Entrepreneurial competencies and competitiveness: an empirical analysis in the small wine companies in Sicily

Several approaches in the economical literature have been suggested for the competitiveness analysis which are different depending on the aim of the analysis, on the level of the survey and on the analysis space-time structure (Buckley et al., 1988; Banterle, Carraresi, 2006). Regarding to the competitiveness of the company, a lot of studies show that the availability of tangible resources does not stand by itself a successful condition, however, it must be seen as a constellation of resources, capacity and expertise. These studies suggest the key role of competencies, considered as a source of strategic advantage, and whose identification and evaluation is a central issue of the survival and prosperity of businesses. These competencies should not be seen only as owned by entrepreneurs who performs several functions, as well as personal characteristics, intentions, motivations, and behaviours, related to the environment in which he exercises its competencies, which are able to orient the competitive dynamics of the firm (Horne et al., 1992, Stoner, 1987; Covin, Slevin, 1995; Man et al., 2002). The present study aims to demonstrate empirically the role of entrepreneurial competencies within the various administrative functions, finance, production, management, marketing, etc., on the competitive performance of Sicilian wine companies