Creativity and Social Capital: The Pillars of Venice’s Success in the New European Bauhaus Programme
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Thank you for the invitation to review this article. The authors discuss an interesting topic regarding the social innovation initiatives and the importance of creativity, in the context of promoting traditional craft firms. In the next section, please find my comments and recommendations:
1. The title of the article should be more clearly formulated and correlated with the research effort conducted by the authors. In the present form, it seems to be quite vague.
2. The abstract of the article should include the methodological details: research design, sample etc. Also, the authors should refer to research limits and future research.
3. I would recommend that the authors use a cautious language, since their approach is purely qualitative (e.g., The article confirm...).
4. In the introduction section (rows 61-62), a part of the text is not in English. I would advice the authors to proofread the article.
5. The authors should also present the period of data collection and potential incentives for participants (if this was the case).
6. I think that the authors should insert a blank row before the case study titles (e.g., AltroLato (OtherSide) (2018) - row 438).
7. The research design argumentation could be improved by adding more methodological references.
8. The paper should also contain the limits and future research. The authors could add a section at the and of the paper.
Good luck!
Author Response
Dear Reviewer, thank you for your time and attention. We believe that your suggestions helped us to improve the submitted work. Below are all the revisions we have made in the light of your suggestions:
1. The title of the article should be more clearly formulated and correlated with the research effort conducted by the authors. In the present form, it seems to be quite vague.
- WE PROPOSED A NEW TITLE, MORE CLEAR AND DIRECT WITH RESPECT TO RESULTS PRESENTED IN THE PAPER
2. The abstract of the article should include the methodological details: research design, sample etc. Also, the authors should refer to research limits and future research.
- WE INCLUDED THE MISSING PARTS IN THE ABSTRACT
3. I would recommend that the authors use a cautious language, since their approach is purely qualitative (e.g., The article confirm...).
- DONE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECTION DEDICATED TO RESULTS&DISCUSSION
4. In the introduction section (rows 61-62), a part of the text is not in English. I would advice the authors to proofread the article.
- DONE
5. The authors should also present the period of data collection and potential incentives for participants (if this was the case).
- WE HAVE INDICATED THE PERIOD OF DATA COLLECTION. WE DID NOT INDICATE INCENTIVES FOR PARTICIPANTS BECAUSE THEY WERE ABSENT
6. I think that the authors should insert a blank row before the case study titles (e.g., AltroLato (OtherSide) (2018) - row 438).
- DONE
7. The research design argumentation could be improved by adding more methodological references.
- WE ADDED ONE MORE REFERENCE AND WE PREFERRED TO FOCUS THE REVIEW ON EXPLAINING THE POTENTIAL LIMITATIONS OF OUR METHODOLOGICAL CHOICES
8. The paper should also contain the limits and future research. The authors could add a section at the and of the paper.
- DONE, WE INSERT THEM IN THE FINAL PART OF THE CONCLUSIONS
We hope we used your suggestions appropriately.
Thank you again for you cooperation.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Overall, a well written paper. Please consider the comments below to improve the quality of your work!
In the introduction the topic is introduced to the reader and definitions are provided. However, it may be considered better not to start with the actual question to be answered but by more general information narrowing it down to more specific (your question). In this way you will give a background first and explain the rationale and then you will add your contribution and what the aim of the work is.
The paper justifies the selection of Venice as the main ‘’topic’’ of interest and the research gap is highlighted showing the actual contribution of this study. The literature sets the scene for the empirical analysis and there is evidence of critical evaluation, comparison of different views and integration. In the research setting part, the writing style is narrative and, in some cases, could be considered as informal eg lines 154, 159, 168.
In the research design, the steps followed are described in detail and the selection of multiple case study method is justified. You could potentially state how other studies have coped with similar topics to reinforce your selection. The sampling technique used for selecting the interviewees has been mentioned but the disadvantages and bias associated to it has to be stated. Moreover, how did you ensure validity and reliability? Where ethical issues considered? Please state that in your work.
The case studies are presented and analysed in an adequate manner and there is effective use of tables. It is very good that you include indicative phrases mentioned by the interviewees to further support your arguments. You discuss the findings using literature and you explain where possible answers may be attributed to.
In the conclusion, the main highlights of your research are presented along with potential implications. However, the limitations of the study have not been acknowledged and further research is implied.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
thank you for your time and attention. We believe that your suggestions helped us to improve the submitted work. Below you can find all the revisions we have made in the light of your suggestions:
1) Overall, a well written paper. Please consider the comments below to improve the quality of your work!
- THANK YOU!
2) In the introduction the topic is introduced to the reader and definitions are provided. However, it may be considered better not to start with the actual question to be answered but by more general information narrowing it down to more specific (your question). In this way you will give a background first and explain the rationale and then you will add your contribution and what the aim of the work is.
- WE MOVED THE PART DEDICATED TO THE RESEARCH QUESTION TO THE END OF SECTION 1
3) The paper justifies the selection of Venice as the main ‘’topic’’ of interest and the research gap is highlighted showing the actual contribution of this study. The literature sets the scene for the empirical analysis and there is evidence of critical evaluation, comparison of different views and integration. In the research setting part, the writing style is narrative and, in some cases, could be considered as informal eg lines 154, 159, 168.
- DONE, WE CHANGED THE FIRST PART OF SECTION 2 AND OTHER PARTS IN THE TEXT
In the research design, the steps followed are described in detail and the selection of multiple case study method is justified. You could potentially state how other studies have coped with similar topics to reinforce your selection. The sampling technique used for selecting the interviewees has been mentioned but the disadvantages and bias associated to it has to be stated. Moreover, how did you ensure validity and reliability? Where ethical issues considered? Please state that in your work.
- WE INCLUDED A PART HIGHLIGHTING THE LIMITS (BUT ALSO MOTIVATIONS) OF THIS METHODOLOGICAL CHOICE
The case studies are presented and analysed in an adequate manner and there is effective use of tables. It is very good that you include indicative phrases mentioned by the interviewees to further support your arguments. You discuss the findings using literature and you explain where possible answers may be attributed to.
- DONE
In the conclusion, the main highlights of your research are presented along with potential implications. However, the limitations of the study have not been acknowledged and further research is implied.
- WE INSERT LIMITS AND NEW RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FINAL PART OF THE CONCLUSIONS
We hope we used your suggestions appropriately.
Thank you again for you cooperation.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
