OVERVIEW

The teaching unit in Management Control provides a general overview of the main methodologies and tools supporting managerial decision-making in the short term, with particular attention to the role of planning and control in business management.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course focuses on financial statements analysis (including the preparation and interpretation of the statement of cash flows) and management accounting, with particular regard to costing methods and budgetary control.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Expected learning outcomes (Dublin descriptors):
1. Knowledge and understanding:
- The student will be able to describe and interpret the main techniques of financial statement analysis (reclassification, calculation and interpretation of financial ratios, cash flow analysis) using company financial data.
- The student will be able to illustrate the contents and tools of management control (budgeting, variance analysis) and cost accounting techniques, in relation to proposed business cases.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding:
- The student will be able to apply financial statement analysis and management control techniques to real or simulated business situations, solving problems related to the assessment of company performance (assets, financial position, profitability), preparation of company budgets, variance analysis between expected and actual results, and analysis of main cost aggregates.
3. Making judgements:
- The student will be able to independently evaluate the results of the analyses carried out and formulate critical judgements on planning and control choices in different business contexts.
4. Communication skills:
- The student will be able to use the technical language of the discipline to communicate clearly and unambiguously with both specialists and non-specialists, including through the preparation of reports.
5. Learning skills:
- The student will be able to independently deepen the main topics of the discipline, also in professional contexts, using bibliographic sources and the teaching materials provided.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of the financial statements drawn up in accordance with the provisions of the civil code and the OIC accounting principles.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching unit consists of:
- face-to-face lectures aimed at learning the concepts and functioning of the planning and control system of the company;
- practical exercises dedicated to the application of specific knowledge.

Attendance is not compulsory, bur highly recommended.

The course is available on Aulaweb.

Students with disabilities, SLD or SEN:

Students with disabilities, with SLD or with SEN are reminded that, to request exam accommodations, they must first upload their certification to the University website at servizionline.unige.it<https://servizionline.unige.it/>, in the “Students” section. The documentation will be checked by the University’s Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with SLD.

At the beginning of the course, students are advised to contact the lecturer to agree on exam arrangements which, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available athttps://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.

Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Elena Lagomarsino, atinclusione.economia@unige.it<mailto:inclusione.economia@unige.it>, and the Inclusion Office atinclusione.studenti@info.unige.it<mailto:inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it>.

Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Preparation and interpretation of the cash flow statement (OIC 10)
• Financial statement analysis by ratios (solidity, profitability, liquidity, growth)
• Theoretical aspects of planning and control systems
• Analysis of the company information system with specific reference to costing systems (direct costing, full costing) and performance measurement and control tools supporting business decisions (break-even analysis)
• Budgeting, variance analysis, and preparation of reports to understand the links between present actions and future prospects

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Selected chapters from the textbooks:

Sostero U., Ferrarese P., Mancin M., Marcon C., L'analisi economico-finanziaria di bilancio, Giuffrè Editore, III edizione, 2018
Chiucchi M.S., Iacoviello G., Paolini A. (a cura di), Controllo di gestione, Giappichelli Editore, 2021

A list of the chapters that are covered in the final exam is provided at the beginning of the semester on Aulaweb. Additional materials are uploaded on Aulaweb at the beginning of and during the semester.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester.

Link to the teaching calendar: https://economia.unige.it/sites/economia.unige.it/files/2025-06/calendario%20didattico%20a.a.%2025-26%20Corsi%20di%20studio%20GE%20per%20%20CdD%204_6_2025_0.pdf

Class schedule

MANAGEMENT CONTROL A

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam is a written assignment that is identical for attending and non-attending students.

On the regular exam dates, the written exam entails two parts:

• a theoretical part (open questions, multiple choice questions)
• a practical part (problem solving, calculations)

In the winter and summer exam periods, if a student has seriously failed the written exam, he/she will be allowed to sit again at the exam on the second next available exam date.

During the semester when the course is offered, the final written exam can be replaced by two intermediate written tests. The calendar, the details and the contents of such intermediate tests will be lodged on Aulaweb during the same semester.

If the all the intermediate tests are failed or not undertaken, to pass the course, the students must sit at the whole written exam during the regular exam period.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment consists of a written exam aimed at verifying the understanding of the main theoretical concepts and, through practical exercises, at evaluating the achievement of the above-mentioned learning outcomes. The evaluation takes into account clarity of exposition, correct use of terminology, analytical and synthesis skills, and the relevance of the solutions proposed to the business cases presented. For each type of question related to theoretical profiles and for each practical exercise, the exam text indicates the maximum theoretical reference score.

Exam repetition: The only case in which it is not possible to attend the immediately following exam session within the same period is when the grade is seriously insufficient; in this case, it is necessary to skip one session.

FURTHER INFORMATION

To participate in the written test, registration is mandatory within 5 days before the exam.

For further information not included in the teaching unit description, please contact the instructor.