OVERVIEW

The cluster provides interdisciplinary training on the organizational, managerial, marketing and quantitative tools needed to address the challenges of the energy and environmental transition.

The cluster integrates 3 perspectives: on organizational design and change management, with particular attention to the transformation processes required by sustainability and green transition; on sustainable marketing, responsible consumers, green marketing and the application of operational marketing tools in energy and environmental contexts; on quantitative decision support methods, optimization, scenario analysis, uncertainty management, graphs, network optimization and project management.

The cluster (blended-learning model) combines asynchronous video lectures, in-person sessions, tutor-supported interactive teaching and e-tivities. This allows students to acquire theoretical knowledge flexibly and consolidate it through applications, case discussions, and individual and/or group activities.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Decision methods are tools available to organizations to support stakeholders in decision-making related to networks, system management, and project planning within the energy sector, including issues related to environmental and green transitions. The course introduces methods for identifying optimal decisions, conducting scenario analysis, and managing uncertainty, along with key performance indicators. Additionally, graph theory and network optimization models are proposed to address network design problems with predefined levels of connectivity, reliability, and sustainability. These tools are also useful for planning and controlling project activities.

The cluster aims to provide students with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to understand, analyse and support decision-making, organizational and market processes related to the energy and environmental transition.

Students will acquire tools to:

• understand the complexity of organizations and change processes;
• analyse markets, consumers and marketing strategies from a sustainability perspective;
• apply quantitative methods and decision support models;
• evaluate strategic and operational alternatives under uncertainty;
• integrate organizational, marketing and decision-making perspectives to address real problems in the energy and environmental sectors.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The cluster develops an integrated view of energy and environmental transition processes, considering organizational, market and decision-making dimensions.

Students will learn how organizations address change, how markets and consumers respond to sustainability challenges, and how quantitative tools can support complex decisions concerning systems, networks, projects and energy-environmental strategies.

Learning will be supported by case studies, video lectures, exercises, e-tivities, collaborative activities and in-person discussions. These activities aim to develop analytical skills, problem solving, communication, teamwork and critical thinking.

At the end of the cluster, students will be able to:

• understand and analyse the complexity of organizations involved in energy and environmental transition;
• describe and interpret organizational change processes at individual, group and organizational levels;
• design actions and change plans consistent with sustainability goals;
• analyse sustainable consumer behaviour and the gap between attitudes and purchasing behaviour;
• distinguish between green marketing, environmental marketing, ecological marketing, social marketing and sustainability marketing;
• apply strategic and operational marketing tools in energy and environmental contexts;
• formulate and analyse quantitative decision support models;
• use optimization methods, scenario analysis and uncertainty management tools;
• interpret key performance indicators, trade-offs and multi-criteria evaluation concepts;
• use graphs and network models to represent and analyse network design and project management problems;
• integrate organizational, marketing and quantitative knowledge to propose sustainable, feasible and context-consistent solutions.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of management, business economics, mathematics and statistics is required. General familiarity with sustainability, energy transition and business problem analysis is useful.

TEACHING METHODS

The cluster is delivered according to the EduNext blended-learning model, combining TEL-DE – Technology Enhanced Learning / Didactic Delivery and TEL-DI – Technology Enhanced Learning / Interactive Teaching.

Each of the six 3-CFU modules follows a common structure:

• 75% asynchronous teaching, through recorded video lectures and digital materials available on the Learn platform and/or AulaWeb;
• 25% in-person teaching, devoted to applications, case discussions, exercises, interaction with instructors and consolidation of learning outcomes;
• tutor-supported interactive teaching, through e-tivities, thematic forums, exercises, quizzes, collaborative activities, short reports and guided feedback.

Hours devoted to Didactic Delivery (TEL-DE)

For the whole 18-CFU cluster, composed of six 3-CFU modules, didactic delivery is indicatively organized as follows:

• in-person lectures: 36 hours in total, corresponding to 6 hours for each module;
• synchronous distance or hybrid lectures: 0 hours, except for possible additional meetings communicated by the instructors;
• asynchronous video lectures: 108 equivalent student-side hours, corresponding to 18 equivalent hours for each module.

Asynchronous video lectures represent the main component of didactic delivery and provide the theoretical, methodological and applied foundations of each module. In-person meetings are mainly devoted to applications, discussions, exercises, case studies and clarification of key concepts.

Hours devoted to Interactive Teaching (TEL-DI)

Interactive teaching is included in all modules of the cluster and is supported by tutors. It includes:

• moderated thematic forums;
• self-assessment activities;
• individual or group exercises;
• business case analysis;
• short reports or applied assignments;
• asynchronous collaborative activities;
• possible scheduled virtual classrooms with tutors and/or instructors;
• feedback on students’ e-tivities.

E-tivities are designed to support the progressive application of video-lecture contents, preparation for in-person meetings and the development of transversal skills.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders, disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School/Department contact person for disability at the beginning of the course, in order to agree on possible teaching and assessment arrangements that, while respecting the learning objectives, take individual learning needs into account.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The cluster is articulated into six 3-CFU modules, organized into three integrated learning areas.

Area 1 – Organization and Change Management

Modules:

• Organisational Design and Change Issues in Energy Business and Environmental Transition 1
• Organisational Design and Change Issues in Energy Business and Environmental Transition 2

Main contents:

• Organizational theories and models
• Complexity of managing organizations
• Organizational change processes
• Resistance to change at individual, group and organizational levels
• Organizational structures, culture, leadership and power dynamics
• People management and group dynamics
• Design and implementation of change plans
• Organizational change for sustainability and green transition

Learning objects and activities:

• video lectures on theoretical models;
• in-person sessions devoted to case discussion and framework application;
• e-tivities based on organizational situation analysis;
• individual and/or group exercises;
• development of a change plan;
• activities supporting reflection on personal capacity to manage change.

Area 2 – Sustainable and Green Marketing

Modules:

• Green Marketing
• Marketing in Energy Business and Environmental Transition

Main contents:

• Contemporary crises, polycrisis and market implications
• Ethical, sustainable and responsible consumers
• Attitude-behaviour gap
• Trust, risk, informational and psychological vulnerability in sustainable consumption
• Green marketing, environmental marketing, ecological marketing, social marketing and sustainability marketing
• Analytical marketing: external, competitive and internal analysis
• Strategic marketing: segmentation, targeting and positioning
• Sustainable marketing mix: product, price, communication and distribution
• Eco-design, product life cycle, packaging and environmental certifications
• Sustainable pricing, willingness to pay and Total Consumer Cost
• Environmental communication, storytelling, transparency and greenwashing
• Sustainable distribution, green logistics and digital/local channels

Learning objects and activities:

• video lectures on sustainable marketing concepts and models;
• in-person sessions devoted to business cases and guided discussion;
• e-tivities on green marketing campaign analysis;
• analysis of greenwashing cases;
• exercises on segmentation, targeting and positioning;
• collaborative activities for the design of sustainable marketing strategies.

Area 3 – Decision Methods for Energy and Environmental Transition

Modules:

• Optimization and Scenario Analysis for Energy and Environmental Challenges
• Applied Graphs in the Energy Sector: Network Optimization and Project Management

Main contents:

• Quantitative decision support methods
• Introduction to Operations Research and mathematical modelling
• Mathematical programming and optimization models
• Decision variables, constraints and objective functions
• Scenario analysis and uncertainty management
• Decision theory, decision trees and sensitivity analysis
• Key Performance Indicators
• Economic, environmental and operational trade-offs
• Multi-criteria evaluation concepts
• Graphs and network representation
• Network optimization
• Network design with connectivity, reliability and sustainability requirements
• Project management models
• Time-cost trade-off analysis in projects

Learning objects and activities:

• video lectures on quantitative models and decision tools;
• in-person sessions devoted to numerical exercises and applied cases;
• e-tivities involving model formulation and scenario analysis;
• guided software-based activities;
• exercises on graphs, networks and project management;
• critical discussion of results and comparison of alternatives.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Teaching materials, video lectures, slides, scientific papers, reports, case studies and reference textbooks will be indicated by the instructors of each module and made available through Learn and/or AulaWeb.

Some modules may include compulsory or recommended readings, scientific articles, supplementary materials, business cases and digital resources

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Teaching activities start with the publication of the first video lectures on the Learn platform and/or AulaWeb and with the calendar of the in-person sessions scheduled by the degree programme.

The detailed calendar of video lectures, in-person sessions, possible virtual classrooms and e-tivities will be communicated through Learn, AulaWeb and the official timetable portal.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Assessment is organized at module level, according to the specific methods defined by the instructors and communicated at the beginning of the teaching activities.

Exams may include:

• written tests;
• open-ended questions and/or applied exercises;
• case-study analysis;
• individual or group project work;
• presentations;
• assessment of e-tivities or activities carried out during the course.

Successful completion of the cluster requires passing the assessment activities of the six constituent modules.

At the end of the cluster, an integrated cluster project work must be finalized included. This activity is aimed at critically connecting the project works developed within the individual modules. Its purpose is to foster the integration of organizational, marketing and quantitative perspectives, encouraging students to reflect on the links between organizational change, sustainable marketing strategies and decision support methods in the context of energy and environmental transition.

The cluster project work will be discussed through an in-person presentation according to the modalities communicated by the instructors.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Assessment aims to evaluate:

• knowledge of theoretical and methodological concepts related to organization, marketing and decision methods;
• ability to apply models and tools to real problems in the energy and environmental sectors;
• ability to analyse business cases, change processes, marketing strategies and decision problems;
• ability to use quantitative methods, indicators, scenarios and network models;
• ability to critically interpret results;
• ability to communicate clearly, coherently and convincingly;
• ability to work individually and in teams;
• ability to integrate different perspectives to support sustainable decision-making.

The assessment of e-tivities and interactive activities may contribute to the final evaluation according to the specific rules defined by the instructors of each module.

FURTHER INFORMATION

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

The cluster is delivered by the instructors responsible for the six constituent modules, belonging to the disciplinary areas ECON-08/A, ECON-07/A and MATH-06/A.

The exam board is appointed according to the teaching regulations and the indications of the degree programme. The names of the instructors and exam board members will be provided on the official course page.