Teaching plan for the course unit

— Choose continuous assessment because half of the methodological and knowledge objectives and capacities that must be acquired can only be achieved through class and Virtual Campus interaction, by accumulating the established assessment objectives.

— Have minimum skills in oral and written English.

— Be willing to apply innovative techniques to the study and presentation of topics.

— Show an innovative proactive attitude so that everybody can provide knowledge to the class and also be part of a real community of knowledge exchange, a key competence in innovation management for business.

— Acquire an international perspective open to the existence of alternative and valid methods that favour innovation.

Referring to knowledge

The methodology combines:

— Class presentations by the lecturer.

— Independent study based on recommended reading outlined at the beginning of the course, followed by class discussion of relevant topics from each subject. The teacher will assign a reading to each student (also indicated on the Virtual Campus), who must consider any relevant questions it raises, and what issues of debate they might precipitate. These questions and issues for debate are to be submitted in writing and openly discussed in class.

— A group project on history as a key to sustainable past, present and future innovation, looking at sectors and countries dominated by family-based capitalism. The teacher will establish the groups at the start of the course and, each week in class, discuss several aspects relating to group organisation and the project; each group will also give a progress report on their project to the teacher and other classmates. At the end of the course, each group will make an oral presentation of their project, and submit a written report following the guidelines of The Chicago Manual of Style.

Continuous assessment takes into account the following activities:

1. Individual written paper based on the recommended reading: 25%.

2. Class debates on reading material: 15%.

3. Written and oral reports on the progress of the group project (in class on the day assigned): 20%.

4. Written and oral presentation, at the end of the course, of the group project on the relevance of values and family control in sectors dominated by family businesses (media, fashion, pharmacy, textiles, hospitality, retail and wholesale trade, etc.): 40%.

Examination-based assessment

Students who wish to be entered for single assessment must sit a written individual examination on the official date to assess the competences described in the teaching plan. Unfortunately, single assessment cannot assess the capacity to interact with the lecturer and classmates; to present oral assignments or to discuss with visiting professionals, key aspects of the subject. For that reason, all students are encouraged to follow the continuous assessment procedure.

To be eligible to sit the single assessment examination, students should contact the lecturer to be suggested at least 10 articles and books related to the topics covered, the reading of which is the minimum requirement for the examination. Besides, several different websites must be studied in relation with the topics covered, also suggested by the lecturer.