84226 - Strategy and Economic Organization

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide students with the skills to analyze the competitive structure of industries and to accordingly develop corporate strategies. In particular, the course focuses on decisions concerning growth strategies, diversification, make/buy decisions, pricing and entry or exit from industries.

Course contents

1) Introduction. The Firm.

2)Economies of scale and scope.

3) Learning curve

4) Growth strategies

5) Diversification strategies

6) Vertical integration

7) The concept of transaction cost and quasi-rent

8) Property rights

9) Competition and Monopoly

10) Cournot competitive interaction

11) Bertrand competitive interaction

12) Entrance dynamics

13) Bain model

14) Pricing strategies and entry

15) Bundling strategies

16) Strategic commitment and Stackelberg model

17) Chamberlin approach to competitive interaction

18) Cooperation in price setting

19) Sutton approach to competitive interaction

Readings/Bibliography

Besanko, D., Dranove, D., Shanley, M., Schaefer, S. ”Economia dell’industria e strategie d’impresa”. Edizioni ISEDI. A cura di A. Enrietti, E. Ottoz, P. P. Patrucco. Seconda edizione 2013.

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Assessment methods

The exam tests:

• the knowledge and the understanding of the models and the concepts presented in the lectures;
• the capability of using models and concepts to analyse, and deal with, economic and organizational phenomena.

The exam is a written test of both theoretical understanding and problem solving capability. Specifically, the test includes:

• Questions with multiple choice;
• exercises;
• questions with open reply often requiring short essays.

The exams will be offered in January, February and September. Students who fail the exam can access the following session of exam.

To seat for the exam students need to register on Almaesami within reported deadlines. Students who are not able to register within the deadline are requested to promptly refer to both the school secretary and the teacher. The teacher takes the final decision on whether accepting or not students without regular registration.

The results of exams are published on Almaesami, usually within a week from the date of the exam. To register the credit for the exam, students need to approve the received mark by sending to the teacher an authorization by email with the following information:

1. name and surname,
2. registration number,
3. date of the exam,
4. name of the exam,
5. mark received.

It is possible to see the exam by appointment with the teacher by sending an email to: edoardo.mollona@unibo.it.

Teaching tools

Students prepare the exam on the refernced book and by using the slides of the lectures, which are available on the teacher's website.

Office hours

See the website of Edoardo Mollona