Programma di Sviluppo Manageriale: a Reunion on the new frontiers of innovation, between global challenges, collaborative ecosystems, and new perspectives of value

The 2025 Reunion of the Programma di Sviluppo Manageriale (PSM) brought together alumni, SDA Faculty, and managers to reflect on how innovation lies at the heart of business practices and, more profoundly, the very meaning of management itself.
Under the title “L’impresa che innova: scenari, strategie e percorsi di innovazione” the event reaffirmed its role as a key moment for dialogue and continuous learning within the PSM community — a space where academic thinking and managerial experience come together to interpret ongoing transformations.

The day opened with remarks from Gianluca Meloni, Program Director, who reminded participants that the ability to innovate systematically is not just a competitive advantage, but a true prerequisite for thriving in ever-evolving contexts. This idea set the tone for the day: exploring how companies can nurture innovation across all its dimensions — strategic, organizational, relational, and cultural.

New competitive horizons: from the goods economy to the experience economy

In his address, Enzo Baglieri, Associate Dean for the Master Division and Professor of Practice of Operations, Technology Management, and Innovation, offered a broad and forward-looking perspective on global change.
In a world characterized by deglobalization trends, geopolitical disruptions, and technological acceleration, innovation is no longer merely a response to external challenges but a lever to redefine the very concept of value.

As Baglieri explained, contemporary enterprises no longer compete solely through the goods they produce but through the experiences and relationships that accompany their customers over time.
The “servitization” of business models, the integration of physical and digital, and the personalization of offerings have become key drivers of growth in an economy that values connection over ownership.

In this perspective, innovation means rethinking processes, supply chains, and design around a more direct and ongoing relationship with the market. “The space for innovation is infinite,” Baglieri concluded, “as long as we are willing to change perspective.”

Beyond corporate boundaries: ecosystems and relationships that generate innovation

Silvia Zamboni, Lecturer in Global Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Innovation and Technology Management, highlighted the importance of collaboration as a driver of innovation.
In a context where no organization can rely solely on its internal resources, the ability to build open ecosystems becomes essential.

As Zamboni underlined, innovation increasingly stems from a form of collective intelligence that engages suppliers, startups, universities, and customers — fueled by mutual trust, shared goals, and cultural openness.
This approach also transforms organizational roles: the Procurement function, for example, evolves from an administrative role to a strategic partner and “value orchestrator,” capable of integrating external expertise and enabling new forms of co-development.

The innovative enterprise, therefore, is not only the one that creates new products but also the one that builds generative relationships and draws strength from collaboration.

Innovation as a mindset: perspectives in dialogue

The afternoon roundtable — featuring managers from Toyota Financial Services, Fratelli Fantini, Tenacta Group, Amazon Web Services, Elettronica, and SAES Group — brought to the stage concrete experiences of business innovation.
A shared vision emerged: innovation means, above all, putting the customer at the center, maintaining a constant dialogue between the market and the company.

As the speakers emphasized, innovation is not an isolated event but a continuous process that requires listening, courage, and the ability to overcome internal resistance. Among the most dangerous traps is believing oneself to be “the best” and stopping listening.

A community that continues to innovate — and reinvent itself

The Reunion of the Programma di Sviluppo Manageriale once again proved to be a vibrant laboratory of ideas and connections, where training, experience, and discussion foster a new way of thinking about management.
The PSM continues to demonstrate that it is more than just a training program: it is a community that grows over time, capable of evolving alongside business challenges and promoting a culture of innovation grounded in responsibility and vision.

SDA Bocconi School of Management