Let $\Lambda$ be a finite dimensional algebra and $G$ be a finite group whose elements act on $\Lambda$ as algebra automorphisms. Under the assumption that $\Lambda$ has a complete set $E$ of primitive orthogonal idempotents, closed under the action of a Sylow $p$-subgroup $S \leqslant G$, we show that the skew group algebra $\Lambda G$ and $\Lambda$ have the same finitistic dimension and the same strong global dimension if the action of $S$ on $E$ is free. Using a homological characterization of piecewise hereditary algebras proved by Happel and Zacharia, we deduce that $\Lambda G$ is piecewise hereditary if and only if $S$ acts freely on $E$ and $\Lambda$ is piecewise hereditary as well.

n this paper we study representations of skew group algebras $\Lambda G$, where $\Lambda$ is a connected, basic, finite-dimensional algebra (or a locally finite graded algebra) over an algebraically closed field $k$ with characteristic $p \geqslant 0$, and $G$ is an arbitrary finite group each element of which acts as an algebra automorphism on $\Lambda$. We characterize skew group algebras with finite global dimension or finite representation type, and classify the representation types of transporter categories for $p \neq 2,3$. When $\Lambda$ is a locally finite graded algebra and the action of $G$ on $\Lambda$ preserves grading, we show that $\Lambda G$ is a generalized Koszul algebra if and only if so is $\Lambda$.

A finite directed category is a k-linear category with finitely many objects and an underlying poset structure, where k is an algebraically closed field. This concept unifies structures such as k-linerizations of posets and finite EI categories, quotient algebras of finite-dimensional hereditary algebras, triangular matrix algebras, etc. In this paper we study representations of finite directed categories, discuss their stratification properties, and show the existence of generalized APR tilting modules for triangular matrix algebras under some assumptions.

Let $A = \bigoplus _{i \geqslant 0} A_i$ be a graded locally finite $k$-algebra where $A_0$ is a finite-dimensional algebra whose finitistic dimension is 0. In this paper we develop a generalized Koszul theory preserving many classical results, and show an explicit correspondence between this generalized theory and the classical theory. Applications in representations of certain categories and extension algebras of standard modules of standardly stratified algebras are described.

A finite EI category is a small category with finitely many morphisms such that every endomorphism is an isomorphism. They include finite groups, finite posets and free categories of finite quivers as special cases. In this paper we consider the representation types of finite EI categories, describe some criteria for finite representation type, and use them to classify the representation types of several classes of finite EI categories with extra properties.