A78604 Company Networks Management and Design

Scuola di Economia e Management
Syllabus
Academic Year 2016/17 Second Semester

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course the student will be able:
a) to understand the importance of a network approach to organizations and their management;
b) to critically assess the relationship between organizational networks’ properties and a firm’s performance;
c) to apply theoretical concepts in real life situations;
d) to appreciate the impact of the issues discussed in the course in several “Made in Italy” industries, through the participation to a number of companies’ presentations.

Learning targets

To be able to identify in a specific situation the opportunity to create a network of companies, to be able to identify the nature and the caracteristics of the networks present in a  company

Course Content

The course presents the key features of the "Made in Italy" business model, specifically looking at the importance of a network approach to strategy making. The course integrates recent theoretical and methodological developments with company presentations.

Course Delivery

The course is structured in four main parts. In the first one the Social Network Analysi theory  and the applications.    The importance of organizational networks at different level is introduced and discussed using recent academic papers and practical lab sessions. This part will be delivered as a full time seminar including  short lectures,  group discussions on selected readings and some lab activities. The second part of the course mainly consists of company presentations: representatives from leading Italian firms will be invited to deliver presentations to students. The third part of the course the students will be grouped in small team-works required to deepen a specific issues related to the course content trough a specific analysis on the field. At the end of the classes a presentation will be required. The presenations will be followed by a discussion and an update on the status of the different group projects. The final part of the course will be dedicated to sistematize the various concepts learned in the course.

Course Evaluation

For students attending classes, the grade will be based on the average of grades obtained during the course. The grade will be based on written exams, class participation, quality of the contributions to the class discussions and work group presentations. In order to be considered “attending student” is required the 80% of presence in the classes of the course and the instructor evaluation of the single part. All other students should pass an oral exam. The program of the oral exam will be defined by the coordinator of the course.

Course evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

Attending Students:
(i) final written exam, 50%
(ii) class participation, 20%
(iii) work project, 30%

Non Attending Students:
Oral exam based on 35 scientific papers (topic: networks)
The papers will be provided on the course material website.

Syllabus

Session 1
Hours of lesson: 8
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Course Introduction and seminar on Social Networks Analysis basic theories and applications

Readings:

Session 2
Hours of lesson: 8
Instructor: R. De Vita

Topics:

Social Networks Analisys basic theories and applications

Readings:

Session 3
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

ABICI case

Readings:

Session 4
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: F. Butera

Topics:

Introduction to the real cases presentations

Readings:

Session 5
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: F. Butera

Topics:

The Conditions for Creating a Network Strategy: a perspective between strategy and organization

Readings:

Session 6
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

 Partecipating to a global network of companies: the Secondo Mona case

Readings:

Session 7
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

 The Lombardy aerospace system

Readings:

Session 8
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

The talian textile industrial network  

Readings:

Session 9
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

  internationalization trought networks  fo complementary Companies

Readings:

Session 10
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

the intitutiomal networks : The Italian Association of shoemakers (Assocalzaturifici)

Readings:

Session 11
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Designing and  Managing a network of companies : class discussion :  what difference among aerospace, textile, mechanical , footwear networks?

Readings:

Session 12
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Distict and system areas

Readings:

Session 13
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Field work

Readings:

Session 14
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Field work

Readings:

Session 15
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Field work  

Readings:

Session 16
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Field work  

Readings:

Session 17
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: F. Papa

Topics:

how to create a cluster

Readings:

Session 18
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: F. Papa

Topics:

The Lombardy cluster system

Readings:

Session 19
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: F. Papa

Topics:

the red kilometer                     

Readings:

Session 20
Hours of lesson: 3
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Networks and clusters: what difference?

Readings:

Session 21
Hours of lesson: 2
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

How to unleash the knowledge potential of a group of companie Co-creating common values

Readings:

Session 22
Hours of lesson: 0
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

How to unleash the knowledge potential of a group of companie Co-creating common values  class discussion

Readings:

Session 23
Hours of lesson: 0
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Groups presentations

Readings:

Session 24
Hours of lesson: 0
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Groups presentations  and course conclusions

Readings:

Session 25
Hours of lesson: 0
Instructor: A. Sinatra

Topics:

Final exam

Readings:


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