Shared backroom economies

Many new ventures carry high overheads because of their small scale, or they fail to invest in financial and operational systems that are important for their effective working. It is important for ventures to find ways of sharing these overheads, or access part time specialists, or download systems (such as web designs and technologies) that are becoming freely available. One model is the consortia developed by the small Italian firms in the Third Italy. CNA, the umbrella body for artisan producers, provides collective services such as booking, accounting, legal advice, and even political representation to its federated artisans.