MANAGEMENT
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
None
The exam is a written one and it covers all course topics referring to course materials.
There are two options to take the exam: i) taking two partial exams, respectively on course parts A and B at the end of each section in devoted dates that will be communicated when scheduled; ii) taking a "one shot" exam (summing up parts A and B) after the end of the course starting from June -July. Whatever the option, the final grade will be calculated as the average of the grades of part A and part B, provided that each partial grade is equal or above 18/30.
i)
The exam concerning Part A of the course includes three multiple choice questions, two open questions and an exercise aimed at testing comprehension of basic concepts and their application, both qualitative and quantitative, to all types of organizations. The exam concerning Part B of the course includes three multiple choice questions and four open questions aimed at testing comprehension and application of basic strategic management models
The two partial exams will last 45' each.
ii)
The "one shot" exam (part A + part B) includes six multiple choice questions, six open questions and an exercise aimed at testing what mentioned above for partial exams. It will last 80’.
From a technical and logistic point of view, exams in both options will take place in University classrooms using University PCs in IT labs. All necessary information will be provided in class and via e-learning.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course’s purpose is to make students understand the fundamentals of Business Administration, Management and Corporate Strategy, providing a comprehensive overview of goals, strategy, structure, management processes and performances of firms and other organizations in a double-fold perspective (i.e. both descriptive and problem-solving).
Specifically, the course is divided into two modules: A and B.
Module A provides an overview of the structure and functioning of firms and other economic organizations with a special focus on institutional goals; ownership and governance structures and processes; governance/strategic decisions; good governance principles; personnel; assets (tangible and intangible) & liabilities; economic viability conditions and main economic and financial KPIs; financial statements (P&L and balance sheet). The last part of this module deals with strategic decisions concerning dynamics of ownership and governance systems, organizational change, inter-firm alliances and core competences’ development.
Module B goes deep into Corporate Strategy including both internal and external/market analysis, strategic planning and execution as well as key strategic decisions such as cost leadership, differentiation, segmentation, vertical integration, outsourcing, diversification, internationalization, growth and downsizing.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, therefore, students will be able to master: 1) business/management jargon (terms/vocabulary); 2)
the basic concepts, models and tools to analyze structure, strategy, management systems and viability conditions of different economic organizations, and particularly of corporations; 3) fundamentals of economic/financial analysis, including P&L, balance sheet and main KPIs.
MODULE A (45 hours):
A) THE FUNDAMENTALS
• Course presentation. Management and Business Administration
• People and economic activity
• Firms, other organizations and economic specialization
B) THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF FIRMS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: AN OVERVIEW AND SOME DEEPER INSIGHTS
• Goals, structure, strategies and the environment
• Ownership structures; shareholders and stakeholders
• Governance structures and processes
• Good governance principles
• Business and functional areas
• Assets and liabilities (equity and debt)
C) ECONOMIC PERFORMANCES, VIABILITY CONDITIONS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
• Company’s performances, economic viability conditions, P&L, Balance Sheet
D) SOME KEY DECISIONS
• Ownership and governance structures and dynamics
• Organizational change
• Inter-company alliances
• Key resources and competences’ development
MODULE B (45 hours):
A) MISSION, VISION, STRATEGY
• Directions
• Strategic process
B) EXTERNAL (COMPETITIVE) ANALYSIS
• Task environment analysis
• Industry, market, business analysis
C) MARKET AND BUSINESS ANALYSIS: POSITIONING AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
• Competitive positioning
• Market structure and competition
• Bargaining power: suppliers and customers
• Identifying the key differentiators
D) INTERNAL ANALYSIS: RESOURCES AND COMPETENCES
• The importance of the internal analysis
• Corporate resource analysis and resource-based view
• Resources vs competences
• The value chain
• Benchmarking
• Resources, competences and competitive advantage
E) BUSINESS STRATEGIES
• Cost leadership
• Differentiation
• Focus
• Going beyond basic strategies
F) CORPORATE STRATEGIES
• Market penetration
• Vertical Integration (upstream/backward)
• Diversification
• Internationalization
• Growth vs Downsizing
See Contents section
Lectures, case discussions, seminars.
Only for Module A: practical exercises to understand and apply economic viability conditions as well as and fundamentals of financial statements, to be further developed in the Accounting course.
Textbooks (with indication of chapters to be studied) are reported in Leganto section. Other materials - such as slides, cases, etc. - will be made available in the e-learning space.
Office hours are indicated, and regularly updated, in professors’ homepages.