Italian customers and suppliers expect each other to be flexible. When conditions change — and in Italy, they change often — both parties are expected to adapt. A supplier who can accommodate a last-minute change, modify specifications, or find a creative workaround for a problem is far more valued than one who offers perfect compliance with the original plan but cannot deviate from it.
This flexibility works both ways: customers are expected to show understanding when suppliers hit difficulties. The Italian concept of arrangiarsi — finding a way, making it work — is central. Commitments are serious, but they are understood as good-faith intentions within a relationship, subject to adjustment when reality requires it. The test is not perfect execution but honest communication and collaborative problem-solving.
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