PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

The "Principles of Business Administration" course is specifically designed for students of the Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems. Its primary objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of business operations, moving beyond a strictly technical-scientific perspective to integrate essential managerial and organizational skills. The course explores the firm as an economic institution, analyzing its operational processes, its interactions with the external environment, and the centrality of human capital. Particular attention is devoted to the twin transition (digital and ecological) and the specific characteristics of firms operating in the chemical and nanotechnology sectors, addressing crucial topics such as strategic innovation, technology transfer, and the sustainable management of Research and Development (R&D) projects.

Upon completion of the course, the student will have acquired the basic logical-analytical tools to: understand the structure, the conditions for existence, and the operating principles of various types of organizations (businesses, public institutions, non-profit organizations); analyze the institutional setup, the main management operations, and the competitive dynamics in which the firm operates; know the principles of economic viability (economicità) and the foundational logic of the primary performance measurement tools (accounting and financial statement models); critically evaluate corporate strategies, organizational models, and business models, with specific reference to innovation in highly technology- and science-intensive sectors.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Knowledge and understanding: become familiar with the concepts of human needs and economic activity; understand the role of entrepreneurship and human resources (with a focus on technical-scientific skills); recognize the essential business functions, the basic dynamics of financing and investment, and the principles of strategy and organization; understand the concept of economic viability, the role of financial statements, and the strategic importance of sustainability (ESG).
Applying knowledge and understanding: be able to analyze the competitive and technological environment by identifying constraints and opportunities; understand the determinants of success or failure of an economic venture (e.g., tech start-ups); recognize the basic characteristics of different corporate structures; apply the logic of financial reporting and managerial concepts to the reality of projects in the chemical/nanotechnology sector.
Making judgements: be able to evaluate the adequacy of the institutional and organizational setup in relation to the target market; form an independent opinion on strategic choices and identify potential critical issues in the management of procurement, production, and technology transfer.
Communication skills: develop the ability to present, argue, and discuss business cases (especially within the scientific-technological field) using rigorous and appropriate economic terminology, thereby facilitating interaction and constructive dialogue between the technical department and executive management.

The course does not expect any specific pre-requirements.
All that will be needed to understand the topics of the course will be clarified during the lessons.

Course Structure and Content

The course consists of 30 hours of lectures. The syllabus integrates concepts from the adopted textbooks, focusing exclusively on the fundamental elements relevant to the students of the Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems.

Module and Hours / Title and Contents

Module 1 (4h) / Foundations of Business Administration: The economic problem, needs, and goods. Economic activity. People at the center of the institution. Business Administration as a science.
Module 2 (4h) / Institutions and Organizations: Types of institutions (families, firms, the State, non-profit organizations). Common characteristics and differences. Economic specialization.
Module 3 (4h) / Institutional Framework and Economic Operations: The institutional subject and the economic subject. Stakeholders. Business operations (procurement, technical transformation, sales, R&D).
Module 4 (4h) / Environment and Strategy: The economic and non-economic environment. The competitive system. Strategic innovation and competitive advantage. Focus: innovation in high-tech sectors.
Module 5 (4h) / Organizational Structure and Business System: The organizational model. Labor as a strategic resource. The configuration of the product system.
Module 6 (6h) / Economic Viability and its Measurement: The principle of economic viability (profitability, liquidity, and solvency equilibrium). Introduction to basic accounting models. Structure and logic of the financial statements (simplified Balance Sheet and Income Statement).
Module 7 (4h) / Sector Focus - The Chemical and Technological Company: Identity, Mission, and Strategies in the chemical/nano-tech sector. Management and structure of R&D costs. Sustainability (ESG) and the twin transition (ecological and digital) in industrial processes. Teaching materials provided by the instructor and case study analysis. Where applicable, regulatory updates and recent papers (e.g., European directives on ESG and reporting).
Bibliographic Note for Study:
Textbooks (B) (Economia aziendale tra tradizione e innovazione, Bagnoli) and (ABC) (Corso di Economia Aziendale, Airoldi-Brunetti-Coda) provide the theoretical framework for the course. To comply with the workload expected for 3 ECTS credits, these texts should not be studied in their entirety. The instructor will specify during classes, via handouts and study guides, the essential contents for exam preparation; the remaining material should be considered as useful supplementary reading for individual deepening.

Required Textbooks:
Economia aziendale tra tradizione e innovazione / edited by Carlo Bagnoli. - Milan: Giuffrè Francis Lefebvre, © 2019
Corso di Economia Aziendale / by Giuseppe Airoldi, Giorgio Brunetti, Vittorio Coda. - Bologna: Il Mulino Editore, © 2005
Optional Supplementary Reading:
Management consapevole: il modello Equità e sostenibilità®, per affrontare le criticità delle organizzazioni sociosanitarie / by Elisabetta Canton, Franco Iurlaro; preface by Elena Zuffada. - Castel San Giovanni (PC): Editrice Dapero, © 2023
Teaching materials provided by the instructor

Assessment Methods
The final exam for attending students (attendance of at least 70% of classes, equivalent to 21 hours) will cover the topics addressed in the instructor's slides and the reference texts. The exam will be written, featuring a mix of open-ended and multiple-choice questions (maximum duration 60 minutes, extendable for students with specific medical conditions or learning disabilities). If the number of students registered for the exam session is three or fewer, the instructor reserves the right to conduct an oral examination.
General evaluation criteria include: knowledge of the content; clarity of expression and critical synthesis skills; ability to establish connections between topics; relevance of argumentation; correct use of specialized terminology. Additional specific criteria shared in the classroom may be defined.
Bonus Points (for attending students)
The overall grade (out of 30) may be increased, upon the student's request, through the following optional activities:
Up to 2 points for writing a written report/term paper. The methods and the target company must be agreed upon in advance with the instructor. The report may alternatively focus on:
Analysis of the economic operations, technical framework, and financial statements of a real company in the relevant sector.
Management aspects within a real company in the relevant sector, applying the contents of the supplementary text "Management consapevole: il modello Equità e sostenibilità®". Since this text focuses on healthcare organizations, the adaptation of its sustainability model to the chemical and nanotechnological sector must be agreed upon in advance with the instructor.
Up to 2 points derived from the average of the qualitative evaluations of in-class exercises.
Up to 1 point for the regular submission to the instructor, by the specified deadlines, of concept maps at the end of each module. (Example: Exam grade 24 + 2 points term paper = Final grade 26. The aforementioned points may be fractionated with decimals).
Non-attending Students
The exam will cover all topics addressed in the instructor's slides or, as an alternative to be agreed upon in advance, the complete study of the chapters of one or more specified reference texts. Non-attending students may also take action to access bonus points, with methods and rules to be established in advance with the instructor.
Exam Procedures and Academic Integrity
The instructor ensures that the rules of authenticity and originality of the exams are strictly respected. In case of suspected irregular behavior, the instructor may require a further immediate assessment, which may take a different format from those mentioned above. This strictness also applies to in-class exercises and the final report, for which students are expressly required to declare to the instructor any use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and their specific purposes

written and oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Grading Scale
The final grade will take into account all the aforementioned criteria and will be awarded according to the following scale:
18/30: barely sufficient overall performance
19-21: fair overall performance
22-24: good overall performance
25-27: very good overall performance
28-30: excellent overall performance
30 cum laude: outstanding overall performance
Poor knowledge of the topics, combined with incorrect or inappropriate expression, will result in a failing grade and the requirement to retake the exam.

Teaching Methods
The course adopts a blended approach where traditional lectures will not predominate. Theoretical lectures, necessary for conveying fundamental concepts (including basic accounting principles taught from scratch), will be consistently integrated with active learning methods. A significant portion of the contact hours will be dedicated to guided practical exercises and the interactive discussion of real-world business case studies, preferably selected from the chemical, pharmaceutical, and nanotechnology sectors. Active participation is encouraged to develop problem-solving skills and practical application capabilities. All teaching materials will be made available on the University's e-learning platform (Moodle).
Prerequisites
None.
Assessment
The final exam will evaluate the acquisition of theoretical concepts, the mastery of technical-economic terminology, and the ability to critically analyze management dynamics.

Exemptions: No

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development