Programme

Module 1 (10 hours). The first module introduces the basic concepts regarding business and competition. We will deal with the basic civil definitions of organizational entities (e.g. definition of enterprise, company and entrepreneur) and the distinction between different legal forms (i.e, sole proprietorships, partnerships, joint stock companies and mutual societies). Then we will define stakeholders and introduce the concept of sustainable development..
Module 2 (15 hours). The second module provides an overview of the business system from organizational, operational, and supply chain points of view. The main organizational forms to support business models and corporate operations will then be illustrated, and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of them will be discussed.
Module 3 (23 hours). The third module offers some tools to evaluate and implement business decisions. The concept of the time value of cash flows and the tools for choosing investments will be introduced. Crucial point for all projects is in fact the estimate of cash flows and the estimate of the cost of capital for the determination of the most profitable projects. The main concepts for the valuation of investments will be provided (e.g., NPV, Payback period).

Core Documentation

Slides provided by the Professor.
Optional - Economia e gestione delle imprese, di Matteo Caroli e Franco Fontana, 2019, McGraw Hill.
Optional - Corporate finance, di di J. Berk e P. De Marzo 2015, Pearson.

Attendance

The course is based on lectures and exercises done in class.

Type of evaluation

The assessment test is written and will contain a series questions aimed at assessing the theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics presented in class.