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S1516 Globalization and Competitiveness: Global Value Chains (Sustainable Development Sp. Track)

Micelli Stefano, Buciuni Giulio

In the last fifteen years, economic integration has been moving faster and farther throughout the world, triggering substantial discussion on globalization and its consequences for businesses and industries. Particular attention has been dedicated to a variety of topics related to international management and regional competitiveness and development. The course aims at framing the debate on globalization by highlighting the impacts of the international integration of markets for goods, labour and technologies on firms, territories and local production systems.


Introduction and objectives
The goal of this course is to familiarize students with the strategic options and challenges businesses and industrial systems face in the global economy. Towards this goal, the course will expose students to current concepts, frameworks and theories relevant to the study of firms’ international development. The global value chains (GVCs) approach will be used as an analytic and interpretive tool for understanding paths of economic growth for both organizations and local production systems.
Students will be encouraged to undertake interdisciplinary team research projects focusing on global industries and related issues.


Course organization and supervision
The overall structure of the course and its thematic organization have been developed by prof. Stefano Micelli (Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia, Venice International University), and Giulio Buciuni (lecturer and course coordinator, Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia, Venice International University). The course is organized around different thematic areas, each developed through classes, seminars and field trips.


Course Requirements
Required reading will be designated on a weekly basis according to the themes listed in the course outline. Students will be expected to do the required reading and to attend class on a regular basis, as attendance is compulsory for all the participants.
Field trips for members of the class will be arranged. In addition to the 40 hours of in-class tuition, Globalization Program students must accumulate a minimum of 40 hours in seminars, field trips and VIUlectures. Participation in seminars, field trips and guest lectures is highly recommended to Semester Program students, although it is not compulsory.

 

Course Outline
Week 1 Rethinking competition in a globalizing economy
Week 2 Fragmentation of production and offshore outsourcing
Week 3 The theory of global value chains (GVCs)
Week 4 Innovation in manufacturing GVCs
Week 5 Exploring the nexus between industrial districts and GVCs
Week 6 Doing research in GVCs
Week 7 Team project set up and mid-term examination
Week 8 Exporting the 'Made in Italy' brand in the global economy
Week 9 Entrepreneurship and start-ups: why localism still matters
Week 10 Design thinking
Week 11 Green economy: between marketing and social responsibility
Week 12 Team projects discussion