24340 - Corporate strategy

Learning outcomes

The goal of the course is to delve deeper into the topic of strategic corporate management, discussing the typical problems of different competitive environments and the management of the breadth of the range of activities carried out by the company. At the end of the course the student: - Knows how to recognize the typical configurations of characters and problems in different competitive environments; - Is able to evaluate the management implications of different configurations of the competitive environment; - Knows the links between company values and its range of activities; - Knows how to evaluate options for vertical integration, internationalization and diversification of the company.

Course contents

The course will cover the following topics:

• Diversification, vertical integration and alliances
• Global expansion strategies
• Corporate governance and corporate entrepreneurship
• Corporate social responsibility

Readings/Bibliography

The textbook to be adopted for the course is currently being evaluated by the teacher.


Additional materials will be made available on specific study topics, such as slides, academic papers or managerial or policy reports. These materials will be uploaded in the "Virtuale" platform dedicated to the course.

Teaching methods

The course includes different teaching and learning methodologies:

-Frontal lessons

- Flipped classroom

- Case studies

- Meetings with guests from the corporate world

- Exercises

- Teamwork

Effective learning during this course requires the active participation of students during lessons and in carrying out of practical activities, partly in class (e.g. analysis of case studies), partly at home (e.g. group work). For all activities, students can benefit from the supervision of the teacher or teaching tutor.

Assessment methods

The students’ assessment is carried out according to two alternative methods:

1) for attending students: group work and passing of the written test (open questions on a part of the program)

2) for non-attending students: passing the written test (open questions on the entire program)

All materials to be studied for the exam are indicated on the course syllabus, made available during the course.

In order for the exam tests to be passed, the student must demonstrate that he has achieved sufficient knowledge of all parts of the program included in the test itself.

For both attending and non-attending students, the assessment will take into account the extent of student’s preparation on the topics covered by the course and the use of an appropriate language. Students will pass the exam according to the following overall levels:

• Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, expressed in an overall correct language (mark: 18-19);

• Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to autonomous analysis only on purely executive matters, expression in correct language (mark: 20-24);

• Preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology (mark: 25-29);

• Exhaustive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and connection, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflection (30-30L).

Teaching tools

- Slides used during the classes

- Magazine and newspaper articles, business plans, exercises, case studies

- Testimonies from companies

- Interaction with the teaching tutor

Office hours

See the website of Daniela Bolzani