MANAGEMENT
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
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The exam takes place in written form and it is based on the topics discussed in class and dealt with in reference materials (see next sections).
The exam can be taken in two ways: i) by taking two partial tests, respectively on part A and part B during the course delivery; in this case the assessment of part A will be based for 30% on the assessment of the assignments and for 70% s on the written exam;
ii) in a single solution (part A and part B together) for the exam sessions at the end of the course starting from the following January
In any case, the final grade will be calculated as the average of the two partial grades received for the two modules; both grades must be equal or above 18/30.
The exam on module A lasts one hour and consists of three open questions and an exercise. Both of them are aimed at assessing students’ knowledge of fundamentals of management as well as their application, qualitative and quantitative, to firms and other economic organizations.
The exam on module B also lasts one hour and consists of eight questions, some of which may contain exercises and require graphic representations. The final goal is to assess students’ knowledge about corporate strategy and related models, along with their application.
If, due to the health restrictions related to access to the site, it will not be possible to take the exams in attendance, the teachers will communicate the methods by which the remote exams will be carried out, with the support of the e-learning platform.
The course’s goal is to make students understand the fundamentals of Business Administration, Management and Corporate Strategy, providing a comprehensive overview of structure, processes and results and strategic choices of firms and other organizations in a double-fold perspective (i.e. both descriptive and problem-solving).
At the end of the course, therefore, students should have learned the basic concepts of business administration as well as models and tools to describe structure, strategy and management of the different organizations involved in economic activities, with a specific focus on firms.
Specifically, the course is divided into two modules: A and B.
Module A provides an overview of the structure and functioning of firms ( with hints to other economic organizations) with a special focus on institutional goals; ownership and governance structures and processes; governance decisions; functional and business areas and related key decisions; personnel; assets & liabilities; principles of economic viability. the representation of the company results in the financial statements, some key decisions regarding institutional structures, organizational structures, company aggregates, assets.
Module B is focused on Corporate Strategy including both internal and external analysis, strategy formulation and execution as well as strategic decisions such as vertical cost leadership, differentiation, segmentation, integration, outsourcing, diversification, internationalization, growth and downsizing.
EXPECTED LEARNING RESULTS
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. know the terminology proper to the economic-business disciplines
2. know the models of representation of the structure, strategy, management and conditions of existence of the various institutions that carry out economic activity, and in particular of companies
3. know the basic concepts of economics and acquire the essential elements of the balance sheet model
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
• Structure, environment and strategies
• Ownership and governance
• Governance structures and processes
• Economic activity and the variety of operations
• Economic activity and strategic decisions
• Assets and liabilities
C) THE RESULTS OF THE COMPANIES, THE ECONOMICITY PRINCIPLE AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT MODEL
• The results of the companies, the representation of the economy and the balance sheet model. Operating income and income statement; working capital and balance sheet
D) SOME KEY BUSINESS DECISIONS
• The institutional structure choices
• The choices of organization
• The choices of intercompany extension and the formation of aggregates
• The choices of formation and development of the capital
MODULE B (45 hours):
A) THE STRATEGIC ORIENTATION
• The need for a strategic identity
• The process of defining the strategy
B) EXTERNAL ANALYSIS
• Overall environmental analysis
• Industry, market, business analysis
• Porter’s five forces analysis
• Identifying the key competitive factors
C) INTERNAL ANALYSIS
• Corporate resource analysis and resource based view
• Resources vs competences
• The value chain
D) BUSINESS STRATEGIES
• Cost leadership
• Differentiation
• Focus
• Beyond basic strategies
E) CORPORATE STRATEGIES
• Market penetration
• Vertical Integration (upstream/backward)
• Diversification
• Internationalization
• Growth vs Downsizing
Students will find the analytical program in the elearning platform together with the lecture calendar
30 hours front lessons: on line with:
- Lectures,
- case discussions,
- seminars
Classroom lessons are supported by the slides. By discussing cases and seminars on specific topics, the teacher stimulates the active and critical participation of students during the lessons.
30 hours with remote lessons in synchronous mode
30 hours online sessions, for each online session of part A there is an assignment for the verification of learning. The assignment can consist of:
- open questions
- exercises
- business cases
The assignments must be delivered at the deadlines communicated in the course calendar.
The assignments will be evaluated for the students who deliver them within the deadlines.
Exercises in calssroom aimed at applying the basic concepts of economics and financial statements that will be developed during the course.
Office hours are indicated, and regularly updated, in professors’ homepages.. It’s possible to make an appointment by e-mail