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Syllabus

EN IT

Learning Objectives

The objective of the course is to provide students with the conceptual, theoretical and applied foundations of contemporary management, fostering the ability to connect theory and practice in the analysis of business cases, managerial problems and organisational change processes.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- understand the meaning of management and the main managerial functions: planning, organising, leading and controlling;
- understand the role of managers in decision-making, organisational and strategic processes;
- analyse organisations as open systems, considering the internal environment, the external environment, stakeholders, culture, values and inter-organisational relationships;
- recognise and discuss the main challenges of contemporary management, including complexity, innovation, digital transformation, responsibility, sustainability, diversity and globalisation;
- distinguish and connect concepts such as strategy, business model, planning, value creation and competitive advantage;
- apply management models and tools to the analysis of real or simulated cases;
- interpret organisational problems by connecting people, organisational structure, networks, systems, strategy and change;
- formulate critical reflections and proposals consistent with the analysis carried out;
- strengthen critical thinking, communication, collaboration and autonomous learning skills.

Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are required. A basic knowledge of the main business and economic concepts is nevertheless useful.

Program

The course addresses the main themes of contemporary management, combining theoretical foundations, management tools and applications to business cases and organisational problems. The course is built around the idea that organisations should be understood as open systems, embedded in complex environments and characterised by relationships with multiple stakeholders, strategic challenges, technological transformations, social and environmental pressures and continuous change processes. The modules progressively introduce concepts and tools to understand the role of managers, managerial functions, decision-making processes, strategy, organisational structure, people management, the value chain, innovation, digital transformation, performance and impact.

Module 1 - Foundations of Contemporary Management
The first module introduces management as both a practice and a discipline. It analyses the role of managers, the different managerial levels and the main managerial functions: planning, organising, leading and controlling. The module also addresses effectiveness, efficiency, performance, resources, value creation and managerial responsibility. The objective is to provide students with a basic language to understand how managers contribute to the functioning of organisations and to the achievement of organisational goals.

Module 2 - Organisations as Open Systems
The second module analyses organisations as open systems embedded in complex and evolving environments. It considers the relationships between the organisation and its environment, distinguishing between the internal environment, the task environment and the general environment. The module introduces stakeholders, external pressures, interdependencies, uncertainty and systems thinking. The objective is to help students understand that managerial decisions do not take place in isolation, but are influenced by actors, constraints, opportunities and contextual dynamics.

Module 3 - People, Culture and Organisational Behaviour
The third module focuses on the human dimension of management. Topics include leadership, motivation, empowerment, trust, values, organisational culture, diversity, inclusion, communication and organisational behaviour. The module shows how people, culture and internal relationships influence decisions, collaboration, innovation, performance and the organisation's ability to deal with change.

Module 4 - Organisational Structure, Governance Structure, Networks and Supply Chains
The fourth module focuses on how organisations distribute responsibilities, make decisions, coordinate activities and manage internal and external relationships. Topics include organisational structure, governance structure, roles, accountability, coordination mechanisms, stakeholders, networks, supply chains and the value chain. The module helps students understand how organisational choices and inter-organisational relationships influence firms' ability to create value, respond to external pressures and manage risks, performance and impacts.

Module 5 - Strategy, Business Model and Value Creation
The fifth module addresses strategy, planning, business models and value creation. Students analyse the strategic management process, competitive positioning, competitive advantage, the business model and the relationship between value creation, value delivery and value capture. The module introduces strategic analysis tools and reflections on how firms define goals, priorities, managerial choices and development paths in dynamic contexts.

Module 6 - Innovation, Change, Scenario Development and Redesign
The sixth module addresses innovation, digital transformation, organisational change and redesign. It considers different forms of innovation, including product, process, organisational and business model innovation. The module also introduces the connection between case analysis, scenario development, redesign proposals, communication of results and reflection on performance, impacts, risks and managerial implications. The objective is to guide students in connecting the course content in an integrated reading of complex managerial problems.

Books

Jones, G. R. & George, J. M. Contemporary Management. McGraw Hill, latest available edition.

The adopted textbook provides the core foundations of contemporary management. Additional teaching materials, slides, cases and supplementary readings are used to explore applied topics, recent managerial challenges and analysis activities developed during the course.

Bibliography

Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120.
Bogers, M., Chesbrough, H., & Moedas, C. (2018). Open Innovation: Research, Practices, and Policies. California Management Review, 60(2), 5-16.
Cennamo, C., Dagnino, G. B., Di Minin, A., & Lanzolla, G. (2020). Managing digital transformation: Scope of transformation and modalities of value co-generation and delivery. California Management Review, 62(4), 5-16.
Johnson, M. W., Christensen, C. M., & Kagermann, H. (2008). Reinventing your business model. Harvard Business Review, 86(12), 50-59.
Mintzberg, H. (1994). The fall and rise of strategic planning. Harvard Business Review, 72(1), 107-114.
Porter, M. E. (1996). What is strategy? Harvard Business Review, 74(6), 61-78.
Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2006). Strategy and society: The link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility. Harvard Business Review, 84(12), 78-92.
Van der Byl, C. A., & Slawinski, N. (2015). Embracing tensions in corporate sustainability: A review of research from win-wins and trade-offs to paradoxes and beyond. Organization & Environment, 28(1), 54-79.

Teaching methods

The course uses a combination of teaching methods aimed at supporting the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and the development of applied skills. Activities include lectures, teaching cases, guided discussions, exercises, peer feedback and role-play activities, where applicable.

Teaching cases are used, where consistent with the objectives of the different modules, to connect theory and practice, discuss complex managerial decisions and analyse strategic, organisational and systemic tensions.

Collaborative learning is integrated into specific course activities to promote active participation, peer exchange, co-construction of knowledge and progressive application of the course content.

Exam Rules

The assessment system is designed to verify the acquisition of the expected learning outcomes of the course. Assessment combines an individual written examination, an assignment/project or case analysis, and a component related to active participation / learning engagement.

The final grade is composed as follows:
- individual written examination: 50% of the final grade;
- assignment/project or case analysis: 40% of the final grade;
- active participation / learning engagement: 10% of the final grade.

1. Individual Written Examination - 50% of the final grade
The individual written examination consists of three open-ended questions to be completed in 1 hour. The questions are formulated according to Bloom's Taxonomy and assess three progressive levels of learning:
1. knowledge and understanding of fundamental concepts;
2. explanation, connection and application of concepts to examples, cases or managerial situations;
3. critical analysis and autonomous reflection on problems, decisions or business cases.
The written examination assesses knowledge of the course content, the correct use of management concepts and tools, the quality of the analysis and the clarity of the argumentation.

2. Assignment / Project or Case Analysis - 40% of the final grade
This component consists, according to the instructions provided by the instructor, of an applied project developed according to a collaborative learning approach or of a case analysis. In both cases, the objective is to apply the concepts and tools of contemporary management to the analysis of business cases, managerial problems or organisational change processes.

3. Active Participation / Learning Engagement - 10% of the final grade
This component assesses the student's engagement in the learning process, preparation with respect to course materials, critical reflection and contribution to the development of the planned activities.
It may be assessed through participation in discussions, exercises, teaching cases, peer feedback, role-play activities, where applicable, presentations or intermediate submissions, or through equivalent methods indicated by the instructor. Assessment does not concern simple attendance, but the quality of engagement, preparation, critical reflection and personal elaboration of the course content.

Attendance Rules

Attendance is optional but strongly recommended. Participation in classroom activities enables students to progressively develop the applied activities planned in the course, interact with peers, receive feedback and strengthen relational, analytical and communication skills relevant to managerial professions.

Non-attending students follow study and assessment arrangements that are consistent with the objectives of the course, according to the instructions provided by the instructor through the official course channels.