The course aims to impart the concepts and theoretical and practical foundations necessary for understanding the operational logic of the business system, with reference to governance, organization, business decision-making, and the recording of business operations.

To this end, the course will provide the terminology, theoretical knowledge, and methodological tools essential for studying and understanding the following aspects: institutional characteristics of the company (and, in particular, the production company), its constituent elements, the governance models that characterize it, main operational logic, conditions of economic equilibrium and profitability, the double-entry method for recording external management events, and the methods of maintaining general accounting for business quantitative determinations.

Teaching PROGRAM

1. Economic activity and business activity
1.1 The nature of economic problems over time and space. Differences between economics, business administration and accounting
1.2 The business system and its relationship with the environment
1.3 Classes and types of companies
 
2. The business system
2.1 The business system and its subsystems: organizational, operations and management, asset and information systems
2.2 The institutional structure of a company: legal subjects and economic subjects
2.3 The organs of the economic governance and management of a company

3. The economic behavior of firms
3.1 Corporate decision-making
3.2 Objective and bounded rationality models
3.3 The decision-making structure
3.4 Organization and Personnel Management
3.5 Concept, configurations, and the qualitative and quantitative composition of capital
3.6 Working capital. Calculating total income. Operating income and the preservation of capital
3.7 Costs and revenues in the business system
3.8 Investments and financing needs.  Funding choices. Self-financing. 
3.9 Cost effectiveness and efficiency. 

4. The accounting and business information system; journal entry, original entry and posting entry
4.1 Accounting methods: the double-entry system applied to the income system. The accounting plan, accounting books and records.

4.2 The setting up of a company. The main accounting entries: credit and debit entries, personnel entries and pay-roll records, commercial entries (purchase and sales entries), surpluses and losses, etc.

4.3 Closing and opening entries

Teaching is preparatory to the following courses
Accounting and Business Administration II

Planning and Control

Auditing

 (knowledge and understanding). By  the end of the course, students must have acquired knowledge of the conceptual bases, of the theoretical principles and of the methodological tools proper to Business Administration. In particular, students must know and understand: what economic activity consists of and by whom it is carried out; what are the characteristics of a company and the peculiarities of the company system; how companies are classified; what a company is, how it relates to the environment, what its fundamental behavior and functioning patterns are, and what are the main economic and financial aspects that characterize it; the role of the corporate information system; how the main external management events are recorded in the general ledger according to the double entry method applied to the income accounting system; what are the purposes, structure and essential contents of the financial statements. The methods of teaching work with which these results will be achieved will consist of: frontal lessons and exercises. The learning assessment will consist in strutctured examination.

(applying knowledge and understanding). Students must be able to apply the knowledge acquired appropriately and flexibly to address the questions and problems posed by the business context based on the cognitive schemes of the Business Economy and in particular to analyze and understand the general characteristics of companies, the economic aspects and financial position of the company, as well as its management processes. Students must also be able to detect external management facts through general accounting, applying the double entry method to the income system. Finally, students must be able to read and understand an annual report, identifying the main economic and financial information therein included. The methods of teaching work with which these results will be achieved will consist of: frontal lessons and exercises.The learning assessment will consist in  semi-structured examination.

 (making judgements) Students must have the ability to connect the knowledge acquired during the course in integrated schemes and to deal with complex problems with their own judgment. The methods of teaching work with which these results will be achieved will consist of: frontal lessons and exercises.The learning assessment will consist in short text and oral examination.

 (communication skills) The subject requires the acquisition of a specific and precise technical language. At the end of the course, therefore, students must be able to adequately use the terminology proper to Business Economics and Accounting, demonstrating a good command of the lexicon relating to the topics covered during the course. The methods of teaching work with which these results will be achieved will consist of: frontal lessons and exercises.The learning assessment will consist in oral examination.

 (learning skills). Students must have developed good learning skills, which allow them to master the topics covered during the course and to lay the theoretical, conceptual and methodological foundations essential for successfully pursuing their study path and professional preparation. The methods of teaching work with which these results will be achieved will consist of: frontal lessons and exercises.The learning assessment will consist in strutctured, semi-structured and oral examination.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

During the course, the professor will organize exam simulations to allow students to self-assess their learning and study methods in relation to the material covered. There will be a midterm exam (scheduled according to the course calendar) on the first part of the course, primarily consisting of multiple-choice questions on business economics topics.

Teaching

The course includes the following teaching methods:

• Lectures
• Exercises
• Interactive presentations with Wooclap

Innovative teaching methods

The course employs the following innovative teaching methods: problem-based learning, learning by doing, and debate. 
Theoretical lessons will be supplemented with exercises focused on the General Accounting program.

Attendance

Strongly Recommended.

Course books

1. M. Paoloni, P. Paoloni (2021), Introduzione e orientamento allo studio delle aziende, Seconda Edizione, Giappichelli, Torino. EXCLUDING CHAPTERS 8 and 9

2. G. Savioli, M. Bartolini (2023), Contabilità d’impresa, Franco Angeli. (EXCLUDING PARAGRAPHS: 3.3, 5.3, 6.6, 7.6, 8.5.; 8.6., 8.7.; 8.8., 10.3.2.; 10.3.3.; 10.4., 11.4, 12.3.1.4; 12.5.; CHAPTER XIII).

Assessment

The expected learning outcomes will be assessed through a written exam. During the written exam, only the use of a calculator is allowed.

The WRITTEN EXAM, lasting 90 minutes, includes 6 general accounting exercises, 1 business economics exercise, 1 open-ended question, and 3 multiple-choice questions. Admission to the oral exam is granted with a written exam score of 18/30 or higher.

The written exam evaluation (grade expressed in thirtieths) is based on the following criteria:

Accuracy of journal entries

Accuracy of ledger entries

Correct use and classification of accounts

Accuracy of calculations

Correctness of responses to the questions posed, indicating the level of mastery of the acquired knowledge

Degree of articulation of the response

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

See information for attending students.

Attendance

Attendance is not required

Course books

See information for attending students.

Assessment

See information for attending students.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The exam and bibliography can be in English upon request. In this case, the exam will be oral.

• Marchini P.L. (2023), Business Administration and Accounting, Giappichelli: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 (only 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5).