Magalì Fia

1) BACHELOR’S THESIS

Benefit Corporations between Public Benefit Purpose and Control Systems

Type: Literature-based thesis (with possible empirical extension)
Language: Italian
Number of students: 2
Start date: Flexible

Project description and objective:
The thesis aims to analyze how the legal status of Benefit Corporations affects planning, control, and reporting systems. In particular, the objective is to understand whether and how the introduction of a public benefit purpose modifies:

• the definition of strategic objectives;

• the integration of ESG indicators into management control systems;

• accountability mechanisms toward stakeholders.

The first part will be devoted to the theoretical framework of Benefit Corporations and the broader debate on corporate social responsibility. The second part may consist of a documentary analysis of impact reports from 2–3 Italian Benefit Corporations, assessing the consistency between mission statements and the indicators adopted.

Supervisor: Prof. Magalì Fia
Requirements: Strong ability to synthesize and analyze corporate documents

2) MASTER’S THESIS

The Capability Approach and Corporate Governance: Rethinking Firm Performance Beyond ESG Metrics

Type: Literature-based or Empirical thesis
Language: Italian / English
Number of students: 1
Start date: Flexible

Project description and objective:
The thesis aims to apply the Capability Approach, developed by Amartya Sen, to the analysis of corporate governance and firm performance. Moving beyond both the traditional shareholder-value perspective and purely technical ESG frameworks, the research conceptualizes the firm as an institution that shapes stakeholders’ real opportunities (capabilities) to pursue and realize their life plans.

The objectives are:

• to provide a rigorous reconstruction of the theoretical foundations of the Capability Approach and its relevance to business ethics;

• to analyze how corporate governance structures may promote or constrain the capabilities of key stakeholders (e.g., employees, local communities, customers, suppliers);

• to critically assess current sustainability measurement tools (ESG metrics, non-financial reporting, impact indicators) through a capability-based evaluative framework.

The empirical component, if included, may involve:

• a qualitative case study of one or more firms (e.g., Benefit Corporations or B Corps);

• an analysis of sustainability and impact reports to evaluate whether declared objectives translate into capability-enhancing practices;

• the development of a conceptual framework for capability-oriented performance measurement.

This thesis is particularly suitable for students interested in business ethics, corporate governance, sustainability accounting, and the normative foundations of management theory.

Supervisor: Prof. Magalì Fia
Requirements: Strong analytical skills, interest in normative theory, and familiarity with sustainability and governance topics.