Course 2017-2018 a.y.

Classes: 31 (I sem.)

Instructors:
Class 31: OLGA ANNUSHKINA

This course is focused on key features and key processes of strategic management of small and medium enterprises that represent an important part of many national economic systems worldwide. The first part of the course is dedicated to the key characteristics of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and of industries in which they operate, with a focus on the impact that family ownership may have on an SME’s governance and management. The second part of the course deals with the problems relative to the growth process of an SME, with particular focus on internationalization strategies and on an SME’s positioning and on the sustainability in time of an SME’s competitive advantage.
The learning process is facilitated by the use of different teaching methods: traditional face to face lectures to discuss key theoretical frameworks, the case discussions to test the application of the theoretical analytical tools to different cases of small and medium-sized businesses, exercises focuses on quantitative assessment of strategic choices and guest speakers sessions.

• During the introductory part of the course the students learn to distinguish small and medium enterprises from larger business organizations not only from the quantitative point of view, but also by analyzing the uniqueness of managerial processes, of the impact of entrepreneur and owning family, of resources and competences development. We also discuss the stay or grow dilemma inviting students to learn to distinguish life-style SMEs from growth-oriented SMEs.
• The core part of the course is dedicated to the key choices and dilemmas of strategic management models of SMEs, including the competitive positioning within an industry, the competitive strategies, the growth options and the network-based strategy. A special focus is made on the internationalization growth option: students are introduced to the foreign markets assessment tools and to the strategic evaluation of foreign markets entry-mode options.
• In conclusion, we discuss how the role of the institutional context and of the policies on the entrepreneurship and development of SMEs.

The exam is in a written and individual form.
The exam tests: student’s knowledge of key theoretical frameworks and definitions discussed in class.
There are no partial exams.
The attending students' grade is integrated with additional points for the assignments prepared in class in small groups.

For attending STUDENTS

• O. ANNUSHKINA, L. CARCANO, U. LASSINI, et al, SMEs and Strategic Management. Tools and methods to fill gap, McGraw-Hill, 2012, selected chapters.
  
• Slides (e-learning website).

For non attending STUDENTS
(previous years students included)

• O. ANNUSHKINA, L. CARCANO, U. LASSINI, et al, SMEs and Strategic Management. Tools and methods to fill gap, McGraw-Hill, 2012.
• P. BURNS, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Palgrave Macmillan Ltd, 2007, 2nd edition.