Gestione d’Impresa – Retail Management and E-Commerce

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND OMNICHANNELITY. THE CUSTOMER AT THE CENTRE.

GOALS

The Master in Business Management –  Retail Management and E-Commerce track is aimed at combining business administration with the characteristics of the sectors envisaged.
In modern markets, distribution has changed completely two times in a few years span. In the 80s and 90s, large retailers consolidated their position, while in the 2000s e-commerce and digital marketing are revolutionizing the consumers’ way of thinking and purchasing. The program provides the skills and tools necessary to innovate the distribution strategies, in line with the international market standards and with the digital commerce technologies, which every year enter our Masters in order to provide the necessary skills to operate in companies.

 

WHO IS IT FOR?

The Master in Business Management –  Retail Management and E-Commerce track is intended for young graduates wishing to meet the needs of the companies of modern distribution and of the large scale retail trade. Starting from the original skills of negotiation and logistics, these companies  need to find today new business opportunities through the levers of retail marketing, finance and production. From this viewpoint, the management of a category of products is to be considered as the management of a business in itself. It requires ability to manage and control, to deal with the assortment and layout of goods, knowledge of the market to establish the right prices and mastery of marketing leverages to direct the offer towards the most efficient commercial channels, including of course the integration of analogue and digital channels.

 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The program opens the doors to a dynamic environment, one experiencing the need to rethink itself through new planning tools: a starting point for a career as category manager for leading industry players (supermarkets, large retail structures, chains of stores, directly owned stores). Through the Master it is possible, once having completed in the companies the years of experience required, to access the following job positions: Trade Marketing Manager, Retail Analyst, Category Manager, Buyer, E-Commerce Manager, Sales Manager, Sales Controlling Manager, Marketing Manager.

Retail businesses are imagining a new way to compete on the market: get in touch with the course program manager to support it with your value.

 

SERVICES

Bologna Business School provides student support services included in the tuition fee for the Master.

 

Programme Advisory Committee:

  • Massimo Monti – Chief Executive Officer, Alce Nero S.p.A.
  • Alberto Miraglia – General Manager, Retail Institute Italy
  • Franco Gabbrielli – Former President, Assopellettieri
  • Lorenzo Scrimizzi – Former President , Carpigiani Japan
  • Patrick Romano – Managing Director, Bologna Welcome
  • Massimiliano Di Silvestre – Chief Executive Officer, BMW Italia
  • Baldo Scassellati Sforzolini – Global Head of R&D, Galderma
  • Giovanna Cenacchi – Full Professor, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna

 

Ranking

RANKED BUSINESS QS

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the international network focused on services, analysis and in-depth reports of post-experience and university education, geared toward international mobility and career development. The QS Online MBA Ranking is based on insights from the business world and a methodology that allows programs to be evaluated according to four parameters: Faculty and Teaching, Class Profile, Employability and Class Experience.

 

Accreditation

EQUIS

Bologna Business School is EQUIS – EFMD Quality Improvement System accredited, one of the most important international quality assessment and continuous improvement systems for Schools of Management and Business Administration.


Angelo Manaresi

Angelo Manaresi

Director of Studies
angelo.manaresi@unibo.it

" With this Master you can meet experts and businesses that have already successfully developed its distribution network and understand how category managers, brand managers, buyers, store managers, customer relationship managers and area managers operate. "

CLASS PROFILE A.Y. 2023/2024

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

  • 25

    AVERAGE AGE

  • 49%

    WOMEN

Structure

The Master in Business Management – Retail Management and E-Commerce is a full-time program structured in 1.500 hours of learning activities over 12 months of study, divided into: 360 hours of lecturing, an estimated 540 hours of independent study, and 600 hours of internship. The structure of the Master is divided into:

  • First term: January 2025 – April 2025
  • Second term: May 2025 – July 2025
  • Internship: September 2025 – December 2025

Classroom participation is about 30 hours per week structured in order to allow time to work in groups, while not neglecting individual students focus and management of interpersonal relationships.

The Master offers Business Administration courses intended to consolidate the conceptual knowledge and the operational techniques that are applied to the companies. There are also courses and projects with a focus on sectorial issues of Retail Management and E-Commerce. Business Administration courses are concentrated mainly in the first term and are common to all the Master specializations; while track specific courses and company projects take place in the second term.

In addition to the general Business Administration courses and the subjects related to the specific track, there are also:

  1. a one-year Master Project, on the subject of business planning, carried out in groups;
  2. three Company Project Work, with companies lasting one month each, in May, June and July;
  3. testimonials from the business world such as BMmeetings;
  4. numerous activities related to the Personal Development Project. The A.Y. 2023/24 includes the following sessions:
  • Start up and Business Planning with Claudio Venezia, CEO & Founder Officina Startup
  • Export Management with Gerardo Famiglietti, International Sales Manager Endura S.p.A.
  • Doing business in Japan with Lorenzo Scrimizzi, Representative Director Carpigiani Japan
  • Company Turnaround with Federico Minoli, CEO Deus Ex Machina
  • Brand experience with Federica Sovrani, Account Project Manager Yu Retail
  • International Marketing with Giampiero Giunta, Senior Brand Manager Procter & Gamble
  • Team Builiding and Leadership with Alessandro Finelli, Professional Basketball Coach
  • Public speaking with Massimo Franceschetti and Lisa Marie Gelhaus, BBS Faculty
  • Negotiation techniques with Francesco De Rose and Marco Repezza, BBS Faculty

Given the importance of English language in your career, the School offers the opportunity to attend a Business English course.

COURSES

This course focuses on the main components of accounting, budgeting and cost analysis. In addition the course will train students on how to analyze economic-financial forecasts and budgets as well as understand the measurement and interpretation of the economic-financial performance of the company. Calculation and analysis in decision-making, management supervision, strategic control and strategic cost management will also be explored.

Ferri Paolo

The objective of the course in Digital Marketing is to provide the necessary knowledge for successfully implementing a marketing strategy utilizing new information technology, analyzing the needs of the client, the company communication and sales. A principally quantitative approach for measuring the effectiveness of Digital Marketing activities, which finds their natural application in an online context (e.g. Social Media, E-Commerce, Direct Marketing), without overlooking the application of new technologies in an offline context (e.g. Apps and Mobile Marketing in a modern Retailing environment). At the end of the course, it is expected that the students will have acquired a high level of knowledge on the main tools used in the field of Digital Marketing, allowing them to: define and implement a coherent Digital Marketing strategy; select the best suited tools based on strategic objectives; monitor the effectiveness by means of rigorous analytical procedures.

Matta Shashi
Nader Claudio
Tuan Annamaria

From the business model to the operational marketing plan. The fundamental conceptual and quantitative tools necessary for understanding, analyzing and constructing the relationship a company establishes with its market of interest: the centrality of the client, studying acquired behavior, the processes of segmentation and positioning, the development of new products and the spread of innovation, pricing decisions, distribution and communication.

Lorenzini Barbara

Introduction to marketing research: descriptive analysis. Utilizing probability and hypothesis in marketing research. Design and technical development finalized for collecting primary data. Data analysis: regression. Segmentation and clustering techniques. Perceptual maps and positioning.

 

Zammit Alessandra

Corporate sustainability and the circular economy are currently among the most discussed topics internationally, also due to climate change. The aim of the course is to understand why these issues are of such importance, underlining their urgency. We will learn more about the innovation activities of operational and system processes that companies adopt to implement strategies aimed at the Circulary Economy and the transition to a low carbon business model.

Foschi Eleonora

The course focuses on issues related to the management of materials along the supply chain, from suppliers to distribution channels. In this regard, they have a vital role. Managerial and organizational decisions made about the relationships with external companies with which we relate to, are the focal point of the course. In analyzing the vertical relationships between firms, the course seeks to develop: sensitivity to the Strategic Importance of the reports, the technical and managerial knowledge needed to deal with the decisions in the matter and organizational skills needed to manage them.

Bortolini Marco
Luciano Fratocchi
Paulraj Antony Chellappa
Regattieri Alberto

The evaluation of how economically sound a project or investment is, determining the value of a company, understanding the fiscal variables which determine an optimal financial structure. Corporate governance, venture capital and the main issues inherent to the listing of companies on the stock exchange. The functions of the principle derived tools and their use when covering financial risks of the company.

Baschieri Giulia

The course aims to introduce students to the most relevant issues (foundational and more advanced) of digital technologies, discussing the most important present and future consequences on the lives of individuals and on the structure and functioning of organizations and processes. The course consists of 5 seminars: Ai & Machine Learning, All-in Security, Cloud & Beyond, The Science of Data, Internet of Things.

This course structure consists of select lectures and three company projects.

LECTURES: present and future strategies of commercial enterprises in a global competitive environment; the new scenarios that characterize the retail sector in a national and international perspective; the different formulas and distribution channels, innovation and new business in the commercial management of the company; distribution trends for the sector of consumer goods and that of durable goods.

BUSINESS PROJECTS: This portion of the course consists of 3 one-month long business projects. The projects are carried out by working in groups of 4-5 participants and begin with the presentation of the company by starting by a manager of a company who is a partner in the School’s network. The manager details to the group the scope of the project. During each work project participants are assisted by a tutor; at the end of the month there is a meeting with the management and presentation of the deliverables created by the participants.

Teachers and management both provide an assessment, in order to review both the originality of the managerial solutions proposed as well as the practical feasibility and implementation potential in a real business context.

Repezza Marco

eCommerce is not about selling through a new channel but is the distribution itself that is evolving due to digital touchpoints.
In an increasingly fluid scenario with hyper-connected consumers and fragmented, constantly evolving purchase patterns every Manager must fully understand the logics underlying the online and omnichannel approaches.

The different business models that a company has for selling online will be examined during the course also deepening the technical aspects concerning the technological components and the enabling processes.

The topics covered will include the strategic and operational approaches that Brands, Retailers and Marketplaces are adopting to reach distinctive Customer Experiences in their target market.

Theoretical learning will be accompanied by case studies and practical simulations wich will include eCommerce technologies and marketing tools.

Gabrielli Andrea

The relationship between industry and distribution. Marketing policies and distribution of category management approach. The contents of the model and the evolution towards the shopper marketing. Category analysis: tools and models for decision support. The strategic choices and portfolio management categories. Marketing mix categories: the making of assortment, the levers of convenience, the size of the service and the enhancement of the business proposal in the store. Areas of collaboration and the role of industry.

De Rose Francesco

Learning approach

The educational sessions provide different learning methods, including lectures, simulations, discussions of case studies, presentations by companies, testimonies, and group work. The curriculum is complete with a series of Master Lectures given by professionals from the world of business, academia, and politics, which also provide numerous opportunities for discussion and interaction with the business world through case histories.

The program is developed in close collaboration with business partners both during the courses, and during the three sectorial company projects; the didactic approach is totally different from traditional university courses, as the lessons of the Master provide practical tools which allow practitioners to carry out concrete projects.

 

Faculty

Faculty members at Bologna Business School work together offering outstanding teaching standards. An international and interdisciplinary approach is guaranteed by a joint team of distinguished national core professors, adjunct, visiting professors, guest speakers and top managers.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

The integration with companies is a priority and an ever-present feature of all programs of the Bologna Business School, hence for the Master in Business Management – Retail Management and E-Commerce too.
The School is fully committed to creating employability, by way of a systematic career service action, constantly focused on matching at best the students’ professional projects with the needs companies have.
The internship is an exceptional springboard, suffice it to say that six months after the end of the full-time masters at Bologna Business School on average 90% of students work in a company.

The BBS Career Service assists and supports students since the very beginning, along a training and professional development path. This is accomplished by organizing a series of workshops, with the aim of providing the fundamental tools and resources to be appropriately prepared for the labor market.

 

To achieve this goal, students are involved in several workshops, among which we may list:

  • Writing a CV and a Cover Letter
  • How to create an effective Linkedin profile
  • How to prepare for a job interview

 

In addition to this, thanks to the collaboration with professional career counselors, students receive a customized service, in order to understand their strengths and to build a professional development plan, which will turn out to be helpful when looking for an internship. Here follow some of the activities:

  • Initial guidance interviews
  • Specific interviews, focused on one’s own career plan
  • Continuous support to students with one – to – one sessions

 

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Alumni

Benedetta Cianci

E-Commerce Specialist, Coswell
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2021/2022)

"The master's degree in Retail Management and E-Commerce represents a turning point in my working and non-working life: it was a highly educational experience that gave me the opportunity to specialize in the field in which I dreamed of working: E-Commerce. Every single notion learned from the highly qualified professors and from the guest testimonies from multiple businesses was crucial. But what enriched me the most were my colleagues: thanks to the direct confrontation with different backgrounds, this course turned out to be an opportunity for personal growth as well."

Martino Abagnale

Retail Allocator, Harmont & Blaine
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2020/2021)

"Attending a Master’s program is like betting on yourself. The many project works have helped me to develop transversal soft skills and to have a complete vision of what it means to do business, by expanding a new and effective approach to work. In addition to this, the Master course allows to connect with large industrial realities, high-level professionals, and entrepreneurs of all kinds. This approach makes the academic environment highly stimulating and helps you to open your mind. Thanks to the Master, I was able to go through important interviews with the belief that I could really bring added value to the company. For me, attending the Master in Business Management was a winning bet."

Carolina Mezzetti

Web & Digital Specialist, Fabbri 1905
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2020/2021)

"After graduating in Communication and Marketing, I decided to complete my education with a Master course in Business Management, thus managing to acquire a 360° view of the different business functions. Group projects were the real boost to my experience: working in teams was fundamental to understand my strengths and be able to bring out the best in others and myself, thus achieving the expected results. The countless exchanges and meetings with entrepreneurs and professionals also helped me to open my mind, and today I still continue to participate in these moments of exchange. "

Manuela Romeo

Performance Strategist - Spotview
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2020/2021)

"After finishing my studies in Law, I felt the need to give a business slant to my education, and this master's program allowed me, thanks to its immersive and comprehensive program, to get a real insight into what it means to do business today. The track in Retail management & E-Commerce paved the way for what is my passion and my job: digital marketing strategy geared toward generating performance. The path has been challenging but full of stimulation thanks to the exchange of skills and views between colleagues, professionals and professors who with dedication ignited ambition in us. I have discovered the importance of teamwork and of being part of an inclusive network of excellence that helped me to grow professionally"

Salvatore Capasso

Junior Trade Marketing Admenta Italia S.p.A. LloydsFarmacia
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2019/2020)

"Attending the Master's program was the best choice for my educational path. It gave me a way to face the world of work with the right tools, thanks to the lecturers, practical business cases, group works with fellow students, with whom I still share many experiences. I attended it in the pandemic year and largely at a distance, unfortunately, but despite that, I would do exactly everything again. Even if it was a difficult time to enter the job market, there was no shortage of opportunities to interview with important companies, all of which were approached with the confidence gained from the master's program. The insights gained during the managers' testimonies as well as a work ethic conveyed by the faculty are still an inspiration today"

Francesca Minuzzo

Assistant Brand Marketing Manager, Marchon Eyewear
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2018/2019)

"The BBS master was a crucial step in my education. It gave me a 360 ° view of the business world and made me grow both personally and professionally, developing hard and soft skills. Thanks to the master I had the opportunity to see companies of excellence closer, to put my knowledge into practice and to collaborate with professionals, teachers and classmates with different backgrounds. This engaging and immersive experience allowed me to acquire the preparation, awareness and motivation necessary to introduce myself to the world of work and in particular to large fashion and eyewear companies."

Erica Colombari

District Manager - Intimissimi, Calzedonia Group
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2018/2019)

"The master was a highly performing experience that allowed me to combine theoretical and practical aspects; very useful project works thanks to which I got to know different companies and which helped me to grow not only professionally but also, and above all, on a personal level. With the preparation I obtained, I was able to face important job interviews with determination and confidence that gave me the opportunity to be part of one of the leading companies in the Italian fashion retail sector."

Gianpaolo D’avanzo

Delivery Manager, Yoox Net-A-Porter Group 
MGI - Retail Management (A.Y. 2016/2017)

"The Master in Retail Management was a real investment in my professional career.You are catapulted directly into the business world without even noticing it. The various group projects allow you to understand how to make the most of your skills.Thanks to the lessons given by excellent teachers and their advice, I was able to direct my professional career, towards the sector that fascinated me the most, Digital Retail."

COMPANIES

The goal of the Career Service is also to allow students to connect with national and international companies. Over the years, Bologna Business School has managed to establish a wide-ranging network and a sound partnership with leading companies in Italy, thanks to a personalized approach, based on each company’s needs. The collaboration features the following activities:

  • Sending the CV book
  • Sharing internship and work opportunities
  • Presentations at the School premises
  • Career Day
  • Implementation of project works
  • Class-room activities with case studies presented by managers and/or HR professionals

Moreover, companies support the Master in Business Management – Retail Management with scholarships, professional opportunities, career fairs and company presentations.

The companies that worked with us in 2022/2023 are:

ALMA CUBE AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI BPER BANCA CALZEDONIA CARREFOUR COOP ALLEANZA 3.0 COSWELL DR.MAX DUCATI GRUPPO GRANTERRE GRUPPO MONTENEGRO LIDL LLOYDS FARMACIE LUXOTTICA MASERATI MAX MARA FASHION GROUP PWC REKEEP SPERLARI SPOT WIEW STROILI ORO TIGOTA YOOX NET A PORTER ZALANDO

FEES

The tuition fee for the Master is 13.800 euros (VAT free) to be paid in three installments:

  • First installment: 1.850 euros
  • Second installment: 7.000 euros
  • Third installment: 4.950 euros

The fee includes participation in the Master, all the study material available through the online platform, and access to the services and facilities of Alma Bologna Business School. Furthermore, the fee gives participants the right to take advantage of the supporting activities of the School, such as the language courses and the master lectures by invitation. Free parking is also available within the BBS campus.

Additionally, with the Student Card of the University of Bologna, students have access to all of the university facilities, including over 100 libraries, digital resources and study halls (including databases and online subscriptions); the three city center canteens and all university student related discount offers. More information is available on the site of the University of Bologna: : http://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita

Free parking is also available within the BBS campus.

Additionally, with the Student Card of the University of Bologna, students have access to all of the university facilities, including over 100 libraries, digital resources and study halls (including databases and online subscriptions); the three city center canteens and all university student related discount offers. More information is available on the site of the University of Bologna: http://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita

 

HONOR LOAN

For more information on honor loan, contact us by email: gestioneimpresa@bbs.unibo.it

SCHOLARSHIPS

At Bologna Business School we understand the importance of financial aid in supporting our students to achieve their educational goals. We are aware that an advanced, high quality training path can be a significant commitment, at the same time we also truly believe that investing in one’s future always pays back.

Bologna Business School is pleased to make partial scholarships available to the most deserving students. The scholarships will be awarded based on merit to students who occupy the highest positions in the selection process. The top ranked students will be those who have not only a solid academic and/or professional background, but also those who have demonstrated the most motivation to participate in the course. Winners will be notified at the time of admission.

 

 

 

 

REQUIREMENTS

In order to be admitted to the Master’s course you must have a bachelor’s degree (obtained within the closing date of enrollment of the selection round in which you participate)

The admission to the Master is subject to the positive evaluation of the selection test in line with the number of places available. The selection process consists of a Written Aptitude Test, prerequisite to be admitted to the motivational interview. 

For auditors, bachelor’s degree is not mandatory.

APPLICATION PROCESS

This Master’s is open to all applicants with a bachelor’s degree obtained before the enrolment deadline of each round. Application steps:

1. Register on “Students Online” by connecting to the site studenti.unibo.it
2. Select “First Level Master”.
3. Pay the participation fee for the selection (60 euro for each Master)
4. Upload the required documents online:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Motivational letter
  • Letters of reference  (optional)
  • Photograph of recognition
  • Concentration Form
  • Front and back copy of a valid ID or passport
  • TOEFL/IELTS/CAE certificate (optional)
  • If available, a GMAT/GRE certificate with a score above 550 (GMAT) or equivalent (GRE). Applicants uploading this certificate are exempted from the written aptitude test as part of the admission process.
  • For degrees obtained in Italy: Self-certification of Bachelor’s degree with details of exams taken and relative grades
  • For degrees obtained abroad: Dichiarazione di Valore (to be requested at the Italian Embassy in the country where the degree was obtained) or Diploma Supplement (to be requested at the university where the degree was obtained). In the event that the candidate is unable to obtain the Dichiarazione di Valore or Diploma Supplement at the time of enrollment, he/she may temporarily replace it with a Conditional Enrollment Form, which will be sent after enrollment by gestioneimpresa@bbs.unibo.it

For further guidance, students who obtained a bachelor’s degree abroad are encouraged to check the page below: https://www.unibo.it/en/teaching/enrolment-transfer-and-final-examination/declaration-of-value-translation-and-legalization

For further information concerning the selection process and the related documents, we invite you to consult the Master details and download the documents that will be available shortly in this section.

CALL FOR APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY TO THE SELECTION CONCENTRATION FORM CONDITIONAL ENROLLMENT

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