30
Corporate Finance
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand the key principles of business economics and management.
- Apply tools for strategic and operational business management.
- Conduct a preliminary assessment of the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility strategies on business performance.
- Approach value creation processes and the role of business functions.
They follow the same learning objectives, articulated according to the Dublin Descriptors:
- (knowledge and understanding) understand the fundamental principles of economics and business management, with a focus on the theoretical models and analytical tools that guide corporate and strategic decision-making.
- (applying knowledge and understanding) apply tools and methodologies for strategic and operational business management, integrating economic, financial, and organizational analyses to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in business processes.
- (making judgements) critically assess the preliminary impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies on business performance, recognizing their economic, social, and ethical implications.
- (communication skills) communicate clearly and coherently analyses and results concerning corporate strategies and performance, effectively engaging with both internal and external stakeholders.
- (learning skills) develop autonomous learning abilities to continuously update managerial and analytical skills in response to evolving economic and organizational contexts.
Course Prerequisites
No prerequisites needed.
Teaching Methods
The course adopts an interactive teaching approach that combines lectures, group work, case studies, and practical activities. Digital learning tools and structured discussions will be used, along with potential guest speakers, to encourage debate and the application of covered concepts. Student engagement will be fostered through the analysis of business cases and corporate testimonials, as well as the development of a case study through group work (e.g., SIMA’s "Make IT a Case").
Assessment Methods
The final exam consists of two parts:
- A written test, composed of open-ended or multiple-choice questions, on the common programme among PA110elode and Law students (see the relative section of the syllabus)
- An oral exam
For attending students, there is the opportunity to take a final exemption test (on the common programme among PA110elode and Law students) and to develop and discuss a project work on a topic agreed upon with the instructor (e.g., “Make It a Case”), which contributes to the final grade.
Further details are available in the teaching materials provided by the instructor.
The written exam must be passed with a minimum score of 18/30 in order to access the oral exam and covers the common part of the syllabus (see the syllabus for PA110elode and Law students).
The written test must be passed with a minimum score of 18/30 to access the oral exam.
The oral exam must be taken within one year of passing the written test.
Non-native English-speaking students who take the examination in English may be awarded an additional 1 or 2 points, depending on the level of language proficiency demonstrated and the appropriate use of technical terminology.
The exam will assess:
- the ability to use the specific language of the subject appropriately;
- the ability to analyze and critically discuss the topics, including their interconnections;
- the understanding of the key principles of business economics and management;
- the ability to apply the correct tools for strategic and operational business analysis and management;
- the understanding of the impact of Corporate Social Responsibility strategies on business performance;
- the approach to value creation processes and the role of business functions in these processes.
The minimum passing grade is 18/30.
- Fail (Not eligible): significant gaps and/or inaccuracies in knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited analytical and synthesis skills, frequent generalizations, and limited critical and judgmental abilities; topics are presented incoherently and with inappropriate language.
- 18–20: barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topics, with possible generalizations and imperfections; sufficient analytical, synthesis, and judgment skills; topics are often presented incoherently and with insufficiently appropriate/technical language.
- 21–23: routine knowledge and understanding of the topics; correct analytical and synthesis skills with sufficiently coherent logical argumentation and appropriate/technical language.
- 24–26: fair knowledge and understanding of the topics; good analytical and synthesis skills with arguments expressed rigorously but with language not always appropriate/technical.
- 27–29: complete knowledge and understanding of the topics; strong analytical and synthesis skills; good independence of judgment; arguments presented rigorously and with appropriate/technical language.
- 30–30L (cum laude): excellent and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the topics; excellent analytical, synthesis, and independent judgment skills; arguments expressed originally and with appropriate technical language.
Texts
Annalisa Tunisini, Tonino Pencarelli, Luca Ferrucci. "Economia e management delle imprese. Strategie e strumenti per la competitività e la gestione aziendale". Hoepli, last edition.
- Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14
- Suggested chapters 10, 15, 16, 17
Slides and materials prepared and shared by the professor, using the University's platform (see the UniFind webpage of the professor, in the section "Risorse Utili": https://unirc.unifind.cineca.it/get/person/001530).
By recommended chapters, it is meant to warmly suggest their reading as a complement to the study material that will be provided by the professor on the topics covered.
The program for "PA 110 e lode" students, working students, and Law course students excludes the topics covered by the study material provided by the professor on the subjects excluded (see programme), to chapters 13 and 14, and to the suggested chapters 10, 15, 16, 17.
For clarification, please contact the professor via email.
Contents
The course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of business management, with particular attention to business governance, decision-making and development. It explores the concept of the firm and value creation, the relationships between firms and their environment, the main types of business organisations, and the principles underlying strategic, organisational and operational decisions.
Students will acquire theoretical knowledge and analytical tools to understand how firms operate, the factors shaping their diversity and competitiveness, and the processes through which strategies are formulated, implemented and evaluated.
The course is organised around the following thematic areas:
- Fundamentals of business management: the concept of the firm, management, business objectives and value-creation processes.
- Evolution of business and production models: major schools of management thought, changes in production systems and business models, technological innovation and digital transformation.
- Firms and their environment: analysis of the general and competitive environment, stakeholder relationships, globalisation, and territorial and sectoral systems.
- Diversity and types of firms: exogenous and endogenous factors, ownership and governance structures, resources and capabilities, firm size, small and medium-sized enterprises, family businesses and new ventures.
- Strategic analysis and strategy formulation: business definition, external and internal analysis, strategic resources, competitive advantage, and corporate, business and innovation strategies.
- Business growth and development: internal and external growth paths, internal and external economies, business networks and inter-firm agreements, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and spin-offs.
- Strategy implementation and organisational design: organisational structures, work and process organisation, coordination, control and organisational change.
- Crisis management and strategic performance evaluation: prevention and management of business crises, alignment between strategy, organisation and results, and performance measurement and control tools.
- Corporate social responsibility, sustainability, business ethics and stakeholder relationships (*).
- Value creation and delivery processes: fundamental principles of marketing, production, logistics and supply chain management (*).
Through guest talks by business professionals, case studies, applications, exercises and the analysis of business experiences, the course supports the connection between theoretical concepts and practical management decisions.
(*) The programme for students enrolled under the PA 110 e lode scheme, working students and students enrolled in the Law degree programme does not include the final two thematic areas.
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