48
Corporate Finance
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Students will gain skills to integrate business management tools with more specific abilities, such as analyzing local contexts, identifying latent resources beyond just economic-financial ones, and developing entrepreneurial solutions for social needs. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to move from an entrepreneurial idea to the design and management of social innovation processes, combining business management expertise with an ethical and sustainable approach to benefit communities and territories.
The same objectives, articulated according to the Dublin Descriptors, are reported in the following lines:
- (knowledge and understanding) acquire advanced knowledge of business management principles and of theoretical and methodological approaches to social innovation; understand the economic, social, and territorial dynamics that influence the creation and development of sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives.
- (applying knowledge and understanding) develop the ability to apply management tools and strategic analysis methods to identify hidden resources and opportunities in local contexts, transforming entrepreneurial ideas into concrete social innovation projects.
- (making judgements) strengthen the ability to critically analyze social and territorial needs, assess the sustainability and ethical impact of proposed entrepreneurial solutions, and make independent judgments based on social responsibility and community value creation.
- (communication skills) be able to effectively communicate social enterprise ideas and projects to diverse audiences — public, private, and community stakeholders — using appropriate languages and tools to foster collaboration and participation.
- (learning skills) develop autonomous and continuous learning abilities to manage complex social innovation processes, adapt to evolving contexts, and contribute to the sustainable development of organizations and territories.
Course Prerequisites
No prerequisites needed.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, group work, and blended learning tools with direct testimonials.
Classes will be interactive, not only lecture-based, and may include supplementary educational activities, group work, exercises, and, when possible, ongoing assessments for attendees. Learning will be enhanced by practical business cases allowing participants to apply acquired knowledge. Through structured discussions, participants will explore various perspectives, and project work reviews will offer opportunities to refine skills and validate understanding. Direct expert, social entrepreneur, and industry manager testimonials will ensure a practical approach, bridging theory and practice. Involvement in activities for developing entrepreneurial ideas will be discussed with students at the course start.
The course may include the development, during the semester, of a project proposal aligned with real and possibly ongoing funding calls.
Assessment Methods
The exam aims to assess the student's knowledge of the course content and ability to apply theoretical concepts to practical cases.
- The evaluation is based on an oral exam covering the entire course program.
- Attending students will have the opportunity to take a mid-term / final exam, as agreed during the first lecture of the course and communicated in the related slides.
- The mid-term exemption covers the content of the materials provided by the instructor related to the lectures held before the mid-term, as well as the following sections of the textbook Tunisini et al., "Economia e Management delle Imprese": 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.3, 5.4, and 10.
- The final exemption, provided the mid-term has been passed, covers the content of the materials provided by the instructor related to the lectures held after the mid-term, the article by Zamagni, and the following sections of the textbook Tunisini et al., "Economia e Management delle Imprese": 7, 9.2, 10, 11.3, 14.2, and 15.
- If the mid-term exemption is not passed, the final one will cover the entire syllabus.
- Students may complete a project work, submitted at least 3 days prior to the oral exam, which they will present for up to 10 minutes and then discuss as part of their evaluation. This will contribute up to 30 points, averaged with the oral exam score. The mandate will be provided during the lectures and promptly shared together with the other digital resources (for example, Microsoft Teams folder).
Grading Scale:
- Non-passing: Significant gaps in understanding, lacking analysis and coherence.
- 18-20: Sufficient, with minor errors.
- 21-23: Routine understanding, sufficient logical argumentation.
- 24-26: Good knowledge, minor inconsistencies in technical language.
- 27-29: Full comprehension, strong analytical skills.
- 30-30L: Excellent understanding, original arguments, high technical accuracy.
Texts
Reference materials:
- Tunisini, A., Pencarelli, T., & Ferrucci, L. (2014). Economia e management delle imprese. Strategie e strumenti per la competitività e la gestione aziendale (pp. 1-480). Hoepli. Chapters 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.3, 5.4, 7, 9.2, 10, 11.3, 14.2, 15 - Students not attending the course have also Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11.
- Zamagni, S., Venturi, P., & Rago, S. (2015). Valutare l’impatto sociale. La questione della misurazione nelle imprese sociali. Impresa sociale, 6(2015), 77-97.
- Slides and materials produced and shared by the teacher.
Suggested materials: Borzaga, C., & Galera, G. (2023). La rivoluzione dell’impresa sociale. Per un rinnovato protagonismo della società civile. Italia: Feltrinelli.
Additional readings:
- Bandini, F. (a cura di) (2013). Economia delle aziende non profit e delle imprese sociali. Cedam, Padova (CAP.1, 3, 4 e 7)
- Nicolò, D. (2021). Business plan nella fase di startup: idea imprenditoriale, modello di business e identità aziendale. EGEA.
- AA.VV. (2024). PIANO B. Uno spartito per l’Italia. Donzelli Ed.
- Mazzucato, M. (2022). Il valore di tutto: Chi lo produce e chi lo sottrae nell'economia globale. Gius. Laterza & Figli Spa. / Mazzucato, M. (2018). The value of everything: Making and taking in the global economy. Hachette UK.
- De Rosis, S. (2024). Il ruolo degli utenti nella definizione, gestione e valutazione dei servizi. Focus sui servizi sanitari pubblici. CREARE VALORE NELLA SANITÀ PUBBLICA, vol. 10, PISA:Edizioni ETS, ISBN: 9788846770547
- European Commission (2020), Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe.
- Grieco, C., Iasevoli, G., & Michelini, L. (2013). Impresa sociale e creazione di valore: una tassonomia dei modelli di misurazione dell’impatto sociale sul territorio (Social enterprise and value creation: a taxonomy of models for measuring impact on the ecosystem). Sinergie Italian Journal of Management, 31(May-Aug), 61-82.
- Cucino, V., Lungu, D. A., De Rosis, S., & Piccaluga, A. (2023). Creating value from purpose-based innovation: Starting from frailty. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 1-29.
- Osborne, S.P., Radnor, Z. and Strokosch, K. (2016). Co-production and the co-creation of value in public services: a suitable case for treatment?. Public management review. 18(5): 639-653.
Contents
The course offers an introductory path in designing and managing a socially-oriented enterprise focused on creating goods and services that address the social or environmental needs of individuals, communities, regions, and stakeholders. Students will explore new approaches to enterprise creation and funding, emphasizing economic value as well as community benefit and heritage enhancement (culture, territory, tradition).
The program is structured for addressing various topics in an interactive and active way:
- Social enterprise models and services
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Funding sources: fundraising, crowdfunding, calls, with proposal design workshops
- Project development: business models, open innovation, co-production, and stakeholder roles
- Social impact measurement, including co-assessment methods.
The program will possibly include practical models and case studies.
For students of courses other than LM50 - "Pedagogical planning and management of educational services for minors", who therefore attend 36 of the 48 hours with recognition of 6 instead of 8 CFU, the program DOES NOT INCLUDE the following topics: co-production, co-assessment and social marketing.