Business organization
Code: 104680Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Andreu Turro Sol
- Email :
- andreu.turro@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
It is recommended to have passed the courses Strategic Management I and II.
Objectives
The course is focused on organizational design, which is an important managerial task. The main objective is to provide students with a solid conceptual and practical understanding of how to design various types of organizations.
Learning outcomes
- Capacity to adapt to changing environments.
- Lead multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, implement new projects, coordinate, negotiate and manage conflicts.
- Select and generate the information needed for each problem, analyse it and make decisions based on this information.
- Make decisions in situations of uncertainty and show an enterprising and innovative spirit.
- A capacity of oral and written communication in Catalan, Spanish and English, which allows them to summarise and present the work conducted both orally and in writing.
- Organise work, in terms of good time management and organisation and planning.
- Assess the effect of different strategies on the competitiveness of a company.
- List the main competitors of a company.
- Classify the different ways in which a company can compete.
- List the basic stages and processes in the formulation and implementation of a business strategy.
- Apply the processes of formulating strategies to specific cases.
- Draft business plans.
- Relate business strategy to the objectives of the company and its breakdown into departments or units.
- Adapt the formulation and implementation of strategies to different settings, family companies or recently-created companies.
- Back up business strategy decisions.
- Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
- Students can apply the knowledge to their own work or vocation in a professional manner and have the powers generally demonstrated by preparing and defending arguments and solving problems within their area of study.
- Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
- Analyse a situation and identify points for improvement.
- Propose new experience-based methods or alternative solutions.
- Weigh up the risks and opportunities of one's own ideas for improvement and proposals made by others.
- Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing ground-breaking proposals or ideas.
- Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
- Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.
- Propose projects and actions in accordance with the principles of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values.
Contents
1. The study of organizations
Concept of organization and evolution of organizational thinking. Main theoretical approaches (economic, social and strategic perspectives). Organizational efficacy and business models.
2. Organizational design
Characteristics of the organizational structure (differentiation and integration of activities, dimensions of the structure). Determinants of the organizational structure (external environment, technology, firm size and age, organizational strategy).
3. Organizational forms
Organizational structures and configurations (simple, functional, divisional, matrix, others). New organizational forms. Organizational culture.
4. Job design
Job characteristics and job design methods. Organizational change.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case studies and activities | 17 | 0.68 | 3, 5, 6, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21 |
| Tutorials | 10 | 0.4 | 3, 5, 6, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21 |
| Master classes | 32.5 | 1.3 | 3, 5, 6, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21 |
| Studying and solving cases and exercises | 87 | 3.48 | 3, 5, 6, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21 |
The type of teaching methodology planned for the subject is on-campus (face-to-face or person to person in the classroom). In order to achieve the course objectives, the following methodologies will be used:
1. Theoretical lectures.
2. Discussion of exercises and cases.
3. Practical activities about organizations.
4. Tutoring support.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | 50% | 1 | 0.04 | 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 |
| Case study presentation | 25% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 |
| Course work | 25% | 1 | 0.04 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 |
Assessment activities:
The final grade for the course will be the weighted average of the grades obtained in: (1) a final exam, which will count for 50% of the grade, (2) the follow-up of the course through the discussion and submission of cases, which will count for 25%, and (3) a group presentation of a real case, which will count for another 25%.
If the weighted average of these three grades is equal to or greater than 4.9, the student will pass the course. If the weighted average of these three grades is equal to or greater than 3.5 and less than 4.9, the student will fail the course and will have the right to retake. If the weighted average of these three grades is less than 3.5, the student will fail the course without the right to retake. The course teachers will decide the modality of retake. If the retake is passed, the final grade will be 5.
A necessary condition for this weighted average to be carried out is that the grade obtained in the final exam is equal to or greater than 4.9. If a grade in the final exam is lower than 4.9, the subject will be failed and the student will be entitled to retake the course, as long as the weighted average of the three grades that make up the course evaluation is equal to or greater than 3.5.
A student will be considered as Not assessable when they do not participate in any of the assessment activities.
This subject does not provide for the single assessment system.
Assessment activity calendar:
The dates of the different assessment tests (exam, classroom exercises, submission of work, ...) will be announced well in advance during the semester.
The date of the final exam for the subject is scheduled in the Faculty's exam calendar.
"The schedule of assessment tests may not be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason for which an assessment cannot be carried out. In this case, the people responsible for the degrees, after consulting the teaching staff and the affected students, will propose a new schedule within the corresponding school period." Section 1 of Article 115. Assessment activity calendar (UAB Academic Regulations).
Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business who, in accordance with the previous paragraph, need to change an assessment date must submit the request by filling out the document Test rescheduling request https://eformularis.uab.cat/group/deganat_feie/nou-reprogramacio-de-proves
Grade review procedure:
The day and medium in which the final grades will be published will be announced, coinciding with the final exam. Similarly, the procedure, place, date and time of the exam review will be informed in accordance with the University's regulations.
Retake Process:
"To participate in the retake process, students must have been previously assessed in a set of activities that represent a minimum of two-thirds of the total grade for the subject or module." Section 3 of Article 112 ter. Retake (UAB Academic Regulations). Students must have obtained an average grade for the subject between 3.5 and 4.9.
The date of this test will be scheduled in the Faculty's exam calendar. Students who appear and pass will pass the subject with a grade of 5. Otherwise, they will maintain the same grade.
Irregularities in assessment acts:
The completion of assessment activities is subject to the provisions set out in this course guide and in the "Policy of the School of Economics and Business on the Detection of Irregularities during Assessment Activities", which regulates the conditions under which assessment tasks are conducted and the procedures applicable in cases where indications of irregularities are detected. Students are encouraged to consult the policy.
Bibliography
Basic materials will be available at the Campus Virtual.
Main bibliography:
Jones, G. (2013): Organizational theory. Desgin and change. Pearson, 7th edition.
Secondary bibliography:
Burton, R.M., Obel, B.; Hakonsson, D.D. (2015): Organizational Design. A Step-by-Step Approach. Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition.
Hodge, B.J., Anthony, W.P., Gales, L.M. (2003): Organization theory: a strategic approach. Prentice Hall.
Solórzano-García, M. and Marco-Navío, J. (2024): Diseño y cambio organizativo: Fundamentos y nuevos enfoques. Editorial Universitaria Ramon Areces, 2nd edition.
Software
Basic Microsoft Office package (Word and Power point)
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |