ADVANCED MANAGEMENT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

The course is tailored for any of the curricula of the degree in Management, and it is addressed to those students who are interested in a deeper understanding of the problems and opportunities of managing nonprofit organizations.

By the end of the course, students are expected to have developed a solid understanding of the nature, the logics, and the main issues of managing non-profit organizations.
In particular, students are expected to:
1) be able to define and recognize non-profit organizations (i.e. to know the main concepts, fields, and types of non-profit organizations);
2) be able to explain why non-profit organizations exist, and why they have emerged (i.e. to know the main theories of non-profit organizations);
3) develop a knowledge of how non-profit organizations work (i.e. the main organizational, operational, and accounting specificities), and be able to recognize non-profit management issues in real-world situations.

Basic knowledge of management and accounting.

The course is organized in three main blocs (corresponding to the three expected learning outcomes), framed within an introduction session, and a conclusion session.

Course blocs:
1) WHAT ARE NPOs? (week 1)
In this bloc, we will address the variegated nature and blurred borders of the non-profit "sector". We will cover the main concepts of NPOs, their main fields of activity, and the main types of NPOs.
Background readings: Ch. 3 - 5 of the textbook.
2) WHY DO NPOs EXIST? (also during week 1)
In this bloc, we will review the main theories that explain why non-profit organizations exist in market economies, focusing on the conceptual foundations, the assumptions and limitations of each theory.
Background reading: Ch. 8 of the textbook.
3) HOW DO NPOs WORK? (week 2 - 4)
In this bloc, we will address the main specificities of managing non-profit organizations. In particular, we will focus on organizational aspects, operational aspects, and accounting aspects.
Background readings: Ch. 11-15 of the textbook + 3 case studies (communicated and distributed via Moodle throughout the course).
CONCLUSION & RECAP (week 5)
To conclude the course, policy issues, developments and future avenues for non-profit organizations will be discussed.
Also, a recap of the main pillars of the whole course will be held, as well as some questions & answers time.
Background readings: Ch. 18 of the textbook.

Anheier, H.K (2014), Nonprofit Organizations: Theory, Management, Policy (2nd edition), London, Routledge, Chapters: 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18
Case studies (will be communicated throughout the course and they will be available through Moodle).

For both attending and non-attending students: WRITTEN EXAM (70% of final grade). 3 open-ended questions based on the textbook chapters and on the case studies discussed in class.
For attending students: CASE STUDIES presentation and discussion by groups during seminars (30% of final grade):
For non-attending students: ORAL EXAM (30% of final grade): during the oral exam, non-attending students will have to present one case study analysis of their choice, among the 4 cases of the seminars + will have to respond to theory questions on the program.

written

The course will alternate a theoretical approach (lectures) and an "active learning" approach (case study seminars and/or lab activities - such as interviews with NPO managers).

English

The course and exam modes are subject to change in case of healthcare emergency.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development