26407 - Business Economics: Introduction

This course is designed to give an introduction to and overview of Business Economics. We will cover general Business Economics topics such as production, finance, marketing, human resource and so on, in organizations. Considering the Business Economics area is full of controversies, we will heavily use research findings from real experiences, thus making Business Economics teaching more evidence-based.



OBJETIVES

This course is aimed at helping students gain knowledge and understanding of Business Economics practices and the theories behind those practices. This involves developing specific competencies or knowledge about business activities and functions in organizations. It also wants students to learn how to apply Business Economics knowledge to business reality. This means developing specific competencies in certain techniques such as finance, marketing, organisation, human resource management, etc.

The principal focus of Business studies is the development of students’ ability to analyze situations, assess the key problems and propose solutions. This clearly encompasses the key competency of solving problems:

CA1) Being able to understand and use basic concepts related to business economics.

CA2) To develop knowledge on human resource, marketing, finance and production management.

CA3) Knowing the most important business economics concepts, and being able to identify the best practices.

CA4) Being able to identify, anticipate an propose solutions to the most common problems of business processes,

CA5) To understand the importance of the human resource, marketing, finance and production management decision process, from goal setting to the implementation of the decision.

CA6) To be able to take business basic decisions with economic criterion.

CA7) Development of communication and team-working skills.

CA 8) Development of the ability of applying theory to practice

CA9) Ability to communicate in a foreign language.

CONTENT

1. Basic concepts

2. Finance

3. Production and operations

4. Marketing

5. Human resources management

6. Business issues and influences

TEACHING METHODS

Several teaching methods will be used in this class. These will include instructor lecture, group presentation of articles, exercises, case studies, in-class discussion, and small in-class pop quizzes, etc. Every student is expected to prepare and serve a presentation through the end of the course. The reading materials for presentation and discussion will be handed out ahead of schedule. The course is divided in 2 parts: theory and practice Theory: Each chapter will be explained at the classroom through a power point exposition, underlining the most important concepts. Practice: After each chapter explanation there will be exercises, discussion questions, critical thinking exercises, case studies. A team project presentation at the end of the course will be required. All class participants need to form groups/teams of 3 to 4 members each in order to do a research project about business and organizations. Other activities: guest speaker, movies, book reviews,...

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 30
  • Azken proba, zati teorikoa eta praktikoarekin. Hala ere, guzti honi buruzko azalpenak ondoren zehazten direnak izango dira. (%): 70

ASSESMENT (what is written above basically refers to Basque and Spanish classes. In the case of the English classes, the evaluation system is based primarily on a written and oral exam. Exams in this course are based on theoretical questions, exercises and case studies, in order to evaluate the student's ability to apply knowledge and theory to practice in real or fictional cases. This exam is worth 7 points out of 10 (6 for the written and 1 for the oral).

The other 30% of the final grade is based on continuous evaluation. This continuous assessment is divided as follows:

- The completion of exercises, cases and issues related to the subject in class will be 7% of the final mark.

- 7% of the final grade is based on a multiple-choice test performed in the last week of class. This exam will include material from all topics of the course. Obtaining a grade equal or greater than 6 on the examination will exempt the student from the first subject for the final exam.

- 8% of the final grade is based on an oral presentation. This presentation will be performed in public in student teams, and will be based on a reading given by the teachers. This presentation will be assessed according to the recommendations given in class.

- 8% of the final grade is based on the team project and its oral presentation.

The evaluation system is based on a written and oral exam.

MATERIAL
Materials for the class will be available at the photocopy service of the Faculty and or on the Moodle platform.

Basic bibliography

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Basic bibliography

BREALEY R.A., MYERS S.C. & ALLEN, F. (2013): Principles of corporate finance. 11th ed., McGraw Hill, Boston.

CRUNDWELL, F. K. (2008): Finance for engineers: evaluation and funding of capital projects. Springer-Verlag, London.

ROSS S.A., WESTERFIELD R.F. & JAFFEE J. (2012): Corporate Finance. 10th ed. McGraw Hill, New York

KOTLER P & LANE K (2015): Marketing Management (15th Edition) Prentice Hall

BUENO CAMPOS, E., (2004), Curso básico de Economía de la Empresa: un enfoque organizacional, Ed. Pirámide, Madrid.

CASTILLO CLAVERO, A.M. (2003): Introducción a la Economía y Administración de Empresas, Ed, Pirámide, Madrid.

HERAS, I. (2004): Enpresaren Ekonomia eta Zuzendaritza, Teoria eta Praktika, Udako Euskal Unibertsitatea, Bilbo.

CHICO, Y.; TEJADA, S y URIONABARRENETXEA, S. (2009) Introducción a la economía de la empresa, Ed. sarriko On, Bilbao. http://www.sarriko-online.com

PÉREZ GOROSTEGUI, E. (1995): Enpresaren Ekonomia (Sarrera), Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbo.

PÉREZ GOROSTEGUI, E. (2009): Casos prácticos de Introducción a la Economía de la Empresa, Ed. Universitaria Ramón Areces, Madrid.

In-depth bibliography

In depth bibliography
EHRHARDT, M.C. &. BRIGHAM E. F. (2008): Corporate finance. A focused approach. 3rd ed. Thomson. New Jersey.
HILLIER D., GRINBLATT M. & TITMAN S. (2011): Financial markets and corporate strategy. Second European edition.
McGraw Hill
AGUIRRE SADABA, A., A.M. CASTILLO y D. TOUS (2004): Erakundeen administrazioa. Oinarriak eta aplikazioak. Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa.
AGUIRRE SADABA, A.; D. TOUS ZAMORA y A.M. CASTILLO CLAVERO (2003): Administración de organizaciones en el entorno actual. Pirámide, Madrid.
AGUIRRE, M. (koord.) (2004): Sektore espezifikoko marketina. Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa.
BUENO CAMPOS, E. (2004): Curso básico de economía de la empresa. Ed. Pirámide, Madrid.
CUERVO, A. (koord.) (2005): Introducción a la administración de empresas. Thomson-Civitas.
GONZÁLEZ, F.J. y J.D. GANAZA (2007): Principios y fundamentos de gestión de empresas. Pirámide, Madrid.
IBORRA, M.; A. DASÍ, C. DOLZ y C. FERRER (2007): Fundamentos de dirección de empresas. Thomson, MAdrid.
SANTESMASES, M. (2004): Marketing. Conceptos y estrategias. Pirámide, Madrid.
SUÁREZ SUÁREZ, A. (2003): Decisiones óptimas de inversión y financiación de la empresa. Pirámide, Madrid.

Journals

Harvard Deusto Business Review
Universia Business Review

Web addresses

www.finanzas.com
www.expansión.com
www.clusterconocimiento.com
www.casosinnobasque.com
www.camaras.org
www.confebask.es
www.adegi.es
www.spri.es