PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Stampa
Enrollment year
2019/2020
Academic year
2020/2021
Regulations
DM270
Academic discipline
SECS-P/09 (FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
Course
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Curriculum
International Management
Year of study
Period
1st semester (28/09/2020 - 22/12/2020)
ECTS
6
Lesson hours
44 lesson hours
Language
English
Activity type
WRITTEN AND ORAL TEST
Teacher
DEMARTINI MARIA CHIARA (titolare) - 6 ECTS
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of management, organization and economics theories. E.g. Porter’s five forces framework, pricing theories, agency theory.
Learning outcomes
This module aims at analysing and critically discussing performance management systems at both business unit and corporate level. It provides the student with contents covering the analysis of the current state of the art in the field and put forward a holistic performance management system. Such a comprehensive approach to management control provides students with a know-how regarding the design, diagnosis and effective use of performance management systems. In addition, the topic of sustainability management is approached since nowadays organizations could adopt corporate sustainability as a management approach to simultaneously create value for shareholders and for the community, by focusing on the protection of scarce and nonrenewable resources and turning them into an opportunity for efficiency and competitive advantage.
Course contents
Conceptual and empirical sessions will deliver the following:
1. Introduction and analysis of key financial performance
2. Analysis of the ‘revolution’ in performance measurement
3. Introduction and analysis of the main performance management system frameworks
4. The diamond structure of the performance management system and its components
5. Corporate sustainability: concept, management and reporting
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures, case studies and assignments. Frontal lectures will be given by the appointed lecturer as well as senior executives working in international companies either in class or through webinars. Lecturers will provide both a national and an international perspective to the contents of the module. In order to achieve the knowledge and competencies specified for this module, students will be asked to set groups and practice some teamwork with specific assignments. Case studies will be discussed in class in order to enhance the theory previously discussed. Students will have to understand the given problem by applying the knowledge acquired during lectures and show their decision-making competencies. Ad hoc seminars will extend the contents and knowledge provided during lectures.
Reccomended or required readings
Demartini C. 2014. Performance Management Systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg
Financial accounting slide presentation (available on the KIRO platform).
Assessment methods
Students can choose to opt for either the 30-30-40 grade or the final grade based on written test only, by sending an e-mail to the lecturer's e-mail address (mariachiara.demartini@unipv.it) within the two following days from the written test. Failing to send the e-mail according to the above stated terms, the student will let the lecturer to choose between one of the two options on the student’s behalf.
– 30% case studies and other assessments during the course (the student's assignments will be graded, only if the students delivered at least 50% of the assignments of the module, otherwise the final test will account for 100% of the final mark). Each student will be provided with the average of the marks of the assignments (s)he delivered during the course by 15th Jan 2019.
- 30% business case presentation on the analysis of a real company’s performance management system. The case study presentation is an oral presentation given by a group of (up to five) students on the application of the diamond PMS framework to a real company. Students are supposed to analyse the extent to which the PMS components have been implemented in the case company and to provide an assessment of each of the PMS component as well as its (loose/tight) relationship with other PMS components. The assessment should provide both a discussion of strengths and weaknesses of the actual PMS components and a suggestion for future improvements. Each group is given 20 minutes for the presentation and up to 10 minutes for Q&As.The case study presentation can also be summarised in a report to be sent to Prof Demartini (mariachiara.demartini@unipv.it) by the date of the written test. If different students of the same group are taking the PM exam in different dates, then the report will be emailed by the first exam date.  On the day after the exam date, the evaluation of the case study will be sent by email.  
- 40% written test. Written test is intended to assess students' theoretical and practical knowledge. Thus, final test will include four (4) open questions and one (1) exercise/case study on the topics discussed during the lectures or seminars.
Further information
Sustainable development goals - Agenda 2030