Ateneo - UPO

The course aims at analysing the tourism firm by relying on an approach that strongly integrates theoretical and practical elements, Theoretical and methodological contents are supported by specific applied cases that highlight the actual firms'behavior models. The focus on operational elements, moreover, is realized through the discussion and the solution of several cases and problems that highlight how the tools provided by the course are integrated in the decision-making process of tourism firms.

Fraquelli Giovanni, Imprenditorialità e Management dell’Impresa Turistica, 2017, CEDAM-WOLTERS KLUWER, from chapter 1 to chapter 9 (included). Slides and a set of exercises will be available on the DIR web page of the course and are included in the course program.

The course has the target of providing the student the basic tools for the management of tourism firms, starting from defining firms choices, given the strategic orientation in each single area of business, with special focus on operating decisions and on their effects on costs.

Students must have passed and recorded the exam of Business Administration (Economia Aziendale)

Lectures, exercises and group exercises, cases discussion. The teacher will rely on the DIR platform for information and sharing of materials as well as for communications to students.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam is written, with a maximum score of 30/30 cum laude. The written examination consists of two parts. Part 1): aimed at verifying knowledge and understanding (maximum score 18 points). It is composed of 12 closed-ended questions (1.5 points for each correct answer; 0 point in case of no answer; -0.3 points in case of wrong answer). Part 2): aimed at verifying the ability of applying knowledge and understanding (maximum score 15 points) through a problem set, composed of three questions, or three separated exercises. Alternatively, students may choose the following option: prepare a group project focusing on the content of Chapter 2, as directed by the instructor; the group project must be presented in class and is worth a maximum of 5 points. In addition to the group project, students will be required to complete a classroom exercise covering the content of Chapters 4, 8, and 9 (to be submitted to the instructor), for a maximum score of 10 points. By completing both the group project and the exercise, students can earn a maximum of 15 points. Students will not be permitted to complete only the group project or only the in-class exercise: both activities must be completed. Students who have completed, presented, and submitted both the group project and the in-class exercise may choose, for the June, July and September sessions of that year, to take an exam consisting solely of Part 1, covering Chapters 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 of the textbook. For students who do not complete the group project and the exercise, both Part 1 and Part 2 of the exam will cover the entire program.

- Definition of the concept of firm - The tourism firm and the tourist - Tourism supply chain and relations between agents - Results of production activity and value creation - Tourism firms'strategies: nature, scope and interpretative paradigms - Tools supporting strategic choices - Looking for a competitive advantage in tourism - Cost management of the tourism firm - Firm profitability: costs, revenues, activity volumes.
In the analysis of consumers and of their behavior and preferences, the role of gender may be considered within the consumers’ characteristics.

- Knowing the main peculiarities of the tourism firm, of the tourist as customer, as well as the main relationships with the element of the supply chain
- knowing the concepts of value added and profit
- knowing the main elements related to the strategic choices of tourism firms, as well as the main main tools supporting such choices and the research of a competitive advantage.
- knowing the main definition of costs and revenues to be employed for optimally managing tourism firms in terms of profitability
- being able to apply and interpret the concepts of value added and profit for management purposes
- being able to apply the tools supporting strategic decisions
- being able to apply the notions of costs, revenues, accounting profit to problems and applied cases related to firm profitability