BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Instructional goals
The course will give the students: 1) an overview of business economics and management principles; 2) the basics of financial reporting and financial statements analysis
Intended learning outcomes
Obtain knowledge about corporate governance models, ability to read the company Financial Statements and evaluate the main components of management.
Course Contents
1) Introduction to business administration
2) Governance, strategy, business management and organisation
3) Introduction to accounting
4) Introduction to the analysis of firms' performance
Reference Books
Robert N. Anthony – Leslie K. Breitner, Essentials of Accounting, Prentice Hall, 2007;
Slides set of the course.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lectures, practical team-work, case studies, guest speakers, financial chronicle discussion
Assessment Method
The student will be evaluated on the basis of the individual scores achieved on:
• Intermediate exam: 30% of the final grade (valid for the first two exam sessions)
• Final exam: 70% of the final grade (valid for the first two exam sessions)
In the event that the exam is passed only after the first two sessions, the intermediate test will not be taken into account
The written test consists of a multiple-choice questions, with which the student have to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical notions of teaching, knowing how to apply them in practical cases demonstrating that he has achieved the method of study and the learning ability necessary to continue the study of the subject autonomously
The number of questions of each of these types will be decided by the lecturer during the course and communicated to the students before the examination
The failure to achieve at least the score of 18/30 will result in failure to pass the exam.
Thesis assignment criteria
None
Week 1
Economics and business administration as social sciences.
A taxonomy of different types of organizations; business goals and legal forms.
Introduction to the theory of the firm.
Week 2
The firm and its environment: the role of business in the economic system; social and ethical implications of business.
Ownership structure and corporate governance models: an international comparison.
Week 3
Business strategy principles and organizational function.
Week 4
Financial information: external reporting and managerial accounting. The manangement cycle. Financial reporting and users decisions. Financial statements for the representation of business activities.
Week 5
Accounting for financing and purchasing.
Week 6
Accounting for sales activities. Business cases.
The accrual principle.
Week 7
Intermediate Test.
Balance sheet and income statement. Adjustments: Estimating Profit and Loss.
Exercises.
Week 8
Adjustments on Current Expenses and Revenues.
Exercises.
Week 9
Adjustments on-going services.
Exercises.
Week 10
Balance sheet and income statement. Generally accepted accounting principles.
Week 11
Performance measurement principles: profitability and financial risk analysis. Introduction to financial statements analysis.
Exercises.
Week 12
Cost-volume-profit analysis, Profitability ratios. Financial risk ratios, working capital analysis. Trial test.