Since this is a first-year course, students will start to develop and achieve both generic and specific skills of business administration degree (general business administration techniques as well as business economics terminology).

The firm is analyzed from a functional perspective, and the basic characteristics of each one of the functions are analyzed.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

The business administration basic theory and techniques are completed with the subject “Business Economics: Organization and Management”.

Specific competences of the subject:

-Identify the functions and responsibilities of the different business subsystems.

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 FINANCIAL SUBSYSTEM

PART V: THE OPERATIONS SUBSYSTEM

The main objective of this subject is to analyze business management from a global perspective.

For this, we will use the following subgoals:

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

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

-Establish the relationships between the different business subsystems.



The student will be able to:

- Understand the basic functional areas of the firm (management, human resources, financing, operations and marketing).

- Understand the importance of planning and use basic planning and control tools.

- Understand the importance of financing and investment decisions and use basic finance tools.

- Understand the differences among the main production systems.

- Understand the scope of marketing and its importance for the firm.

- Understand the importance of the human resources management for the firm.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Oral defense (%): 5
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 15
  • 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. This part requires the completion of a final project or team-work (counting 20% - 2 points -of the final grade), and the completion of exercises and activities planned during the course for each chapter (15% of the final grade, 1,5 points).



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 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.

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.

Basic bibliography

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.

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
Cuadernos de gestión (http://www.ehu.eus/cuadernosdegestion/revista/en/)

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