MANAGEMENT
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
None
The exam is written and it covers all course topics dealt with in class and in course materials. The exam is "one shot" (i.e. it sums up the three parts related to modules A, B and C) and it will take place after the end of the course in sessions starting from June, whose dates will be communicated as soon as they are defined There will be no mid-semester exams. The final grade will be calculated as the average of the two partial grades of i) parts (A+C) and ii) part B of the exam, provided that each partial grade is equal or above 18/30. The exam part concerning Modules A and C of the course includes three multiple choice questions, two open questions and an exercise, all aimed at testing comprehension of basic concepts and their application, both qualitative and quantitative, to firms and to other types of organizations. The exam part concerning Module 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 exam will last 80 minutes (parts A and C + part B). From a technical and logistic point of view, all exams will take place in University classrooms in "pen and paper" mode. All necessary information will be provided in class and via e-learning. In case a different mode should be adopted (NOT changing the exam structure), this will be communicated in due course. Besides, during the course it will be possible for students to make optional activities (e.g. social media challenges or short papers to rework and comment testimonials, articles and, generally speaking, contents presented and discussed during the course) that will receive 0 to 5 bonus points and that are aimed at further applying course concepts to concrete cases as well as testing technical contents’ communication and presentation skills. Detailed information will be provided when the course starts.
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 tree modules: A, B and C. Module A provides an overview of the structure and functioning of firms and other economic organizations with a special focus on activities, personnel, tangible and intangible resources, assets & liabilities. strategic positioning and organizational structures and mechanisms, governance structures and processes, key people. 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. Module C deals with strategic decisions concerning design and change of ownership, governance and organizational structures, as well as with dynamic relations between good governance, good management and performances. Final sessions are dedicated to firms and other organizations’ viability conditions, to several types of performances (economic and non-economic) and to firms’ financial statements (P&L and balance sheet) that will be further developed in the Accounting course in the following academic year. The course is taught by two professors, one for modules A & C, one for module B As to 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.
COURSE INTRODUCTION - MODULES A, B and C (2 hours) • Course introduction. Gials, ambitions and tools MODULE A (24 hours): I) THE FUNDAMENTALS • Course presentation. Management and Business Administration • People and economic activity • Firms, other organizations and inter-organizational alliances II) THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF FIRMS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: AN OVERVIEW AND SOME DEEPER INSIGHTS • A framework to analyze firms and other organizations: the management system, the governance system and performances • The environment and its relevance and impact • Management activities: types and interrelations • Governance structures and mechanisms • Personnel • Resources, assets and liabilities • Strategic positioning and organizational structures and mechanisms MODULE B (44 hours): I) MISSION, VISION, STRATEGY • Directions • Strategic process II) EXTERNAL (COMPETITIVE) ANALYSIS • Task environment analysis • Industry, market, business analysis III) MARKET AND BUSINESS ANALYSIS: POSITIONING AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE • Competitive positioning • Market structure and competition • Bargaining power: suppliers and customers • Identifying the key differentiators IV) 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 V) BUSINESS STRATEGIES • Cost leadership • Differentiation • Focus • Going beyond basic strategies VI) CORPORATE STRATEGIES • Market penetration • Vertical Integration (upstream/backward) • Diversification • Internationalization • Growth vs Downsizing Module C (20 hours): I) GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES • Ownership and governance structures and dynamics • Organizational change • Dynamics relation between good governance and good management, and their impact on performances II) ECONOMIC PERFORMANCES, VIABILITY CONDITIONS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS • Economic and non-economic performances and viability conditions of firms and other organizations • Firms’ financial statements: P&L and Balance sheet
See contents section
Lectures, business case discussions, testimonials featuring managers and entrepreneurs. Practical exercises: i) to apply course concepts and, for module C, to build simplified financial statements; ii) to discuss optional activities (see next section)
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.