Università degli Studi di Cagliari

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Università degli Studi di Cagliari

Facoltà di Scienze Economiche, Giuridiche, Politiche A.A. 2013/2014

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F o r e i g n s t u d e n t s a r e v e r y w e l c o m e

Programme profile: The International Management programme,

with its eight mandatory courses, is structured around topics such as

International Management, Innovation Management, Strategy,

Public Management, International Corporate Finance and Corporate

Governance. In addition, topics such as International Economics,

Quantitative Methods for Management, and Comparative Corporate

Law offer our graduates a management background in accordance

with the highest European and international standards.

Foreign students are very welcome. Exchange programmes such as

Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window and

Overseas programmes are strongly encouraged and supported.

Moreover, Joint degrees with foreign universities, together with

attractive Exchange programs and international company

internships, ensure the integration of International Management

theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

A.Y.

2014/2015

Category: 2

nd

cycle degree

Language: English

Course class: LM-76

Academic Coordinator:

Prof. Maria Chiara Di Guardo

Contacts: Dr. Sonia Melis

Phone: +39 070 675 33 23

e-mail:

s.melis@unica.it

http://corsi.unica.it/economiamanageriale/

Economia Manageriale:

Curriculum in

International

Management (IM)

Two-year Master’s Degree

Programme

(Laurea Magistrale)

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Facoltà di Scienze Economiche, Giuridiche, Politiche

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International Management is an international programme (full course in

English) offered by the University of Cagliari. It is a two-year Master’s

Degree Programme (Laurea Magistrale) that prepares our students for a

professional career, shaping professional figures qualified for managerial

positions in an international environment.

Course overview

SSD Mandatory Courses Credits

1st_YEAR

1

st

_Semester

SECS-P/07

Corporate Governance and Regulation

12 IUS/04

Comparative Corporate Law

6 SECS-P/07

Public Management

6

2

nd

_Semester

SECS-P/10

Innovation Management

9 SECS-P/08

Management Communication and Selected Topics in

Management

9

2nd_YEAR

1

st

_Semester

SECS-P/01

Topics in Economics

9 SECS-P/09

International Corporate Finance

6

2

nd

_Semester

SECS-P/01

International Economics

6 SECS-S/01

SECS-S/03

Quantitative Methods for Management

9 Optional exams and other courses

12 Internship

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND REGULATION

Prof. Andrea Melis Training objectives

The aim of the course is to address corporate governance and reporting issues among non-financial listed firms.

Prerequisites

Introductory business economics, accounting and management

Course programme

Corporate governance: definitions and origin.

Corporate governance: accountability and performance. Corporate governance: main theoretical approaches.

Corporate governance systems in Europe and North America.

The role of the codes of best practices. The Italian Code of Conduct. Corporate governance in Italy: key issues.

Executive and director remuneration. The use of stock options in Italy. Creative accounting, fraud and corporate governance. The Parmalat case.

Accounting regulation in Europe. Conceptual framework and economic consequences Corporate disclosure. Theories and empirical evidence.

Didactic Methods

Active participation from students will be welcomed during lectures. Case studies will be used to explain the most difficult topics.

Learning assessment procedures

Written. Mid-term written exams or projects may be part of the overall evaluation. Reference Texts

COMITATO PER LA CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, Code of Conduct, 2011(freely available in English at (www.borsaitaliana.it)

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LETZA S., SUN X., KIRKBRIDE J. (2004), Shareholding Versus Stakeholding: a critical review of corporate

governance, in Corporate Governance: an international review, Vol. 12, N. 3, pp. 242-262. MELIS A., GAIA S. (2011), Corporate Governance in Italy: Normative Developments vs. Actual Practices, in C. Mallin (edited by), Handbook On International Corporate Governance. Country Analyses, 2nd edition, Elgar, USA, 2011 (chapter 4)

BEBCHUK L., FRIED J. (2003), Executive Compensation as an Agency Problem, in Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 17, pp. 71–92

MELIS A., CARTA S., GAIA S., (2010), Executive remuneration in blockholder-dominated listed firms. How do Italian firms use stock options?, in Journal of Management and Governance, October, pp. 1-30.

JONES M. (edited by), Creative Accounting, Fraud and International Accounting Scandals, John Wiley & Sons,

UK, 2010 (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 21, 23).

International Accounting Standards Board (1989). Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements. London: IASCF.

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COMPARATIVE CORPORATE LAW

Training objectives

supply a comparative approach to modern corporate law

Prerequisites none

Introduction to corporate law, agency problems, governance structure, shareholders interests, protection of minority shareholders, protection of company creditors,related-party transactions, control transactions, investor protection

Classroom attendance

Learning assessment procedures Oral Exams

Reference Texts

R. Kraakman and others, THE ANATOMY OF CORPORATE LAW, Oxford University Press, II edition, Oxford, 2009, ISBN 978-0-19-956584-9

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PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Public sector organizations aim at satisfying needs by delivering services to individuals and

organizations. The course in Public Management aims at providing managerial competencies to better understand how to have efficient management and good quality services in the public sector and how to improve performance.

The course provides in-depth knowledge of public sector organizations and the way they function; a better understanding of how to select the needs of both individuals and organizations; the way public sector organizations deliver services to satisfy public needs; and how to achieve higher levels of efficiency, effectiveness and economy.

The course in Public Management provides an analysis of the current state of the art in public

management and governance. Students are introduced to the basic principles of public management, by considering international comparisons, particularly through the analysis of reforms which have taken place in many countries.

The course presents both empirical analysis and the new theories of public management, to help students gain the fundamental competencies to understand work in the public sector.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of management.

1) Differences between private and public organizations; 2) From public management to public governance;

3) New Public Management and recent Public Management reforms; 4) Planning and control in public sector organisations;

5) Performance measurement and management in the public sector; 6) Towards creating public value.

Lectures, case studies, group works, individual and group presentations Lectures are based on active participation by students.

Class participation (20%), group work presentation (20%), final written test (60%)

Reference Texts

Public Management and Governance, Tony Bovaird, Elke Löffler, Cengage, 2013 (forthcoming); Public Management and Administration, Hughes O.E., Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

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The course will offer presentations by practitioners and scholars of public administration both Italians and foreigners. Students will be encouraged to carry out periods of work experience and internship in both Italian and foreign public organizations.

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INNOVATION MANAGEMENT

This course introduces you to the critical elements of different innovation strategies, how these can be configured, and how the results are managed. The course materials intentionally cuts across functional boundaries, for the focus is squarely on the managerial skills and capabilities needed for effective practice. The course emphasizes the role of (new) technologies approaching innovation from the managerial perspective. Finally, the course aims at providing students with an understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of innovation with reference to Italian creativity tradition.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of management

1. Introduction and importance of innovation 2. Types of innovation

3. Creating an innovative organization 4. Developing an innovation strategy 5. Managing Innovation

6. Open innovation & networks 7. Creativity & Innovation

8. Forecasting & the diffusion of innovations.

Classroom attendance: active participation from students will be welcomed. Case study methodology.

Written Exam. Classroom presentations or projects may be part of the overall evaluation

Reference Texts

Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Market and Organizational Change, 4th Edition Joe Tidd and John Bessant – Wiley (chapters 1-6)

B. Cassiman, M.C. Di Guardo, G. Valentini, (2010), “Organizing Links with Science: Cooperate or Contract? A Project Level Approach” Research Policy, 39(7).

B. Cassiman, M.C. Di Guardo, (2011) “Organizing Innovation in Competitive Strategy Research”, in Dagnino G.B. (ed.) Handbook of Research on Competitive Strategy, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK. Students will be directed to additional readings during the lecture

Other information

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MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATION AND SELECTED TOPICS IN

MANAGEMENT

The course will be realized with specific attention paid to developing students knowledge both on the basic communication theories, and the essential skills to apply them inside organizations. Specific attention will be devoted to specifying the multidisciplinary characteristics of communication. Moreover, taking the most important topics in marketing into consideration, the course aims to give students the essential knowledge regarding the relationships between firms and customers with particular attention being paid to the role that communication plays.

At operational level, students - taking the learned communication theories into consideration - are invited to experiment through the elaboration of a communication plan or storytelling. This activity is worked in teams with the aim of creating relational skills.

Prerequisites

The essential prerequisite is to have sustained the exams of Economy and management of firms and Marketing. Moreover, students must have a knowledge of the basic aspects of system thinking methodology, of the elements that constitute organizations, firm concept and basic managerial activities.

The main topics of the course are the following:

- Communication as an essential factor of organizations - Communication theory or theories? - Structure and function of communication - Verbal and nonverbal communication

- Communication and knowledge - Communication and strategy: identity and identification - Internal communication - External communication - Techniques and tools useful for internal and external communication - Investing in interacting and relating with clients - The experiential marketing - Customer satisfaction - to analyze, measure and manage with refrence to some economic fields - Communication plan - Storytelling

The teaching methodology adopted can be defined as active methodology. Students will be involved in the learning process with direct participation and not as a "passive listener". In this way lessons will be more interactive, enriched by the realization of role playing, by the story of entrepreneurs or expert people in communication. Moreover, with the aim of involving students, teaching tools such as comics and social media are also adopted. A really

important part of the teaching activity will be the team work devoted to the writing of a communication plan or storytelling.

The final evaluation is based on the result of the combination of various elements: - active

participation during lessons - the score of the mid term check - the writing of a communication plan or storytelling - a written final exam - a possible oral

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Reference Texts

E. Giudici, Book in press

P. Watzlavick, J.H. Beavin, D.D. Jackson, Pragmatics of human communication, Norton & Company, New York- London, 1967.

E. Giudici, Storytelling, Lecture note.

Papers from scientific international journals: titles will be communicated during the course development.

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TOPICS IN ECONOMICS

The primary goal of this course is to introduce advanced students in international management to economic analyses of some specific topics of Economics, such as Economics of Innovation, Regional Economics, Development Economics and European Economics.

Prerequisites

Students should know the basic principles of Economic Analysis, Micro and Macroeconomics

Coursework will provide students with a solid understanding of empirical models of innovation, with a particular emphasis on the process of localization of innovation activities and the process of

knowledge production and diffusion. Moreover students will be introduced to some basics of regional economics referring to the process of localization of economic activities, both from the perspectives of consumers and producers. As far as the latter is concerned a special emphasis will be given to the localization decision process of multinational companies. Finally the course will provide some basic knowledge on European Economics and some topics referring to the strategies of the European Union on crucial issues, such as economic cohesion and development.

The course consists of lectures and workshops in which there will be more interaction between students and teacher and among students themselves.

The program includes presentations by students both oral and of written documents.

The evaluation will take place through a written exam (50%) and two assessments during the course (25% each). Students will have to prepare a written report and to present a specific issue to the class. The written exam consists of three open questions (closed books) on the topics taught in the course. Students choose to answer just two out of three.

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INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

Globalization has made the theory (and the empirics) of international trade a body of knowledge that cannot be ignored by those who want to understand how the open markets work for countries,

regions, firms.

The course will make students familiar with old and new foundations of the theory, and with the empirical support of those foundations.

Prerequisites

Basic principles of microeconomics are the main prerequisite for this course.

International Trade Theory Introduction

World Trade: An Overview

Labor Productivity and Comparative Advantage: The Ricardian Model Specific Factors and Income Distribution

Chapter 5: Resources and Trade: The Heckscher-Ohlin Model The Standard Trade Model

External Economies of Scale and the International Location of Production

Firms in the Global Economy: Export Decisions, Outsourcing, and Multinational Enterprises International Trade Policy

The Instruments of Trade Policy The Political Economy of Trade Policy Trade Policy in Developing Countries Controversies in Trade Policy

The course will be based primarily on formal lectures.

The final exams will a written one based on three questions.

Reference Texts

International Economics: Theory and Policy Paul R. Krugman, Princeton University

Maurice Obstfeld, University of California, Berkeley Marc Melitz

- See more at: http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/International-Economics-Theory-and-Policy-CourseSmart-eTextbook-9E/9780138018986.page#sthash.4c8qRCFG.dpuf

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Other information

The textbook is also available in eletronic form. Additional material is available on the website of the texbook.

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QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR MANAGEMENT

A first part of the course is oriented to show how to organize a survey or poll, how to store data, how to treat data and how to show the results (reports and presentation). The second part of the course is oriented to show how to treat (from a statistical point of view) data, considering some multivariate methods. A data mining approach is considered.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge on Business and Economics. Basic knowledge in Informatics (text editor,

spreadsheet). Good knowledge in descriptive and explorative statistics (univariate and bivariate), as well as basic knowledge in inferential statistics.

1) Surveys and Polls for Market Analysis.

Random sampling vs not random sampling. Alternative sampling strategies. Questionnaire. Questionaire administration modes. Exploratory methodologies for Data Analysis.

2) Quantitative methods for the study of consumers behavior.

In this module some official surveys and unofficial surveys for the retrieval of data on consumer behavior are considered.

3) Market segmentation.

In this module the main analytical techniques for the study of markets and the market segmentation will be considered. Supervised and unsepervised methods for market segmentation (hierarchical and not hierarchical cluster analysis, classification trees, regression trees).

4) Quantitative methods for the analisys of advertising effectiveness

Main aim of this module is the presentation of the alternative strategies in the field of advertising, systems of measuring the effects of advertising campaigns and the various models for measuring advertising effectiveness.

Lectures, case study analysis and lab sessions.