SWBLpapers

SWBL Papers Syllabi

1) COMPANY'S OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

RATIONALE OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Any company's investment, both remarkable and small, must be preceded by a correct and deep analysis of company's or group's characteristics.
An appropriate plan of the activities permits of minimizing costs and maximizing results, allowing of proceeding, revisioning or abandoning a product plan or the whole business plan, when it is no more practicable. Any other alternative would expose the company to a blind management which could generate a financial exposure no-return, or unuseful operations.
When a program is based on these arguments, it will be certainly easier and risk less, and the opportunities that will come will be certainly more.
Business Planning is an activity strictly related to Product Planning. Business Planning must be keyed to single product plans and it is essential in any case where we have more than one product to be managed. The same technique used for Product Planning can be used for Business Planning at corporate level.

BASIC PRINCIPLE FOR EFFECTIVE PRODUCT PLANNING.

Product Planning is strictly connected to Operations Management. Product Planning is basically an operating unit function system. When the Product Plan involves more than one Unit, the next higher level of management must provide an "umbrella" strategy for the individual company product plan.
Although Product Planning is essentially a Marketing/Technical function, it involves the entire management of an operating unit and it is necessary that all other functions be involved during every phase.
Our Product Planning method is designed to be as flexible as possible, so that operating units can adapt it to their particular products and operating situations within the broad framework provided.
The Product Planning system involves a step-by-step approach with a go/no-go review, and decision made at each discrete phase to move ahead to next phase.

Any operation process is performed at least by the following concrete phases:

- PHASE I	- Pre-study
- PHASE II	- Feasibility study
- PHASE III	- Product/business development: production and sales
- PHASE IV	- Product/works phase-out.

PHASE I - PRE-STUDY

Analysis of General Economic Condition of the Market
General Description of Social and Political Conditions.
Market Size Identification.
Field Test Plan
Competition analysis and lobbying policy.
Current product/work replacement policy, or know-how acquisition.
Go/No-Go Statements.

PHASE II - FEASIBILITY STUDY

PRELIMINARY MARKETING PLAN
1. Analysis of Own Resources
2. Penetrable Market Size
3. Go/No-Go Statement
4. Field test Operations:
  1. Merchandising Plan
  2. Distribution/Partnership channels
5. Pricing Strategy
6. Sales Forecast
7. Sale Force Training
8. Warranty Policy
9. After Sales Services
10. Service Training, Spare Parts Socks, Installation Manuals
11. Logistic and Warehousing
12. Incentives and Commissions
13. Brand New Product/Work, or Replacement Policy.
COMMERCIAL SPECIFICATIONS
1. Customer/Market Requirements
  1. What, Why, When.
  2. Elasticity of the demand curve.
2. Product Use and Applications.
3. Product Requirements and Characteristics
  1. Performance
  2. Features
  3. Appearance/Design
  4. Cost/Profit Target.
PRODUCT/WORKS PROPOSAL
1. Current Product/Work Proposal
2. New Product/Work Development or Know-how Acquisition
3. Competition Analysis
4. Marketing Channels
5. Marketing Strategy
  1. To Fill a Gap
  2. To Reduce Manufacturing Costs
  3. To Penetrate Export Market
6. Description of Product/Works Development Programme
7. Go/No-Go Statement.
8. Feasibility Study Forms.

PHASE III - PRODUCT/WORK DEVELOPMENT

Production and Sales

PRODUCT/WORKS PLAN
1. Marketing Information
2. Planning Information
3. Marketing Milestones/Activities
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
1. Planning Information
2. Technical Milestones/Activities
3. GANTT Diagram Method
MANUFACTURING INFORMATION
1. Planning Information PERT/CPM Methods
2. Manufacturing Milestones/Activities
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1. Financial Analysis
2. Financial Milestones/Activities
P&L (PROFIT AND LOSS) STATEMENT
1. Marketing Reference Numbers
2. Technical reference Numbers
3. Financial Reference Numbers
4. Manufacturing Reference Numbers
5. SHEETS
  1. P&L Statement
  2. Marketing Summary
  3. Income Statement
  4. Financial Analysis Sheets
Go/No-Go Statement

PHASE IV - PRODUCT/WORKS PHASE-OUT

Reasons for Product/Works Phase-Out
Impact on Unit Resources
Financial Impact
Impact on Customers
Phase-Out Milestones/Activities
Phase-Out Strategy Plan

2) INTRODUCTION TO METHODOLOGICAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ECOSOPHICS
1. The Ecosophic Set
2. Production and Demand Function
3. Production Factors
4. Demand Factors
5. The Assessment of the Environmental Impact
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
1. Ethics of Entrepreneurship
2. Entrepreneurship in Profit/Non-profit Corporations
MARKETING PLANNING
1. Demand Analysis
  1. Commercial Specifications
2. Production Analysis
  1. Product Engineering
TECHNOLOGY AND R&D ASSESSMENT
1. Engineering Specifications
MANUFACTURING PLANNING
1. C.P.M. or PERT Method
2. Work Factor Method
RISK ANALYSIS AND FINANCIAL MODELS
1. Project Financing
2. Third Party Financing
3. Financial Leverage
INTRODUCTION TO "PRODUCT AND BUSINESS PLANNING
1. Marketing Statement
2. Legal Statement
3. Engineering Statement
4. Quality and Environment Statements
5. Financial Statements
INTERNATIONAL AND SUPRANATIONAL PRIVATE LAW
1. I.C.C. Regulations
2. W.T.O. Regulations
3. E.U. Regulations.

3) INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

Introduction to Banking
Introduction to Securities
Introduction to the Insurance System
Introduction to the Rules and Arbitrate of the International Chamber of Commerce.

The GATT and the World Trade Organization Rules
1. Freedom of Capital Movements and Payments World-wide
2. Freedom to Provide Services
3. Money Laundry Preventive Rules.
The European Union Financial Law
1. The European Central Bank
The Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Banks in the States
The Central Bank of Japan and the Bank of England
Investments
1. Private Investment through savings or credit
2. Public Investment through Levies, Certificates of Deposit, Treasury Bonds
3. Merchant Banking
4. Hedge Funds
5. Financial Futures
6. Asset Liability Management (ALM)
7. Value at Risk (VAR)
Savings
1. Savings Banks
2. Building Societies
3. Mutuality
Credit and Creditworthiness
1. Loans and Debentures
2. Mortgages
3. Leveraged Credit
Financial Clusters
1. The Financial Cluster of London, New York, Zurich, Frankfurt and Tokyo.
Moody's and Standard & Poor's' Rating Systems
Bank Instrument
1. Bank Debentures
  1. Bank Purchase Orders (B.P.Os)
  2. Medium Terms Debentures (M.T.Ds)
  3. Promissory Bank Notes (P.B.Ns)
  4. Zero Coupon Bonds (Zeros)
2. Documentary Letters of Credit (D.L.Cs)
3. Stand-by Letters of Credit (S.L.Cs)
Insurance Financial Instrument
1. Life Insurance Policy
2. Financial Policies
3. All Risk Policies
Collateral Credit
1. Bank’s Collateral
2. Treasury Dept’s Collateral
3. Insurance Company’s Collateral
4. Private Entities’ Collateral
History and Development of Financial Instruments
1. Keynes, Harry White and Bretton Woods
2. Marshall Plan; IMF; World Bank; Bank of International Settlements
Elements of Financial Mathematics
Leveraged Trading Programs.
Bank Debentures Trading Programs
Forfeiting Programs
The Opening of Bank Accounts
1. How to Open and Manage a Bank Account in a Foreign Bank
2. Accounts for Resident/Non-resident Clients
3. Bank Secret Disclosure
Tax Heavens
1. Do they exist?
2. Why they exist.
3. Geographical Locations of Tax Heavens
The International Chamber of Commerce Uniform Practice
1. Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (Publication nr.500)
2. Incoterms (Publication nr.460)
3. Rules of Optional Conciliation and Arbitration (Publication nr. 447)
The Stock Markets
1. NYSE; NASDAQ and other US Listings
2. The Major European Stock Exchanges.
The Commodities Exchange Market of Chicago.
The Networks for International Payments
1. Eurogiro
2. SWIFT
3. Western Union/Money Gram, etc
Financial Indices
1. Marginal Analysis
2. Marginal Cost
3. Marginal Cost of Funds Schedule
4. Marginal Cost Pricing
5. Marginal Disutility
6. Marginal Efficiency of Capital
7. Marginal Efficiency of Investment
8. Marginal Per Capita Reinvestment Quotient
9. Marginal Propensity to Withdraw
10. Marginal Rate of Substitution
11. Marginal Rate of Transformation
12. Marginal Revenue
13. Marginal Utility
14. Marginal Utility of Income, or Marginal Utility of Money
15. Net Present Value
16. Cash Flow and Working Capital
17. Return on Investment
18. Return on Asset
19. Return on Equiy
20. Earnings per Share.

4) COMPARATIVE COMPANY LAW

A) INTRODUCTION TO COMPANY LAW

B) RATIONALE: THE MOST ACCESSIBLE COUNTRY

Legal Aspects of Company Formation
1. Company Definition
2. Domestic and Foreign Companies
3. Residence and Domicile of a Company
4. Stock, shares, "value", surplus, equities.
5. Limited Liability
6. Bylaws
7. Domestication of a Company
8. Residence and Citizenship in setting-up a company.
9. Not-for-profit Companies and Tax Levy
The World Trade Organization
The Incorporation in the U.S.A.
1. How to incorporate in the States
2. What Information must be included in the Certificate of Incorporation
3. Fees Charge for Incorporating
4. How to reserve a Corporate Name
5. How to Transact Business in the States if a Company is already Incorporated in another State of Jurisdiction.
6. How to amend the Certificate of Incorporation
7. The Difference between an "Open" and a "Closed" Corporation
8. The Sole Trader
9. The General Partnership
10. The Limited Partnership
11. The Corporations
12. The Limited Liability Company
13. Incorporation Documents
Doing Business in the States
The Incorporation in Latin America Countries.
The Incorporation in the European Union
1. The Fundamental Freedoms of the EEC Treaty
  1. Freedom of Establishment (Art. 52)
  2. Freedom of Movement for Workers (Art. 48-51)
  3. Freedom to Provide Services (Art. 59-66)
  4. Free Movement of Goods (Art. 9-11)
  5. Freedom of Capital Movement and Payment (Art. 67-73)
2. The Jurisdiction of the State of Residence or Domiciliation
3. The incorporation in:
  1. Austria
  2. Belgium
  3. Denmark
  4. Spain
  5. Portugal
  6. France
  7. Germany
  8. Greece
  9. Ireland
  10. Italy
  11. Luxembourg
  12. Holland
  13. Norway
  14. United Kingdom
  15. Sweden
  16. Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Channel Islands
The Incorporation in Hungary and Russia
The incorporation in Japan
The Incorporation in Low or Exempt Tax Countries.
The case of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

5) U.S.A. BUSINESS LAW

The General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs and the World Trade Organization's Rules.
The Treaty of 1948 with Italy for Reciprocal Treatment.
Joint Ventures

LEGAL ASPECT OF COMPANY FORMATION
1. Definition of a Company
2. Domestic and Foreign Company
3. Residence and Domicile of a Company
4. Stock, shares, "value", surplus, and equities definition
5. Bylaws
6. Domestication of a Company
7. Residence and Citizenship in setting-up a Company
8. Not-for-profit Companies
9. Tax Levy
10. How to incorporate in the States of (Virginia, Delaware, Texas)
11. What Information must be included in the Certificate of Incorporation
12. Fees Charge for Incorporating
13. How to reserve a Corporate Name
14. How to transact business in the States if a Company is already incorporated in another State of Jurisdiction.
15. How to amend the Certificate of Incorporation
16. The Difference between an "Open" and a "Close" Corporation
17. The Sole Trader
18. The General Partnership
19. The Corporations
20. The Limited Liability Company
21. Incorporation Documents
DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATES
1. Reporting requirements for Foreign Direct and Portfolio Investments and International Trade in Services.
  1. Reports Require for Foreign Direct Investment in the U.S.
  2. Reports Required for International Trade in Services
  3. Reports Required for Foreign Portfolio Investment in the U.S.
2. Additional Reporting and Withholding Requirements for Investment in Real Estate
  1. Reporting Requirements for Foreign Investment in U.S. Agricultural Land
  2. State Reporting Requirement and laws Affecting Ownership of Real Estate
  3. Internal Revenue Service Reporting Requirement for U.S. Real property Investments
IMMIGRATION MATTERS
1. As per the Treaty of 1948 with Italy
2. Non-immigrant Visas
3. Immigrant Visas
4. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
5. The W.T.O. Recommendations
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW
1. Overview
  1. Federal Law
  2. Employment Discrimination
  3. Wages, Hours and Benefits
  4. Occupational Safety and Health
  5. Veteran Rights
  6. Immigration Reform and Control
  7. Labor Unions
  8. State Law
TAXES
1. U.S. Income Tax Considerations
  1. Residency of Foreign Individuals for U.S. Income Tax Purposes
    1. Test for U.S. Residency for Income Tax Purposes
      1. Green Card Test
      2. Substantial Presence Test
      3. Planning Considerations
    2. Residency Starting and Ending Date
      1. Commencement of U.S. Residence
      2. Termination of U.S. Residence
  2. U.S. Income Taxation of Foreign Investors
    1. Passive Income
    2. Business Income
      1. Personal Services Income
      2. Income from U.S. Real estate
      3. Trading in Stock or Commodities
  3. Miscellaneous Considerations
    1. Transfer Pricing for Transactions Between Related Parties
    2. Reporting Requirements
  4. Federal estate and Gift Taxation
    1. Estate Taxes
    2. Gift Taxes
2. Virginia Taxation
  1. Corporate Income Tax
  2. Personal Income Tax on Individuals
  3. Estate Taxes
  4. Miscellaneous Taxes
    1. Sales Tax
    2. Property Taxes
IMPORT CONTROLS
1. Import procedures
  1. Documentation
  2. Deposit of estimated Duties and Release of merchandise
  3. Special permit for Immediate delivery
  4. Special procedure for particular Type of Entry
  5. Examination, Valuation, Classification and Liquidation
  6. Appeals and Protests
2. Special Limitation on Imports
  1. Quotas
    1. Absolute Quotas
    2. Tariff-rate Quotas
  2. Prohibition on Trade with Certain Countries
  3. "Buy-American" Restrictions
  4. Prohibition on Certain Items
  5. Marketing of Goods, Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights
3. Import Competition and Unfair Practices
  1. Antidumping Laws
    1. Revenue Act of 1916 ("1916 Act")
    2. Tariff Act of 1930
  2. Countervailing Duty Laws
  3. Unfair Methods of Competition
  4. "Escape Clause" (Positive Adjustment)
  5. Response to Foreign Trade Practices
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
1. Introduction
2. Patents
  1. Foreign Patents
  2. Types and Duration
  3. Basic requirements
  4. Ownership
  5. Patent application
    1. Patentability Search
    2. Factors to Consider
    3. The Application
    4. Examination
  6. Appeal
  7. Maintenance Fees
  8. Scope and Protection and Infringement
3. Trademarks and Service Marks
  1. Introduction and Definition
    1. Introduction
    2. Definition
    3. Establishing Rights in a Mark
    4. Trade name Compared
  2. Selection and Pre-clearance
  3. Use of the mark
  4. Obtaining a Federal Registration
    1. The Application
    2. Prosecution of the Application
    3. Opposition and Cancellation
  5. Benefits of Registration
  6. Maintaining and protecting the Registered mark
    1. Notice of registration
    2. Affidavit of Use
    3. Incontestability
    4. Renewal of Registration
  7. Infringement
  8. State Registration
4. Copyrights
  1. Governing Statute
  2. Subject Matter of Copyright
  3. Exclusive Rights
  4. Copyright Ownership
  5. Duration of Copyright
  6. Formalities
    1. Notice
    2. Registration
  7. Infringement
  8. International Relations
5. Trade Secrets
  1. Introduction
  2. Criminal prosecution
  3. Patents v. Trade Secrets
    1. Subject Matter
    2. Duration
    3. Cost
    4. Parallel Development or Reverse Engineering
    5. Relief
  4. Confidentiality
  5. Unsolicited Submissions
ANTITRUST LAW
1. Introduction
2. Recent Changes in Economic Understanding and Interpretation
3. Current Status of the Law
  1. Per Se Violations
    1. Concerted Activities Directed Toward Customers
    2. Dividing Markets
    3. Concerted Activities Directed Toward Competition or Suppliers
  2. Non-Per Se Offences
  3. Monopolization or Attempted Monopolization
    1. Market Power
    2. Predatory acts
  4. Mergers and Acquisitions
  5. Joint Ventures
  6. Robinson-Patman Act
  7. Miscellaneous items
  8. State Statutes
4. Enforcement Mechanisms
5. Conclusion
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOND FINANCING
1. Introduction
2. Qualifying Projects and Use of Bond Proceeds
3. Procedure
4. Conclusion
FOREIGN BUSINESS INCUBATORS
1. Introduction
2. Overview
3. Advantages for Foreign Businesses
4. Business and legal Considerations
5. Conclusion
FOREIGN TRADE ZONES
1. Introduction
2. Admission of Merchandise
3. Status of Merchandise
4. Manipulation, Manufacture, Exhibition or Destruction of Merchandise
5. Sub-zones
6. Penalties
REAL ESTATE
1. Introduction
2. Acquisition of real estate
  1. Purchase of Property
  2. Leases
  3. Other Interests in Property
  4. Title Insurance
  5. Instruments of Conveyance, recording
3. Land Use
4. Development
5. Financing
6. Environmental Issues.

6) EUROPEAN BUSINESS LAW

The General Agreement on Trade and tariffs and the World trade Organization Rules
The European Union Single Market

LEGAL ASPECTS OF COMPANY FORMATION IN:
1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Denmark
4. Spain
5. Portugal
6. France
7. Germany
8. Greece
9. Ireland
10. Italy
11. Luxembourg
12. Holland
13. Norway
14. United Kingdom
15. Sweden
16. Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Channel Islands
DOING BUSINESS IN THE MEMBER STATES
1. Profile of the Member States
2. Foreign investments and trade opportunities
3. Investment Incentives from the E.U. and the Single States
4. Restrictions on Foreign Investments and Investors
5. Regulatory Environment
6. Banking and Financing
7. Business Entities
IMMIGRATION MATTERS
1. Related to E.U. Citizens
2. Related to Non-E.U. Citizens
3. The Treaty of Schenken
4. The W.T.O. Recommendations
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
1. Overview
  1. European Union Laws
    1. Equal opportunity
    2. Employment Discrimination
    3. Occupational Safety and health
    4. Labor Unions
  2. Member States Law.
TAXES
1. Taxes in the member States
  1. Residency of Foreign Individuals for Income Tax Purposes
  2. Income Taxation of Foreign Investors
    1. Passive Income
    2. Business Income
    3. Personal Services Income
    4. Income from Real estate
    5. Trading in Stock or Commodities
  3. Miscellaneous Considerations
    1. Transfer Pricing for Transactions Between Related Parties
    2. Reporting Requirements
  4. Gift Taxation
    1. Estate Taxes
    2. Gift Taxes
  5. Corporate Income Tax
  6. Personal Income Tax on Individuals
  7. Estate Taxes
IMPORT CONTROLS
1. Import procedures
  1. Documentation
  2. Deposit of estimated Duties and Release of merchandise
  3. Special permit for Immediate delivery
  4. Special procedure for particular Type of Entry
  5. Examination, Valuation, Classification and Liquidation
  6. Appeals and Protests
2. Special Limitation on Imports
  1. Quotas
    1. Absolute Quotas
    2. Tariff-rate Quotas
  2. Prohibition on Trade with Certain Countries
  3. Prohibition on Certain Items
  4. Marketing of Goods, Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights
3. Import Competition and Unfair Practices
  1. Antidumping Laws
  2. Countervailing Duty Laws
  3. Unfair Methods of Competition
  4. "Escape Clause" (Positive Adjustment)
  5. Response to Foreign Trade Practices
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
1. Introduction
  II - Patents
  1. Foreign Patents
  2. Types and Duration
  3. Basic requirements
  4. Ownership
  5. Patent application
    1. Patentability Search