Learning objectivesThe course aims to provide students concepts and theoretical basis necessary for understanding:-  entrepreneurship phenomenon and distinguishing features of those who exercise it. The focus of the course is therefore on: concepts of entrepreneur and entrepreneurship, relationship between entrepreneurship and management, main theoretical models and research streams that have analyzed and interpreted the concept of entrepreneur, main types of small entrepreneurs, organizational and managerial specificities of small businesses and how they relate with competitive environment;-  the creation of new firms, with particular attention to variables related to entrepreneur, business idea and environment, as well as steps that compose this process;the phenomenon of small family businesses, in order to put in evidence their presence in the Italian and international economic system and to focus distinctive features and critical issues characterizing this firms. Critical issues concerning succession process and the main steps of this process are also analyzed.

Part 1 – Entrepreneurship and small businesses

• How to define small businesses
• Small businesses in the Italian economy
• Distinctive features of small businesses
• Main research streams in entrepreneurship
• Business growth models
• Women entrepreneurship
• Part 2 - The process of business creation
• The process of business creation
• Subjective and environmental factors in the process of business creation
• Writing a business plan

Part 3 – Family businesses

• Distinctive features of family businesses
• Variety of family businesses
• Succession process in family businesses
• The main actors of the succession process
• Main steps of the succession process
• Conditions favoring or Inhibiting successful succession

Knowledge and understandingAt the end of the course students should have acquired knowledge and understanding of the specific features of the entrepreneurial world and its main actors: entrepreneurs and companies. In particular, they have to know and understand the typical problems of small businesses, the succession process in family businesses and the process of business creation. These results will be achieved through the following teaching methods: lectures, testimonies, analysis and discussion of case studies, group works and seminars.Applying knowledge and understandingStudents should be able to appropriately and flexibly apply their knowledge in order to analyze, understand and resolve situations and problems related to the management of small businesses, the creation of new businesses and the succession process in family businesses. These results will be achieved through the following teaching methods: lectures, testimonies, analysis and discussion of case studies, group works and seminars, report writing.Making judgementsStudents should have the ability to integrate knowledge gained during the course and to handle complexity and formulate judgment independently.These results will be achieved through the following teaching methods: lectures, testimonies, analysis and discussion of case studies, group works and seminars, report writing.CommunicationStudents should acquire clear and effective communication skills, thanks to a good command of the lexicon related to course topics.These results will be achieved through the following teaching methods: lectures, testimonies, analysis and discussion of case studies, group works and seminars, report writing.Lifelong learning skillsStudents should have good learning skills and be able to independently deepen knowledge gained during the course and acquire new knowledge, skills and abilities through professional and job experiences. These results will be achieved through the following teaching methods: lectures, testimonies, analysis and discussion of case studies, group works and seminars, report writing.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Various teaching methods will be used during the course:- Lectures;- Testimonies by entrepreneurs;- Group work and preparation of papers on case studies;- Classroom discussions.In particular, during the course group work will be carried out and students will be cively involved in case analysis about one of the following topics:·  family business and succession;·  creation of new businesses.Work group will be based on testimonies by entrepreneurs and/or managers. Students will be divided into groups and each group will examine one of the cases presented in the classroom. Each group will have to produce a written paper. Then it will be presented and discussed in the classroom along with the rest of the class.

Course books

1. Isa Marchini, Il governo della piccola impresa. Vol. I. Le basi delle conoscenze, Aspi/Ins-Edit, Genova, 2a edizione, 2000.2. Cinzia Parolini, Business planning. Dall'idea al progetto imprenditoriale, Pearson, 2011, Cap. 1-2-3-4-5.3. Guido Corbetta, Le aziende familiari, Egea, 2010.Lecture notes and teaching material availablein  the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Assessment

Written exam, consisting of two open questions on the topics covered during the course: 1. Entrepreneurship and small firms; 2. The process of creation and strategic management of small businesses. 3. Family firms and generational change.Attending students are exempted from the questions about the second or third issue depending on the topic of their group work. Final evaluation will take into account written report, presentation in the classroom and discussion of the topic addressed in the group work. To this end, each student has to show full knowledge of concepts related to this topic. He has also to know how to communicate with command of the language, how to apply concepts acquired in the analysis and critical evaluation of the case studies.The time available to answer questions is 1 hour. The overall assessment of students’ preparation will be made taking into account the evaluation of each exam question, as well as the assessment on the written paper and its presentation and discussion

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Independent study of books, lecture notes and teachin material available on the online platform

Course books

1. Isa Marchini, Il governo della piccola impresa. Vol. I. Le basi delle conoscenze, Aspi/Ins-Edit, Genova, 2a edizione, 2000.2. Cinzia Parolini, Business planning. Dall'idea al progetto imprenditoriale, Pearson, 2011, Cap. 1-2-3-4-5.3. Guido Corbetta, Le aziende familiari, Egea, 2010.1. Isa Marchini, Il governo della piccola impresa. Vol. I. Le basi delle conoscenze, Aspi/Ins-Edit, Genova, 2a edizione, 2000.2. Cinzia Parolini, Business planning. Dall'idea al progetto imprenditoriale, Pearson, 2011, Cap. 1-2-3-4-5.3. Guido Corbetta, Le aziende familiari, Egea, 2010.4. Dispense e altro materiale didattico messo a disposizione sulla piattaforma Moodle › blended.uniurb.it.

Assessment

Written exam, consisting of three open questions on the topics covered during the course: 1. Entrepreneurship and small firms; 2. The process of creation and strategic management of small businesses. 3. Family firms and generational change.Each student has to show full knowledge of concepts related to this topic. He has also to know how to communicate with command of the language, how to apply concepts acquired in the analysis and critical evaluation of the case studies

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.