Strategic Management of Agricultural Firms, Markets and Marketing

Module STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM

The course aims to provide students with the basic tools underlying the efficient management of the agricultural enterprise, the design of a business model and the drafting of the business plan. 

The course revolves around the management operations that distinguish the operation of the agricultural enterprise focusing on the company's balance sheet (Income Statement and Balance Sheet). The student at the end of the module will acquire the skills necessary to read and interpret the main economic and financial ratios of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet (e.g., Operating Income, Cash Flow, Equity, etc.) through a correct reading and interpretation of the main balance sheet ratios. Thus, the student will be able to process, read and interpret financial projections within the Business Model and Business Plan. 

In general, students at the end of the course will be able to:

1) understand the role and importance of business organization with particular regard to indicators of technical economic efficiency;

2) apply the acquired knowledge to be able to carry out appropriate arguments on different methods of economic evaluation to determine business benefits;

3) collect and interpret data and information aimed at product flow analysis and cost and revenue analysis useful for conducting desk analysis on distribution and business efficiency; and

4) communicate what has been gradually learned through interventions stimulated by the lecturer in order to identify solutions capable of being able to achieve the final result that the company had set out to achieve;

5) independently develop the skills acquired to analyze case studies and make connections with other disciplines in the course of study.

Frontal lessons and classroom exercises, as well as participation in any meeting and / or meetings.

The course is structured in 63 hours of which 21 hours of lectures and 42 hours of exercises.

If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

For any questions or clarifications, Gioacchino Pappalardo can be reached remotely or in presence on the days and in the manner reported on the web page: https://www.di3a.unict.it/docenti/gioacchino.pappalardo

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. 
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Centro per l’Inclusione Attiva e Partecipata - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professor Anna De Angelis.

1. Business management: management operations. 

2. Balance sheet and income statement.

3. Enterprise capital and Enterprise income.

4. Intermediate margins of Enterprise Income. 

5. Intermediate margins of Enterprise Capital.

6. Cash Flow.

7. Business Plan and Business Model.

8. Intermediate Margins and Cash Flow in the Business Plan.

9. Management Control: definitions and Areas of Management.

10. The Management Control: Value Added, Contribution Margin, Operating Income, Family Labor Income, Land Income and Agricultural Income.

11. The Management Control: Economicity and Profitability Indices (ROE, ROI and ROS).

12. Break Even Analysis

1. Economia e Gestione dell’impresa dell’impresa agraria; Torquati B. Edagricole

The final examination may be conducted by: 

- Oral examination on the program topics as reported in the "Programming" Section.

Or, alternatively, and only for attending students: 

- Drafting of two case studies covering the following topics:

1. Drafting of an Income Statement and Balance Sheet of a farm.

2. Drafting of a Business Plan with the financial projections arising from the previous case study.

N.B. Non-attending students will be allowed to take the exam only in oral form on the topics of the syllabus as given in the "Scheduling" Section.

Evaluation of the student's preparation will be based on the following criteria: the student's ability to learn and level of in-depth study of the topics covered, the student's property of synthesis and exposition, and the student's ability to reason.

Grading will follow the following pattern:

Ineligible: 

Subject knowledge and understanding: Significant deficiencies. Significant inaccuracies.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize.

Use of references: Completely inappropriate.

18-20:

Subject knowledge and understanding: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Barely sufficient ability.

Use of references: Barely appropriate.

21-23:

Subject knowledge and understanding: Routine knowledge 

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Is able to analyze and synthesize correctly. Argues logically and coherently.

Use of references: Uses standard references.

24-26:

Subject knowledge and understanding: Good knowledge.

Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. Topics are expressed consistently.

Use of references: Uses standard references.

27-29:

Knowledge and understanding topic: Knowledge more than good.

Analytical and synthesis skills: Has considerable analytical and synthesis skills.

Use of references: Has deepened understanding of topics.

30-30L:

Knowledge and understanding topic: Knowledge very good.

Ability to analyze and synthesize: Has considerable ability to analyze and synthesize.

Use of references: Important insights.

The Farm. 

Intermediate Margins. 

Management Control.

Management areas. Profitability Indices.