OVERVIEW

This unit is now developed in two parts.

The first part is constituted by the unit Elements of Business Economics of the Master of Science "STRATEGOS" (4 cfu). All information about the first part can be found here https://corsi.unige.it/off.f/2023/ins/69002

The second part (2 cfu) of the unit deepens the accounting and reporting of shipping companies, by considering financial reports of businesses in this industry to assess their financial performance

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The unit aims at providing non-accounting students an outline of the logics of the business dynamic and how to analyse and control it. Students will gain a solid basic knowledge of the principles and logics underpinning business operations, their recording, analysis and evaluation. This knowledge will be also developed in the context of shipping companies.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The first part of the unit is covered in the unit "Elements of Business Economics" and the aims and learning outcomes of this first part can be found at the unit webpage od this Academic Year. 

The second part of the unit aims at providing students in shipping areas with a practical application of the knowledge acquired in the first part (unit: Elements of Business Economics) to understand the profitability, solvency and liquidity of shipping companies by studying and applying the main financial ratios and assessing their performance.

By the end of this second part, students will become familiar and competent with 

• the use of financial ratios to determine a company’s profitability, liquidity and solvency in the shipping sector.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and comprehension: students will acquire solid knowledge and factual ability to explain the logic of business operations, including a focus on the nature and activities of businesses, as systematic entities that generate wealth and require financial stability to stay viable.

Ability to apply knowledge: Students will be able to apply their acquired knowledge to understand and solve simple and more complex problems concerning business management, organisation and accounting, especially in consideration of the company’s financial stability.

Critical judgment: Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge using their own judgment and critical reasoning, both theoretically and practically.

Learning capability: Students will develop appropriate learning capabilities that will support their independent learning of other subject in business administration, accounting and management, especially in their future job positions.

Functional alphabetic capability: improve effective oral and written communication within the appropriate context, use of sources/supports/tools, assess, elaborate and utilise information, argument and critical thinking.

Personal capability: identify personal skills, focus, manage complexity, critical thinking, make decisions, work independently, ask for help, and manage stress.

Social capability: manage social interactions, communicate constructively in different contexts, work in team, show tolerance, express and understand different points of view, generate trust, and show empathy.

PREREQUISITES

The teaching unit does not require previous accounting and business knowledge, being specifically addressed to non-accounting students to provide a broad-based non-specialist introduction to accounting and business management.

TEACHING METHODS

For the first part of the unit, the teaching methods are presented at https://corsi.unige.it/off.f/2023/ins/69002

The second part of the unit makes use of the following teaching methodologies:

- individual written assignment with practical application of financial statement analysis

Working students and students with certified SLD (Specific Learning Disorders), disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination arrangements so to take into account individual learning patterns, while respecting the teaching objectives.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

For the first part of the unit see https://corsi.unige.it/off.f/2023/ins/69002

The second part of the unit covers:

• Financial reports of shipping companies: special items and their reporting
• Analysis of shipping companies performance via financial statement analysis

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students will be provided with various learning materials that will be lodged on AulaWeb.

Additional readings (that will be shared by the teacher):

Atrill, P., McLaney, E. J.(2011), Accounting for Non-specialists. Prentice Hall - Financial Times  http://www.mim.ac.mw/books/Peter%20Atrill's%20Accounting%20&%20Finance%20for%20Non%20Specialists.pdf

Deegan, C. (2019), An Introduction to Accounting: Accountability in Organisations and Society. Cengage Learning.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/10948/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The first part of the unit (4 cfu) will be tested with the final exam of the unit "Elements of Business Economics" which is a WRITTEN exam  that will be carried out during the regular exam periods that will consist of MCQ, open theory questions, and practical questions. 

The second part of the unit (2 cfu) will be tested via an individual assignment that will be allocated to each student who will be asked to perform a financial statement analysis of a shipping company and comment on its financial performance.

To pass the exam the students should pass the first AND the second part.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students' knowledge and skills will be assessed via a written final exam (valued 4 cfu) that will verify their capabilities and comprehension of the three modules taught in Elements of business economics and via an individual written assignment (2 cfu) that will verify their ability to apply the specific knolwedge of the shipping sector.