60
Rural economy and evaluation
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course aims to deepen the knowledge and tools available for the organizational and management analysis of agro-food firms. The program is divided into three parts, the first of which focuses on the organizational issues that typical small and medium firms encounter during their development process. The second part gives an overview of the principal economic monetary and non-monetary methodologies, also in a multistakeholder perspective. The third part focuses on management and marketing aspects and is aimed at analyzing and evaluating the planning processes and performance analysis of agri-food companies.
Students must acquire a specific knowledge and understanding of the organizational and management problems that encounter agrifood firms. Also, they must acquire the basic methodological tools for the organization and management of the agrifood enterprises along with the ability to apply the methods discussed for the solution of organizational and management problems. They must acquire a technical vocabulary and must learn to present economic problems with a correct and proper technical language. Students must be able to identify, evaluate and propose solutions about problems related to organization, management and marketing of agri.food companies. They must be able to choose among alternative methodologies for project evaluation in order to point out trade-offs among different scenarios.
Course Prerequisites
The students should have a basic knowledge of microeconomics, agricultural economics and marketing as well as a basic understanding of the objectives and instruments of agricultural policy.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 50
Practicals (hours/year in lecture theatre): 10
Assessment Methods
50% of the final evaluation is based on an oral assessment (or in course written assessment).
50% of the final evaluation is based on a case study (report and presentation)
The exam will be graded on the following scale.
30-30 with honors. Complete, detailed, and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, with correct terminology. Excellent understanding, distinguishing key points and developing interdisciplinary connections. Consolidated ability to apply knowledge and analyze results. Clear, structured, logical, and concise presentation.
28-29: In-depth knowledge, correct terminology, and explanation of the main concepts. Solid understanding, framing of key points, and discussion with individual insights. Excellent ability to apply knowledge and analyze results. Clear, articulate, logical, and mature presentation, albeit with some inaccuracies.
25-27: Extensive knowledge, although without fully explaining the relevant content. Use of terminology, not always accurate, identifying key concepts. Adequate understanding, distinguishing key points without fully framing them. Good ability to apply knowledge. Clear presentation, but not always complete, with schematic organization and sometimes fragmented thoughts.
22-24: Acceptable knowledge, albeit with gaps and some confusion in certain concepts. Essential understanding, not always framing the topics or inaccurate. Fair ability to apply fundamental concepts. Correct presentation, but without a clear and coherent structure, including irrelevant material.
18-21: Limited knowledge, with numerous gaps and an inability to illustrate key concepts completely and accurately. Basic understanding, with difficulty distinguishing and framing key points correctly. Uncertainty in applying the fundamental concepts of the subject.
Fail: Poor, fragmented, and incomplete knowledge, lacking essential content. Serious errors in comprehension, failure to answer numerous questions, and failure to identify key concepts. Errors in applying fundamental concepts, failure to achieve an acceptable level of articulation of thought.
Texts
Compulsory readings:
- Preti P. L'organizzazione della piccola impresa. Nascita e sviluppo delle imprese minori, EGEA, Milano, 2001.
- Torquati. Economia e gestione dell’impresa agraria. Il processo decisionale, il sistema informativo aziendale e gli strumenti di controllo, Il Sole 24 Ore Edagricole, 2003, (chapters 1-2-6-7-8-13)
- Bazzani G. Grillenzoni M. Malagoli C. Ragazzoni A, Valutazione delle risorse ambientali, Edagricole, (chapters.4-5-6)
-Castaldo S. (a cura di) Marketing e fiducia, Il Mulino, (chapters .... )
Optional further reading
- Covey S.R. Le sette regole per avere successo, (The 7 habits of highly effective people), Franco Angeli, seconda edizione, 2013.
-Preti P., Puricelli M. (2007). L'impresa forte. Un manifesto per le piccole imprese, Egea.
-Preti, P. (2011). Il meglio del piccolo. L'italia delle PMI: un modello originale di sviluppo per il paese. Egea
-Yin, R.K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. 6 ed., Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA. (2018).
Contents
Introduction to the course. Objectives and content - The agri-food firm
Organization
- Organizational theory evolution and main organizational structures
- Theory and research on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- The process of entrepreneurial succession
- The managerial infrastructures to support SMEs
- The strong enterprise and the habits of effective entrepreneurs
Monetary and non-monetary methodologies
- Identification and assessment of impacts
- Monetary methodologies
- Non-monetary Methodologies
Management and marketing
- The operational logic of enterprises
- Agricultural enterprise and Environment: Concepts and Methods of Analysis
- Management operations and Value Dynamics
- Analysis of Business Income and Capital
- The Business Plan
- Marketing, Environment, and Competition
- New Product Development and Launch of New Products
- Digital Marketing
- Consumer Experience Marketing
- Unconventional Marketing
More information
Supporting teaching materials provided by the lecturer