Management of Public and Investee Companies

Attendance is formally required, even though no direct attendance checks are foreseen.

The course is designed as a participation-based learning path, as active involvement in lectures and discussions is considered an integral part of both the learning and assessment process.

Teaching methods:

Lectures held in class.

Company visits.

Keynote sessions in class with entrepreneurs, industry experts, and academic specialists in the field.

Learning Objectives

The course aims to provide students with both theoretical and practical tools to understand the nature, governance, and management strategies of public enterprises and publicly owned companies.

The goal is to develop a managerial perspective capable of combining economic efficiency, public value, and sustainability, with particular attention to sectoral dynamics and competitiveness in regulated environments.

Module 1 – Governance and Management Models of Public Enterprises

The first module provides the conceptual and institutional framework necessary to understand the nature and role of public enterprises and publicly owned companies within the economic system.

The aim is to identify the governance logics that shape the relationship between the public owner and the controlled company, analyzing how the principles of transparency, accountability, and managerial autonomy can be translated into effective governance practices.

Main topics

• Nature, functions, and purposes of public and publicly owned enterprises.
• National and European regulatory frameworks.
• Governance models: political direction and managerial autonomy.
• Administrative and control bodies: roles and responsibilities.
• Public ethics, transparency, and accountability as sources of legitimacy.
• Managerialization processes and strategic management tools.
• Case studies on governance practices in local public enterprises.

Skills developed

• Ability to understand the institutional architecture of public enterprises.
• Capacity to interpret governance dynamics in relation to public objectives and organizational sustainability.

Module 2 – Sectoral Strategies and Competitiveness

The second module takes a strategic and applied perspective.

It analyzes the sectoral strategies adopted by public enterprises and publicly owned companies in both regulated and competitive contexts, in order to understand how they pursue competitiveness, innovation, and public value creation.

The approach is comparative and focused on national and international best practices.

Main topics

• Strategic analysis of key public service sectors: energy, transport, environment, health, culture.
• Public enterprises between regulation and competition.
• Innovation, digitalization, and ecological transition as strategic drivers.
• Public–private partnerships and business networks as tools for cooperation and territorial development.
• Growth, diversification, and internationalization strategies of publicly owned companies.
• Benchmarking and comparison of management models across sectors.
• The role of regulatory authorities and competition for public value.

Skills developed

• Ability to analyze public service markets from a strategic perspective.
• Capacity to evaluate the competitiveness of publicly owned enterprises.
• Ability to design sustainable and innovative development strategies consistent with public value objectives.

• Longo, Turrini, Fattore, Cucciniello, Ricciuti (2024) MANAGEMENT PUBBLICO - 2ED - EGEA, Milano
• Materiale didattico integrativo fornito durante il corso (disponibile su piattaforma Teams).

The assessment aims to consistently verify the achievement of the learning outcomes expected from the course, measuring both theoretical knowledge and the ability to apply concepts critically and practically.

The evaluation process is structured into three main components:

1. Individual Paper – 50% of the final grade

Each student must prepare an individual written paper (approximately 15–20 pages) on a real case study of a public enterprise or publicly owned company, chosen in agreement with the instructor.

The paper must provide an integrated analysis of:

• the governance structure and internal control mechanisms of the organization;
• the sectoral strategy adopted (innovation, competitiveness, sustainability);
• the creation of public value and its consistency with the institutional mission.

Assessment objectives:

• ability to apply theoretical models to concrete cases;
• independence of judgment and coherence of argumentation;
• methodological accuracy and clarity of presentation;
• appropriate use of technical language and documentary sources.

Submission guidelines:

• electronic submission by the end of the course;
• individual discussion during the oral examination.

2. Final Oral Examination – 40% of the final grade

The oral exam assesses the student’s understanding of the theoretical concepts, governance logics, and sectoral strategies explored during the course.

It includes questions on:

• models of governance and control instruments;
• strategic planning and performance management;
• sustainability policies and public–private partnerships;
• key regulatory frameworks and institutional references.

Assessment objectives:

• mastery of theoretical and applied contents;
• ability to connect topics across modules;
• critical and interpretative capacity;
• clarity and precision in oral communication.

3. Active Participation and In-Class Engagement – 10% of the final grade

Active participation in lectures, case discussions, and interactive sessions is an integral part of the assessment.

The following elements will be considered:

• the student’s individual contribution to discussions;
• the quality of interventions and the ability to apply theoretical concepts to real situations;
• regular attendance and punctual completion of assigned readings or short exercises.

Assessment for Non-Attending Students

Non-attending students must agree with the instructor on a more extensive individual case study (20–25 pages), including a deeper theoretical discussion.

The oral examination will place greater emphasis on theoretical and regulatory aspects covered in the required readings.