University of Fribourg/FSES – Prof. P.

Dembinski – Spring 2021

FOCAL FIRMS AND SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED

ENTERPRISES IN GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS

Spring semester 2021

Prof. Paul H. Dembinski

Theme
Through the globalisation process, the degree of specialisation, fragmentation and
transnationalisation of production and distribution have dramatically increased.

While large and transnational enterprises are mainly originators of these changes
through their technological and managerial innovative capacity, smaller enterprises
are confronted with their - sometimes dramatic - consequences and have to adapt to
them.

The concept of “Global Value Chain” (GVC) addresses the multiple steps of
transformation, and of spatial and technical coordination or cooperation, required to
deliver a good or service to the final customer. In many cases, GVC run across many
countries, industries and enterprises which in consequence are in a complex,
cooperative and competitive relationships.

The purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the multidisciplinary notion
and complex reality of GVC. Its emphasis is put on differentiating the roles of, on one
side, very large and often transnational players and, on the other, smaller and less
transnationalised enterprises.

Objectives
The course (lecture and seminar) will teach neither “management techniques” nor
“managerial tools”. Its purpose is a better understanding of the working of
contemporary global economy. Only when the context is well understood, can the
received management tools and techniques be used in a way that makes sense. The
overall goal of this course is to develop students’ capacity to integrate in a critical and
meaningful way pieces and bits of knowledge and information stemming from various
and often dispersed sources, different theories and conceptual frameworks.

The main goals of the course are to:

(1) Help students discover the heterogeneity of economic fabric (for example in
Switzerland);
(2) Understand the systemic dimension of the globalisation process, its drivers
and consequences for enterprises of different sizes;
(3) Gain familiarity with the growing literature on “meso-economics” including
Global Value Chains;
(4) Analyse the strategy and the modes of cooperation between enterprises of
different sizes within GVC (i.e. the automotive sector);

_________________________________________________________________________________
GVC Spring 2021-Objectives & Topics-final page 1
 University of Fribourg/FSES – Prof. P. Dembinski – Spring 2021

(5) Confront students with group research project leading them to work on
primary information, pushing them to deal with the difficulty of selecting the
relevant and the reliable pieces and of presenting the result to the class in an
interesting and concise form.
(6) Train students in concise report writing through a short essay of 10’000
characters.

Organisation of the course:

(1) This course is taught every two years;
(2) The course counts for 4,5 ETCS and is composed of about 40 contact hours
(lectures, seminars, or tutorials);
(3) The course will take place on Mondays, throughout the spring semester 2021.
It is scheduled from 11:15 to 12:00, and from 15:15 to 17:45. A mixture of
online and face-to-face courses is planned. In the case of the latter, they will
take place in room A230 (PER 21), while the former will be taught through
Microsoft Teams.
(4) During the first weeks, lecture prevails. Later on, contact hours become of
seminar type, implying active students’ participation and contribution.

Requirements:
ETCS credits are granted when a student achieves a grade equal or higher than
4.00. The overall assessment is based on:
 regular presence and participation in the course discussions and the seminars;
 oral presentation and discussion of the research project (undertaken by
groups of two);
 a short essay to be written by the groups of two on the basis of the oral
presentation and discussion of their respective research project. Such essay
of around 10’000 characters should be well-written (style, spelling). Font must
not be too small. Left and right margins on each page must not be less than 3
cm. Interlining must be at least 1.5. On the subject of quoting references,
please use the Citavi program, and within it choose the American
Psychological Association (APA) format.

In case of failure, an oral exam will be organised. Subject will be the entire material of
the course, together with students' presentations during the semester.

Documents and teaching material available:

The course is based on a plan and a bibliography list which will be distributed to
students at the beginning of the course. Compulsory reading will be put forward as
the course develops.

Transparencies and other presentation material used during the lectures are in most
cases available on https://moodle.unifr.ch – course “Focal Firms and SMEs in Global
Value Chains [SP 21]”. In addition, some of the reading material provided during the
semester can also be found in a kind of small bookshelf box (under the name of prof.
Paul H. Dembinski) available on the first floor of the Perolles library BP2
(corresponding to the second floor of the building PER 22).

_________________________________________________________________________________
GVC Spring 2021-Objectives & Topics-final page 2
 University of Fribourg/FSES – Prof. P. Dembinski – Spring 2021

Warning:
Active note taking is essential during the lectures.
Transparencies are only milestones of the material covered.
Do not hesitate to ask questions!

FOCAL FIRMS AND SMES IN GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS

Spring semester 2021
Prof. Paul H. Dembinski
Groups will focus on working out the “value chain/network” that underpins most
of goods and services we usually buy.

After selecting a good/service from the list of topics below, the entry point for the
analysis is to consider for the concerned product the following four dimensions of
the value chain/network:
1. technical transformation
2. inter-enterprises
3. value added
4. territory (for capital & labour)

To this end, it is important for each group to identify as early as possible at least 3
academic and 3 non-academic publications or Websites related with the studied
value chains/networks.

Indicative list of topics: Value decomposition & Global Value Chains/Networks

1. Private car
2. Oil : from well to pump
3. A white good
4. Vaccine (pharma industry)
5. A diamond or gold ring
6. Clothes – Zara/Benetton/H&M
7. Branded sport’s equipment
8. Fairtrade fruit
9. A bottle of Coca-Cola
10. Pack of recycled printer paper
11. Investment products such as funds of funds
12. Contact lens
13. Lap top and software
14. Handy device & subscription
15. Replacement of a hip or knee
16. Cup of Nespresso coffee
17. Film on DVD versus Netflix
18. A book sold on Amazon
19. Meal delivery service
20. Travel package (air travel + local services)
21. Ueber taxi drive
22. Robinhood’s type of platform

_________________________________________________________________________________
GVC Spring 2021-Objectives & Topics-final page 3