Abstract

A protagonist of innovation, the municipality of Milan was able to construct an important telephone network among its offices thanks to close collaboration between local political groups and the owners of the telephone companies. The introduction of the telephone in Milan was encouraged by the need to rationalize the fire alarm system, and by the involvement in the city's first telephone company of leading local businessmen, some of whom sat on the municipal council. The delay in introducing the typewriter was due to the insignificant reductions that it brought in procedure times and personnel. Its introduction coincided with the major reorganization of offices, their personnel, and their working methods.