OVERVIEW

The course explores e-business, that is the use of Internet-based technologies in a business context. It is a very important topic, as business digitalization is leading to a deep reconfiguration of relationships, process and activities in both traditional and innovative companies.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The laboratory aims to explore Internet-based business models and to analyze opportunities and problems related to the integration of internet-based technologies in business activities and processes.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to develop work-oriented knowledge and competences, with respect to Internet-based businesses and the impact of Internet-based technologies on business structure and activities.

Specific aims are:

• to make students aware of the changes brought by the introduction of Internet-based technologies in business processes and activities;
• to explore opportunities and tools for effective digital commerce and communication;
• to establish relationships with companies, thanks to seminars by professionals, entrepreneurs, managers.

Learning outcomes

• Knowledge and understanding Students will know and understand strategic and operational issues related with adoption and use of Internet-based technologies, together with the new business models based on those technologies. In particular, they will learn the foundations of the digital economy and the property of Internet-based technologies; furthermore, they will explore tools of analysis of Internet-based business models and of websites. Finally, they will learn the basics of e-commerce.
• Applied knowledge and understanding Students will be capable of applying their knowledge to solve problems related with the use of Internet-based technologies in firms and with the development of new Internet-based businesses. In particular, they will be able of analysing the business model of an Internet-based company and of evaluating the quality of a website.
• Judgement skills Students will be able of evaluating the opportunities of new business development driven by Internet-based technologies.
• Communication skills Students will develop an adequate technical language to clearly and effectively communicate with both specialists and not specialists.
• Learning capabilities Students will develop adequate learning and updating skills that will allow them to continue to deepen independently the main topics of the discipline especially in the working contexts in which they will operate.

PREREQUISITES

Previous knowledge

Students are expected to be familiar with concepts such as:

• value chain and value systems
• competitive and corporate strategies
• basics of marketing and communcations

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures are integrated with seminars by experts and individual/group works.

In the light of the course structure and the learning outcomes, attendance is compulsory.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities  and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Main course topics are:

• the foundations of the digital economy
• the properties of Internet-based technologies
• the role of Internet-based technologies in business processes and relationships
• Internet-based business models
• the evaluation of websites
• the Internet of things

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CLARA BENEVOLO (President)

RICCARDO SPINELLI (President)

SILVIA BRUZZI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 2025

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final judgement is in the passed/not passed form (no mark will be given).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

To "pass" the exam, the student should attend classes, actively participate to the class activities and successfully perform the individual and group work. If the evaluation of the aforementioned activities and works is not positive, the student will be asked to integrate its work with other tasks.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

The course is open to 24 students.

Each year, in September, a booking tool is created on the Aulaweb page of the course; booking deadline is the 30th of September. In the following days, a ranking is created considering the average score in the previous exams and the number of credits collected.

When the classes start (mid-february), admitted students must have passed the exam of "Economia e gestione delle imprese"; otherwise, the student is expelled and students in waiting list are proposed to enroll.

For incoming foreing students, the procedure will be adapted considering their study background and results.