The course aims at introducing students to fundamental concepts in management science, corporate finance, and project management.

First, we will focus on fundamental tools and concepts in corporate finance and the management of organizations, then we will move on to frame processes and strategies necessary to solve a large variety of business problems.

Second, the course provides concrete tools, and a methodological framework, to deal with the setup, organization, and control of projects in different domains. Examples and exercises will guide students through project management processes and techniques. The course aims at providing a comprehensive representation of project development planning and, moreover, at conveying relevant knowledge on collection, monitoring, processing, reporting, and administration functions.

Third, we will walk students through the data analytic thinking which is necessary for extracting useful knowledge and business value from data.

At the end of the course, students will know (DdD1) and understand (DdD2):

• the relationships between sound theoretical references in corporate and project finance
• problem solving techniques and tools to solve a large variety of business problems
• different types/sources of risks at different stages of project development and the corresponding expected rewards;
• the basic Project Management techniques and tools to manage complex projects

The course will cover the following topics:

• Corporate Finance
• Problem solving
• Financial Indicators
• Corporate governance and the distinction between ownership and control
• Management and Fundamentals of Business Analytics
• Business Planning
• Project and Project Management
• Scope planning and control of project
• Project time management

Management of Organizations: I have tried to make the slides reasonably self-explanatory. Relevant readings will be presented in class and made available through the course site.

Project Management: Burke, R.Fundamentals of project management: Tools and techniques. Burke Publishing, 2013.

Microsoft Official Academic Course: Microsoft Project 2016 Course, M.O.A. Wiley 2017

Wherever possible intuition will be emphasized over technical detail. More technical readings will be made available and discussed with students in class.

Project work examination at the end of the course. The exam aims to verify if the students have understood (DdD1 and DdD2):

• How to frame and structure a business planning exercise
• How to solve simple problems in capital budgeting related to projects
• How to apply problem solving techniques to projects and business
• How to assess the financial sustainability of a project
• How to plan and control a project in term of expected performance