Students
will first explore why Italy’s business environment can be considered a relationship
oriented culture rather than an information oriented one and analyze what this
entails in terms of business practice and etiquette. They then study different
management styles in Italy and the geographical and other factors that affect
them. The course then examines the influence of the European Union on Italian
corporate activity, the challenges faced by foreign companies in Italy, as well
as recent developments in the country’s job market and labor laws. Students will study the brand "Made in Italy". The course
focuses on specific types of Italian companies and the important role of
business districts, using a range of case-studies of brands and industries
(such as FIAT, Ferragamo, Eataly, Tecnogym, Loro Piana, Fendi, Alitalia, Como’s
silk business district and Prato’s textile industry) in order to analyze their
development, challenges and strategies and to evaluate the reasons for the
success of “Made in Italy brands”.