Ateneo - UPO

Changes in economic and social systems and their impact on the environment, produced by technological evolution, demographic changes, but above all by human action, today require rapid interventions to guarantee the conservation of the planet, the sustainability of human action, and at the same time continue to satisfy the needs expressed by people. This enormous challenge can only be addressed with creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Albert Einstein believed that it was not possible to solve problems with the same mentality that created them.
This course discusses the role that the entrepreneur plays in modern societies as an agent of change. It will focus in particular on business models that anticipate new forms of development capable of reconciling economic, social and environmental well-being.

Nicoletta Fadda, Mariella Pinna (a cura di), Imprenditorialità e sviluppo sostenibile, Forum Edizioni, 2022
Reid Hoffman, Ben Casnocha, Teniamoci in contatto. La vita come impresa EGEA spa, 2012
Michelangelo Pistoletto, Il terzo paradiso, Marsilio, 2010

The course focuses on the role that the creative entrepreneur plays in modern societies as an agent of change. Examples of entrepreneurs who represent a positive model to follow to promote fully sustainable development, capable of reconciling economic, social and environmental wellbeing, will be analysed.

No requirements

To achieve its objectives, the course focuses on continuous discussion between the teacher and the class and will mainly focus on:
• discussion of cases to stimulate students' reflection on the proposed examples and develop their ability to identify virtuous models;
• seminars to allow for in-depth analysis of some specific topics;
• testimonials, so that students can interact with operators or innovators and/or experts in the topics covered by the teaching in order to acquire the skills to develop an entrepreneurial capacity;
• case presentations by students (possibly also in English), to test their ability to analyse, summarize, criticize and communicate.

Attendance at the course is optional, but strongly recommended.
For those attending, the course will end with an evaluation by the teacher and will consider the participation and contribution offered by each individual student. This evaluation replaces the traditional exam.

The exam questions, for non-attending students, are open and intend to verify whether the student knows, understands and is able to use the proposed business models.
Students will have to answer 2 open questions in 40 minutes.
The student who does not pass the exam or is "insufficient", "withdrawn" or "rejects" the grade 3 times in the year cannot register for the exam again and must wait until the following year.

Economic growth and environmental conservation: reconcilable objectives?
Managerial governance and sustainability tools
Sustainability and equity
Business activities, sustainability and communication
Sustainability in the agri-food sector

At the end of the lessons, students will have a precise knowledge of how a creative entrepreneur acts and what are the entrepreneurial strategies that can guarantee development capable of reconciling economic, social and environmental well-being in the different contexts in which the entrepreneur finds himself operating.