OVERVIEW

The course introduces students to the fundamental conceptual categories for understanding corporate governance , both in their broader sense, as models of corporate governance, and in their narrower sense, as the relationship between corporate ownership and control. The course constitutes a module of the integrated teaching unit “Strategic Management and Corporate Governance.”

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing the students knowledge on the principles of corporate governance. In a broad sense, the focus will be the different corporate governance models around the world; in a narrow sense, the focus will be the relationships between ownership and control. Particularly, the relations among corporate governance, financial markets and competitive advantage will be analysed.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course deals with a broad and narrow view of Corporate Governance since:

-  It explores the dynamic relationships among the ownership structures, the governance structures, and the strategies that firms adopt.

- It focuses on the different corporate governance models developed in the principal countries around the world

- It deals with ownership structures, business groups and corporate boards and other controlling mechanisms.

Learning outcomes.

Knowledge and Understanding: Students will acquire adequate knowledge and effective ability to understand the main forms of ownership structures of enterprises and corporate groups, as well as the various capitalisms that have developed internationally and their principal financing models.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in solving problems related to the relationships between ownership and control of enterprises and the financing models of enterprises. They will also be able to develop the ability to design ownership and governance structures, linked to the different capitalisms, that contribute to the development and growth of different types of enterprises.

Autonomy of judgment: Students will be able to use both conceptually and operationally the acquired knowledge with autonomous judgment and skill in different contexts.

Communication skills: Students will acquire the technical language typical of the discipline to communicate clearly and unambiguously with specialist and non-specialist interlocutors.

Learning skills: Students will develop adequate learning skills that will enable them to continue to explore independently the main issues in the discipline, especially in the contexts in which they will be working. Students will also know how to manage their social interactions with a cooperative attitude and constructive communication.

PREREQUISITES

Basics of business  management, with special reference to the different types of companies and the strategic analysis of the environment, external and internal.
Basics of corporate finance.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, exercises, case studies.

The course is taught in Italian. It is however possible to study, only as not attending students, an English syllabus and to sustain the exam in English.

Students with certification of disability, specific learning disorders (DSA), or special educational needs should contact, at the beginning of the course, both the instructor and the Department's disability liaison, Prof. Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it), to agree on teaching and exam arrangements that, while respecting the objectives of the teaching unit, take into account individual learning methods and allow the use of any compensatory tools.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- The object of corporate governance.

- Main theories on corporate governance

- Governance models, ownership structures and financing models in the broad conception of corporate governance, with a focus on international contexts.

- Types and roles of ownership and management in the narrow conception of corporate governance.

- Corporate governance of the corporate groups.

- The composition, structure and functioning of corporate boards of directors and supervisory bodies.

- Ownership, control and financing structures of different types of enterprises in Italy (listed enterprises, family enterprises, corporate groups).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

If incoming students choose to study the ordinary syllabus in Italian, they can refer to the other section of the program.

Otherwise, an English syllabus an English syllabus may be organised, based on an English textbook.

Please contact the professor at the beginning of the course for deciding the textbook and the chapters that are more suitable for your learning objectives.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course is taught in the first semester, following the calendar and schedule defined by the department od economics and business studies (DIEC).

Schedule and classrooms are available on Easyacademy:https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For incoming students that follow the Italian syllabus, please refer to the Italian exam description.

For incoming students that follow the English syllabus, the exam is written, with four open-ended questions on the agreed syllabus.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For incoming students that follow the Italian syllabus, please refer to the Italian assesment methods.

The evaluation of the written exam is done by assigning a value between 18 and 30 f(18/30 is the minimun grade - 30/30 is the maximum grade) for each question and making successively an overall average among the four open ended questions. The evaluation takes into account the level of knowledge of the topics, the ability to connect the different topics, the correct use of technical terminology, and the ability to comment and/or provide examples that demonstrate to know the studied theoretical tools.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance is not compulsory; incoming students can choose to study the Italian syllabus for attending or not attending students or the English syllabus (only as not attending students).