Course objectives are: a) provide theoretical and conceptual instrumentation required for the understanding and the definition of the corporate strategies adopted by the firms, b) describe the critical success factors of external growth operations (M & A and alliances) and divestment, c) provide complete framework of analysis that takes into account the optimization choices in portfolio management implemented by multibusiness firms and their strategic and financial reflections, d) active participation in business game simulation.

Acquisition of transversal knowledge about the main growth strategies. Ability to financially evaluate corporate strategies. Ability to use the main tools for analyzing resources and competences as well as the competitive environment. Ability to interact with others during the business game and ability to discuss case studies during lessons.

Corporate Strategy fundamentals. Back to basics: Industry, Resources and competences, Managerial Innovation. Institutions based rents and Corporate Social Responsibility. Diversification strategy. Diversified company management: horizontal strategies and interrelations. Portfolio Matrix Vertical integration. Collaboration strategy: Build or Borrow? Firm restructuring and divestment strategies. The executive compensation. Corporate Governance impact. The economic dimension of the corporate strategy. Coporate strategy evaluation. Exercises Business Presentations Business Case Simulation

Fontana F., Boccardelli P., 2015, Corporate Strategy, Una prospettiva organizzativa e finanziaria per la crescita, HOEPLI and materials provided by the lecturer and published on Moodle

Frontal teaching - individual exercises - Team works on business case simulation – Research project - Managers Participation

The final grade for attendees consists of: 1) Final written exam, 60 minutes (50%) 2) Individual assignment (15%) 3) Business Game in team (20%) 4) Enquiry Based project in team (15%). The grade of the BSG is valid for the entire academic year and, once refused, the exam will be taken in non-attending mode. The final grade for non-attendees consists of: 1) Final written exam, 90 minutes (100%)

No merit criterion is required for thesis assignment (mean, 'grades, language skills, etc.). The only criterion followed is the assignments chronology. A proposal must be presented in order to indicate the central idea and the topic that will be addressed in the thesis. Students have to provide a two or three pages word document, including bibliography, which describe in summary: - Reference literature: generical sources (e.g. Google), industrial sources (e.g. Il sole 24 ore, The economist, Il mondo) and related scientific literature ((http://www.luiss.it/biblioteca/banche_dati / index. php). - the research question. It’s a question of one or two lines that exactly identifies the problem that the thesis aims to solve. - Students have to argument the importance and the need to give a scientific answer to identified question, to exclude irrelevant unanswered questions. The research question can be considered significant from the theoretical point of view (since defines a logical step missing in the understanding of some processes) or from an empirical one (as it seeks to describe a phenomenon not fully understood), or by both. - Methodology to be followed: Case studies, interviews, data collection through questionnaires or through pre-compiled databases

The course deals with sustainability issues and, in detail, the growth strategies that companies implement with the aim of being aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Case studies on the topic will be treated and discussed in class