This is a core subject and compulsory for all first year students of the degrees of Business Administration and Management, Marketing, Taxation and Public Administration, Economics and the double degrees of Business Administration and Management and Law and Business & Economics.

This is an introductory course that provides an initial overview of what business administration entails. To this end, the company is analysed from a functional point of view and the basic characteristics of each of its functions are analysed. Although some students may have previous knowledge of the subject, as they may have studied Economics and Business in the Baccalaureate, no previous knowledge is required to take the subject, as it starts from a basic level.

For students of the Bachelor's Degree in Economics, this subject, together with the subject of Business Economics: Organisation and Management in the second semester, will constitute their basic knowledge of business management. In the case of the rest of the degrees, most of the topics presented in this subject are subsequently developed in the form of complete subjects.

The main objective of this subject is to analyse business management from a global perspective. To do so, we will use the following sub-objectives:



- To understand the concept of a company, its basic elements and its relationship with the environment.

- To study business management from the perspective of systems theory and to differentiate and analyse the different subsystems of which it consists (management, human resources, finance, production and marketing).

- To Establish the relationships between the different business subsystems. Specific competences of the subject:

- Identify the roles and responsibilities of the different business sub-systems. Learning outcomes:

Being able to identify the main subsystems of the company from a functional point of view.,Know how to analyse the main characteristics of each of the subsystems.

To identify the problems faced by each of the business subsystems and put forward proposals for improvement to solve them.

To be aware of the need for coordination of all sub-systems.



- Analysing relevant information for business practice, with an open and proactive attitude towards the economic- business environment and using the available information technologies. Learning outcomes:

Being able to use the available sources of information, in the form of university databases and databases of the main official bodies (such as INE or EUSTAT).

Being able to filter relevant information for business analysis and decision making.,Present clear and useful reports for decision making.



- Making rational decisions related to people management, based on the analysis of available information. Learning outcomes:

Being able to reach agreements within a work group based on the analysis of information.

Knowing how to make decisions and put forward proposals for improvement within the scope of a work team for business management.

Knowing how to prioritise decisions to fit resource constraints., Manage time to make decisions at the right time.



- To identify the relationship between organisational designs and the development of the capabilities of the company's employees. Learning Outcomes:

To analyse the skills to be developed by the company's staff.

to identify the influence of structures on business management and on the development of these capabilities.



- Communicating fluently, orally and in writing, in their environment and work in a team.

PART I: FUNDAMENTALS. The nature of the firm. Objectives, management and organization.

PART II: THE HUMAN RESOURCES SUBSYSTEM

PART III: THE MARKETING SUBSYSTEM

PART IV: THE OPERATIONS SUBSYSTEM

PART V: THE FINANCIAL SUBSYSTEM

The proposed methodology is linked to the proposed objectives and competences. To achieve this goal, the following teaching methodologies will be combined:



-Master class, in which the basic concepts and the tools and techniques that students must know in order to achieve the proposed knowledge objectives will be presented.

- Problem solving and case studies. Students will have at their disposal a series of exercises and cases. Some of these exercises and cases will be solved in class by the teacher. Others will be developed and discussed, during class time, by the students themselves in groups. Finally, there will be a third block of exercises and cases to be worked on individually by the students outside class time.

-Analysis and discussion of problematic or exemplary situations. Throughout the course, attractive business problems will be debated, worked on and discussed.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 20
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 15
  • PRUEBA FINAL (%): 65

Ordinary call:

The main evaluation system is the Continuous Assessment, but the student has the choice to take the Final Assessment system. If the student wants to renounce to the Continuous Assessment, it must be indicated in the Egela digital platform.



Continuous assessment (Plan A): there will be a final exam, counting 65% (6,5 points) of the final grade. The minimum grade required in this final exam is 2,5 points.

Also, in this evaluation system an ongoing assessment is developed, counting 35% (3,5 points) of the final grade.



Final assessment (Plan B): there will be a final exam, counting 80% (8 points) of the final grade. The minimum grade required in this final exam is 3 points.

Also, this evaluation system requires the completion of a final project or team-work, counting 20% - 2 points - of the final grade.

Extraordinary call

For the students who follow the "Continuous assessment" system in the ordinary call: there will be a final exam, counting 65% (6,5 points) of the final grade, with the same conditions applied in the ordinary call. The grade obtained in the ongoing assessment (up to 3,5 points) can be maintained if the student wants so. If the student decides not to maintain that grade, the final exam will count 80% (8 points) of the final grade (same minimum grade: 3 points), and there is the option (therefore, not obligatory) for the completion of a work-report, counting 20% (2 points) of the final grade.



For the students who follow the "final assessment" system in the extra ordinary call: there will be a final exam, counting 80% (8 points) of the final grade, with the same conditions applied in the ordinary call. The grade obtained in the final project or team-work (up to 2 points) can be maintained.

Ikasgaiaren apunteak eta ariketak eGelan (doainik) eta Penterren eskuragarri daude.

Basic bibliography

Basic text book of the subject (Available at the Library):

Diaz Vidal, I; Martín de Castro, G. and Montoro Sánchez, M.A. (2012): Introduction to Business Administration; Ed. Civitas-Thomson Reuters, Madrid. ISBN: 978-84-470-4065-0.



Additional materials will be delivered on line (via the Egela digital platform) and in class by the professor.

In-depth bibliography

Besanko, D., Dranove, D., Shanley, M., Schaefer, S. (2007): Economics of Strategy. John Willey & Song,New York.
Ferrell, O.C., Hirt, G., Ferrell, L., (2014). Business. A changing world. Mc Graw-Hill.
Madura, J. (2007) Introduction to Business. , Thomson.
Mankiw, G. (2011). Principles of Economics, South Western Educ Pub.
Porter, M. (2008): The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategies. Harvard Business Review. January.

Journals

Working Knowledge (https://hbswk.hbs.edu/)
The Economist
Business Week, etc.

Web addresses

The Open University (Introduction to Business Management): http://www.openuniversity.edu/courses/modules/b100?

Management Today: https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/

Mc Kinsey Global Institute: https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/overview#0