66977 - Entrepreneurship

Learning outcomes

The objective of the course is to outline the problems associated with the establishment and growth of small businesses, both with regard to the role of internal resources for the creation of new businesses, and external factors that foster it. At the end of the course the student is able to: - recognize the typical methods for creating businesses - recognize the typical paths and problems of small business growth; - understand the role of context in fostering entrepreneurial initiatives.

Course contents

Theoretical and practical aspects that distinguish the creation of a business

In details, the topics covered in class are the following:
- The entrepreneur
- The entrepreneurial opportunity and the business idea
- The business model
- The entrepreneurial team
- The funding of a new venture
- The formulation of a business strategy
- The growth of a new venture
- Social entrepreneurship
- The logic of the value innovation

A business competition will be performed and the last lesson will be dedicated to the presentation of the business ideas developed during the course.

Readings/Bibliography

Chapters included in:
"Technology ventures – Management dell'imprenditorialità e dell'innovazione" (2010) di Thomas H. Byers, Richard C. Dorf, Andrew J. Nelson e Roberto Vona, McGaw-Hill. ISBN: 978-88-386-6710-7.
Teaching material prepared by the Professor (additional readings and case studies, often in English).

Attending students will have to prepare a SELECTION of chapters of the book and the material distributed during the class.
NON attending students will have to prepare ALL the chapters of the book and the material distributed during the class, available on my website after the class

Teaching methods

The course includes the use of interactive teaching methods. We will use case studies, videos, lectures, group exercises, lectures of experts in the field.

Assessment methods

Attending students will be evaluated on the basis of a project-work to be completed in teams during the period of the calsses (weight 70%) and a written test of opened and closed questions, covering the topics of the program (see the programme for attending and non attending students in the section "Readings/Bibliography").
NON attending students will be evaluated on the basis of a written test of opened and closed questions, covering the topics of the program (see the programme for attending and non attending students in the section "Readings/Bibliography") (weight 100%).
The dates for the final exam and the list of participants are managed through Almaesami.

Teaching tools

Office hours

See the website of Laura Toschi