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Strategic Management of Agricultural Firms, Markets and Marketing
Module STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM

Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: GIOACCHINO PAPPALARDO

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the basic tools underlying the efficient management of the agricultural enterprise and the preparation of the business plan. Specifically, the teaching objective is the study of business strategies referring to the decision-making processes of the agricultural enterprise. With this in mind, the course aims to provide the student with the essential elements of enterprise behavior, strategic planning and medium- to long-term planning. To understand the interrelationship between economics and business activity, the course revolves around the management operations that distinguish the operation of the agricultural enterprise. For the economic and managerial evaluation of business activities, the teaching focuses on the main tools of short and medium - long term, in particular, on business accounting and budgeting. The student at the end of the module, through a correct reading and interpretation of the main balance sheet ratios, will acquire the necessary skills to prepare budgeted and final economic budgets as well as business plans necessary for efficient management of the agricultural enterprise and access to various forms of financing. 

Course Structure

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

The course is structured in 56 hours of which 28 hours of lectures and 28 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 professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

Required Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Agricultural Economics and Policy.

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance of the lessons is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.

Detailed Course Content

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. Introduction to the Business Plan.

7. Intermediate Margins of Enterprise Income and Enterprise Capital in the Business Plan.

8. Cash Flow.

9. Management Control: definitions.

10. Management Control: the areas of Management of the agricultural enterprise.

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

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

13. Break Even Analysis

Textbook Information

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

2. Slides of the Lecturer available for consultation and downloadable from the site: Studium.Unict. 


AuthorTitlePublisherYearISBN
Biancamaria TorquatiEconomia e gestione dell'impresa agraria. Il processo decisionale, il sistema informativo aziendale e gli strumenti di controlloEdagricole-New Business Media20039788850648009

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1 Business management: management operations. Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 7 and teacher's slides.
2Balance sheet and income statement.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 8 and teacher's slides.
3Enterprise capital and Enterprise income.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 8 and teacher's slides.
4Intermediate margins of Enterprise Income. Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 8 and teacher's slides.
5Intermediate margins of Enterprise Capital.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 8 and teacher's slides.
6Cash Flow.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 12 and teacher's slides.
7Business Plan: Structure.Teacher's slides.
8Intermediate Margins and Cash Flow in the Business Plan.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 8 and teacher's slides.
9Management Control: definitions.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 12 and teacher's slides.
10Management Control: the areas of Management of the agricultural enterprise.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 12 and teacher's slides.
11The Management Control: Value Added, Contribution Margin, Operating Income, Family Labor Income, Land Income and Agricultural Income.Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 12 and teacher's slides.
12The Management Control: Economicity and Profitability Indices (ROE, ROI and ROS).Text no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 12 and teacher's slides.
13Break Even AnalysisText no. 1 (Torquati) Ch. 12 and teacher's slides.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

At the option of the Student, the final examination may be conducted by: 

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

or, alternatively:

- Drafting a project/case study that involves assessing the profitability of an agricultural enterprise or writing the economic part of a business plan.

Verification of learning may also be conducted on line, should conditions require it.

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.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

The Farm. 

Intermediate Margins. 

Management Control.

Management areas. Profitability Indices.