The performance of Italian conservatories: a methodological proposal

This paper aims to analyse the theme of management control in the Italian conservatories as cultural companies, using the financial statement analysis with ratios to measure and summarise the performances achieved. The analysis is structured into two stages: the first stage analyses the indicators for a better control management; the second one shows the data obtained from the application of these indicators. The research topic is developed into two levels: a qualitative one and quantitative one. In the first level, we analyse the existing ratios for the financial statement analysis of conservatories; in the second level, we examine the results of the financial statement analysis of the 15% of Italian conservatories. The paper proposes practical evidence to support the financial statement analysis as a management control tool for the conservatories. The approach taken for the development of performance reporting system is intended to detect the aggregate results through logical indexes.