BUSINESS PROCESS ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT

This course, offered as an elective within the Master’s Degree in Management and Sustainability, aims to develop students’ ability to analyze and improve organizational processes. In increasingly complex, dynamic, and sustainability-oriented environments, the ability to act on processes is a key competence for future managers, as it directly impacts value creation and organizational competitiveness.
The course provides tools and methods to understand how activities are interconnected, how performance is generated, and where inefficiencies and waste arise. Through process mapping and analysis—considering flows, objectives, responsibilities, and outcomes—students learn to identify improvement opportunities and design practical interventions.
Particular attention is devoted to developing processes that are more efficient, effective, and sustainable over time, by reducing waste and promoting a more responsible use of resources. The course also introduces the principles and tools of continuous improvement, understood as a structured organizational process.
The teaching approach combines theory with practical exercises, preparing students to operate in real-world contexts where operational innovation is a key driver of competitiveness.

By the end of the course, students will have developed a clear understanding of the strategic role of process mapping in both manufacturing and service contexts. They will be familiar with the main techniques for process representation, analysis, and performance measurement, as well as with the fundamental reengineering approaches for process improvement.
The course also provides the essential organizational tools required to plan and implement improvement initiatives in a structured and effective way.
Active participation in the proposed learning activities — including company guest lectures and group work — combined with individual study, will enable students to develop the following competencies:
* Classify and select processes for analysis and improvement based on their impact;
* Represent, analyze, and measure processes in a rigorous manner;
* Redesign processes to enhance performance and efficiency;
* Distinguish value-adding from non-value-adding activities;
* Identify waste within processes;
* Apply key techniques for waste reduction and elimination;
* Plan and manage process improvement initiatives.

During the course, all the fundamental concepts and knowledge required to enable everyone to actively participate will be provided.

The course covers the following main topics:
* Models for process classification and criteria for selecting processes for improvement;
* Process mapping techniques and their analytical and decision-making purposes;
* Principles of Lean Management applied to process improvement;
* Analysis, identification, and elimination of waste;
* Process KPIs and key performance measurement metrics;
* Methods and tools for process simplification, monitoring, and improvement;
* Approaches to continuous improvement;
* Integration of Lean and Green Management for environmental sustainability.

Cabigiosu Anna, Processi che generano valore. Dall'analisi al miglioramento, McGraw-Hill Education, 2025.

The course includes a final exam consisting of 15 multiple-choice questions, with a duration of 40 minutes. Each correct answer is worth 2 points, unanswered questions receive 0 points, and skipped questions are penalized by -0.5 points. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in in-class exercises and earn up to 3 additional points to be added to their written exam score.

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The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

With regard to grading criteria, regardless of whether the student attends classes:
A. Scores in the 18–22 range will be awarded if the student demonstrates:
- a sufficient knowledge of the course content;
- a limited ability to understand and apply the acquired knowledge;
- adequate communication skills, particularly in the use of course-specific terminology.
B. Scores in the 23–26 range will be awarded if the student demonstrates:
- a fair knowledge of the course content;
- a fair ability to understand and apply the acquired knowledge;
- reasonably good communication skills, particularly in the use of course-specific terminology.
C. Scores in the 27–30 range will be awarded if the student demonstrates:
- a good or excellent knowledge of the course content;
- a good or excellent ability to understand and apply the acquired knowledge; fully appropriate communication skills, particularly in the use of course-specific terminology.
D. Honors (cum laude) will be awarded if the student demonstrates outstanding knowledge and applied understanding of the course content, combined with excellent judgment and exceptional communication skills.

The course combines lectures with hands-on activities based on exercises and case studies, aimed at translating theoretical concepts into practice. This approach enables students to develop practical skills in analyzing and improving real-world processes, strengthening their ability to generate value within organizations.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development