Understanding of how fraud and crime can threat the performance of a firm.
- Understanding of the mechanisms generating fraud and crime and possibilities for firms to reduce the potential negative consequences.

While most entrepreneurs are searching for innovative solutions to improve firm performance and managers attempt to organize processes in the firm to optimize this performance, there is always the threat that others misuse the opportunities provided by the firm in an illegal way. These problems can be caused by both insiders (e.g. employees) and outsiders (e.g. customers). In practice, the legal system does not fully protect firms against this threat, and leaves protection partly to their own responsibility. Additional measures by firms are required for which there is always a trade-off between the costs of these measures and the potential costs of fraud and crime. This skills training develops an understanding of why and how the practices of a firm could provide incentives for criminal behavior and what firms can do to reduce these problems. Based on cases, problems of crime and fraud will be discussed and students (in teams) work on an actual strategy to maximize profits for a specific firm. Thereby, students have to optimize the trade-off between additional costs and benefits due to preventive measures to reduce fraud and crime.

Academic articles

• An advanced level of English.