Business and Accounting
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing the theoretical and methodological tools necessary to study business phenomena critically and understand the main accounting information contained in a financial statement (the budget). To this end, the concepts of business and institution will be initially examined, with particular reference to the companies, as well as the concept of economic activity. In particular, the main economic activities and processes that can be found in a company (economic combinations) and the choices that determine the governance of the enterprise (institutional structure) will be illustrated. In addition, the course will analyze the relationships between the company and the surrounding environment (strategic choices) using theoretical models. Secondly, this course aims at providing a methodology for understanding and analyzing the fundamental principles and concepts underlying a financial statement.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to: i) understand and recognize the basic language of Business Administration and accounting; ii) acquire a unified vision of the structure and operation of companies, with particular attention to their economic and management aspects; iii) understand the main components of the structure of a financial statement and its informative value; iv) analyze, interpret, and solve the main managerial issues specific to companies; v) grasp business dynamics through the logical categories of Business Administration, in relation to management, detection, and organization operations.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
The following topics will be covered during the course:
- the concept of economic activity and Business Administration;
- the concept of business and institution, with particular reference to the institution of the company;
- the main management functions typical of companies (economic combinations and coordinations);
- institutional structures and governance of companies;
- the concept of institutional equilibrium and economic efficiency;
- the concept of business and corporate strategy;
- the economic environment and the competitive system;
- choices of standardization and (horizontal/vertical) extension of economic combinations;
- the basic structure and principles of a financial statement: income statement and balance sheet;
- the concept of operating income and working capital and their main values;
- the main models for reclassifying the income statement and the balance sheet;
- the main financial indexes.
- the concept of economic activity and Business Administration;
- the concept of business and institution, with particular reference to the institution of the company;
- the main management functions typical of companies (economic combinations and coordinations);
- institutional structures and governance of companies;
- the concept of institutional equilibrium and economic efficiency;
- the concept of business and corporate strategy;
- the economic environment and the competitive system;
- choices of standardization and (horizontal/vertical) extension of economic combinations;
- the basic structure and principles of a financial statement: income statement and balance sheet;
- the concept of operating income and working capital and their main values;
- the main models for reclassifying the income statement and the balance sheet;
- the main financial indexes.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific prerequisites other than those required for admission to this course, as this is a first term course of the first year
Teaching methods
The course, in line with its introductory nature, addresses the concepts that are object of study to specific management issues. In addition to lectures, the following activities are planned:
- analysis of cases and examples;
- examination of original documents (e.g., financial statements).
Formative assessment moments are provided during the course, allowing students to test their preparation and understanding through a simulated exam (that will not be evaluated with a grade), which will be corrected collectively in groups.
- analysis of cases and examples;
- examination of original documents (e.g., financial statements).
Formative assessment moments are provided during the course, allowing students to test their preparation and understanding through a simulated exam (that will not be evaluated with a grade), which will be corrected collectively in groups.
Teaching Resources
· G. AIROLDI, G. BRUNETTI, V. CODA, Corso di economia aziendale, Bologna, il Mulino, 2020. In particular, the following chapters will be considered for the final evaluation:
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
· Lecture slides and additional material provided on the Moodle platform by the lecturers.
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
· Lecture slides and additional material provided on the Moodle platform by the lecturers.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be in written form, based on the reference manual (Airoldi, Brunetti, Coda, 2020) and the additional materials provided by the lecturers on the Moodle platform. The exam will be the same for both attending and non-attending students.
The exam consists of:
- a series of multiple-choice questions on the Business Administration section;
- several closed-ended exercises on financial statements and accounting;
- two open-ended questions covering the entire syllabus.
The exam aims at:
- assessing the achievement of objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding (with particular reference to closed-ended questions);
- verifying the ability to exercise judgment, possibly through the analysis of business cases discussed during the course (with particular reference to open-ended questions);
- assessing the mastery of specific language related to the economic functioning of companies and the ability to present topics clearly and orderly (with particular reference to open-ended questions).
Regarding the grading scale (the scale with which grades will be assigned):
A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be assigned in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program;
- limited ability to gather and/or interpret data, formulate independent judgments;
- adequate communication skills, especially regarding the use of the specific language related to the economic functioning of companies.
B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be assigned in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program;
- moderate ability to gather and/or interpret data, formulate independent judgments;
- satisfactory communication skills, especially regarding the use of the specific language related to the economic functioning of companies.
C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be assigned in the presence of:
- good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program;
- good or excellent ability to gather and/or interpret data, formulate independent judgments;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially regarding the use of the specific language related to the economic functioning of companies.
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program, judgment skills, and excellent communication abilities.
The exam consists of:
- a series of multiple-choice questions on the Business Administration section;
- several closed-ended exercises on financial statements and accounting;
- two open-ended questions covering the entire syllabus.
The exam aims at:
- assessing the achievement of objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding (with particular reference to closed-ended questions);
- verifying the ability to exercise judgment, possibly through the analysis of business cases discussed during the course (with particular reference to open-ended questions);
- assessing the mastery of specific language related to the economic functioning of companies and the ability to present topics clearly and orderly (with particular reference to open-ended questions).
Regarding the grading scale (the scale with which grades will be assigned):
A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be assigned in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program;
- limited ability to gather and/or interpret data, formulate independent judgments;
- adequate communication skills, especially regarding the use of the specific language related to the economic functioning of companies.
B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be assigned in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program;
- moderate ability to gather and/or interpret data, formulate independent judgments;
- satisfactory communication skills, especially regarding the use of the specific language related to the economic functioning of companies.
C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be assigned in the presence of:
- good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program;
- good or excellent ability to gather and/or interpret data, formulate independent judgments;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially regarding the use of the specific language related to the economic functioning of companies.
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the program, judgment skills, and excellent communication abilities.
SECS-P/07 - BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING STUDIES - University credits: 9
: 10 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Professors:
Barbato Giovanni, Turri Matteo
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
to be organized by email to giovanni.barbato@unimi.it