of pressure. (Hofstede, 2011)

The Long-term orientation dimension analyzes the relationship that society has with its past, how it faces the present and how it sees the future. Although Italy is a country of many traditions, it scores high. This means that it is a pragmatic culture. They have a high capacity to adapt to new situations and are very aware of the changing future. (Hofstede, 2011)

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