02529 - Business Economics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has a detailed knowledge of business phenomena. The student

• knows the different classes of firms and organizations (for profit firms, public organizations and non-profit firms), as well as groups and networks;
• knows the characteristics of the firm as a system and the elements that compose it. He is able to distinguish between business units, functions, processes and activities;
• is able to verify the presence of the conditions of economic, patrimonial and monetary equilibrium;
• knows the potential advantages of increasing the size and the scope of the business.

By means of a continuous dialogue between the presentation of theories and perspectives of analysis, on the one hand, and the observation of data and business cases, on the other, the student acquires

• a basic lexicon,
• methods of analysis
• the ability to discuss critically simple business cases.

The student can also carry out some elementary quantitative determinations for the calculation of the net income and margins, for the measurement of the net assets, for the analysis of the relationships between volumes, costs and economic results.

Course contents

PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT ALL THE CLASSES ARE GIVEN IN ITALIAN

Business economics as a social science

Firm: concept and classification.

The firm as a system and its relations with economic and non economic environment

Governance, Goals and Mission

Management

Financial and non financial measurements

Basics about personnel and organizational structure

Networks and holding companies

Readings/Bibliography

AIROLDI G., BRUNETTI G., CODA V., Corso di Economia aziendale, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2005

Teaching methods

Applications and business cases may be proposed following the theoretical presentations. Applications and business cases may be also used for introducing theoretical presentations.

Assessment methods

Mandatory written test (open-end questions, multiple choices, exercises)
The students who passed the written test may also participate in a non-mandatory oral exam (before the end of the session). Oral exam may be based on the discussion of a project work.
The students can retire during the written or the oral exam.

Teaching tools

The teaching tools are

• projector
• blackboard
• https://iol.unibo.it/ where the slides projected during the classes are available

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Marano