Description
This course is your first step into the world of business and provides the critical underpinning and insight into the concepts and principles of management in the international world of business. The key to successful management is to understand how all the components of management fit together and how decisions made within both the organisation and the external environment have a profound effect on the effectiveness of the business. This course therefore sets out the skeletal structure to the study and understanding of the world of international business and addresses the fundamental challenges of 21st century business management. The course is divided into an appreciation of the business environment, the core management tasks and the functional areas of management, all of which are delivered by theoretical underpinning and a critical application through class discussion and entrepreneurial activities and interpretations. To practically understand this crucial interrelationship student understanding and application is channelled into the creation of an elementary Business Plan.
Type Subject
Primer - Obligatoria
Semester
First
Course
1
Credits
6.00
Previous Knowledge
Objectives

The course should enable you:

To appreciate the relationship between the different areas of a business and understand the structures and functions of them

To understand the effective use a Business Plan

To evaluate business strategy from a critical standpoint

To make a first approach to a Business Plan for a business

To encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship

Contents

The course is structured in 6 main sections:

Management and Leadership
Organisational Structure and Change
Strategic Planning and Decision Making
Operations
Social Environment and Corporate Responsibility
Enrepreneurship

Each section will be explored and will constitute a definitive part of the final Business Plan:

What is Management and what do Managers do?; the Management Environment; organisational Culture and Managing Global Organisations; foundations of Planning; ethics and Social Involvement; organisational Structure and Design; integrative Managerial issues; strategy and strategic options; the Busines Plan; Leadership and Change; raising the money; funding the venture; Entrepreneural ventures; the future of business.

Methodology

The methodology utilised will be a combination of theory and practise.

The theoretical component will focus on the understanding and development of the tools needed to understand the functioning of a business and to develop a realistic Business Plan for an existing business or a potential business.
The practical component is developed by student active participation and collaboration during class sessions, class activities, presentations and simulations. Such activities will include case studies, on line forums, integrated research activities and group projects.

Evaluation

COURSE EVALUATION
The Course grade will be based on the following point breakdown:

25% Mid Term
35% Presentation of the Business Plan
25% Final Exam
15% Participation

Evaluation Criteria
Basic Bibliography

There is no set text book as this course utilizes concepts from a range of disciplines and resources. Additional readings and focus are available for each of the major concepts and will be given as we go through the course.

The following books are recommended to back up class notes:

Fundamentals of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications (8th edition), Robbins, DeCenzo and Coulter, Pearson.
The Virgin Way, How to listen, learn, laugh and lead, Branson R, Virgin Books.

Additional Material