Business Administration

1. The course presents a balanced theoretical/practical approach to the critical understanding of Marketing topics.
2. We aim to critically approach marketing mix management with a focus on the role of brands as superior instruments of value aggregation to goods and services in strongly competitive markets.
3. Develop an understanding of the brand management process and its impact on value aggregation to goods and services.
4.To acquire competencies in the critical evaluation of fundamental marketing communications concepts including traditional outbound communications tools as well as contemporary inbound possibilities.
5. Understanding all of the above in the context of organisational and national competitiveness in the global economy.

To promote a deep understanding of marketing´s key concepts, tools and relationship with the other managerial functions.
Key contents:
1) Marketing & its evolution
2) Strategy evolution
3) The marketing plan
4) Marketing strategy
5) SWOT analysis
6) Segmenting, Targeting and Positioning
7) Marketing Mix
8) Marketing innovation

Group assignments (40%).
Exam (50%).
Individual participation (10%)
A rate of attendance of at least 80% is required. Min. rate exam 8.5. Students that fail in the regular grading system have two additional chances to pass: first and second sittings, each worth 100% of the final grade.
Improvement of grades only allowed in the 2nd sitting. In any of the evaluation systems, course approval is granted if a grade equal or above 9.5 is attained.

At the end of this course, students must be able to:
LG1. To understand the role of leadership in the creation of sustainable competitive advantage through people
LG2. To describe the conditions in which organizational competitiveness is related to HR practices and systems
LG3. To develop HR strategies leading to different sustainable competitive advantages

PC1. Leadership, HRM and organizations: from people management practices to sustainability
PC2. Leadership and performance improvement: styles, lmx, transformational, and authentic leadership
PC3. HRM and organizational capabilities: service climate, relational coordination
PC4. HRM and dynamic capabilities: promoting sustainability through ambidexterity and organizational mindfulness

Periodic evaluation entails: an exam (70%); a group assignment (30%).
Students who fail the delivery of any assignment, who score below 7,5 on the individual component, or that have more than 20% of absenteeism should take the final examination (an exam that corresponds to 100% of the final grade).

1) Select the appropriate method of data analysis, given the problem under analysis, the objectives and the type of data available
2) Use the EXCEL and the statistical package SPSS to perform inferential and multivariate data analysis
3) Interpret the results obtained from the data analyses that were conducted

1) Preliminary exploratory data analysis.
2) Parametric hypothesis tests: one-sample t-test; independent samples t-test; one-way ANOVA.
3) Non-parametric hypothesis tests: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality; Chi-square test for independence; Mann-Whitney test; Kruskal-Wallis test.
4) Linear Regression: Simple and Multiple
5) Models with binary dependent variable: LOGIT and PROBIT
Principal Components Analysis.

The evaluation can be done through Periodic Assessment or Assessment by Exam. Evaluation in periodic assessment includes a team work (40%) and a test (60%) covering the entire topics - the score must be at least 7.5 points. In periodic assessment students must attend at least 66.67% of the classes. In the assessment by exam there is only a final exam representing 100%.
In the written assessment students can use a form and a calculator.

LG 1 - To develop some of the concepts underlying the strategic management process and understand the ways different theoretical perspectives approach this process.
LG 2 - To understand and apply the concept of dynamic capabilities and its approach to strategy
LG 3 - To introduce some of the concepts underlying the development of competitive and corporate strategies
LG 4 - To understand the importance of implementation and control in the process of strategic management
LG 5 - To develop critical thinking
LG 6 - To have autonomy to plan their own learning processes in order to deep their knowledge in this area of study.

1. Fundamentals of strategy
2. The strategic management process: New trends
3. Internal analysis of the organisation
4. External environment analysis
5. Business Strategies
6. Corporate Strategies
7. Strategy Implementation
8. Strategic Control

1. The teaching methodology includes lectures, cases discussion, practical exercises and examples
2. Students are encouraged to participate in the class discussions and presentations; to bring real life examples to class and to think critically about the topics presented in class.
3. Self-study (preparation for classes, test and exam)

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Option 1 (Continuous Assessment)

i. Individual Written Test 50%
ii. Group Assignment 40%
iii. Seminar Report 10%

To successfully complete the course, students must obtain a weighted average of 10 points or more, with at least 8 in the test and in each component of the continuous assessment.

Option 2 (Final Exam)
To pass: 10 or more points

LO1: Understand the basic concepts of operations and logistics management and align operations strategy options with corporate strategy;
LO2: Plan and control Operations and Logistics systems that will satisfy customers´ needs in a competitive environment;
LO3: Plan Operations and Logistics to ensure the efficiency

S1) Introduction Logistics and Operations Management
S2) From Logistics to Supply Chain Management and Network Management
S3) Capacity and demand management
S4) Lean Thinking and Lean Management
S5) Sustainability and Quality management

- Exposing methodologies, linked to the oral explanation of concepts;
- Participatory methodologies, linked to the analysis and resolution of case studies in class;
- Participatory methodologies, linked to the analysis and resolution of exercises in class ;
- Active methodologies, linked to the group analysis and resolution of a case study at home;
- Self-study

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Option 1: Assessment throughout the term (Requires attendance > 80%)

1. Individual Assessment - 20%
2. Group project - 30%
3. End-of-term individual test - 50%

The passing grade is 10 points with at least 8 points (out of 20) in each assessment element.

Option 2: Final exam
- Individual exam (100%)
The passing grade is 10 points.

1. Understand the concept of business cycles and subsequent analysis of business cycles in empirical terms and impacts of the same in the business environment;
2. Understand the concepts of inflation, unemployment, and their relationship;
3. Understand and analyze the short-term macroeconomic policies, namely fiscal policy, exchange rate policy, and monetary policy and the possible impacts on business.

1. Business Cycles
2. Inflation and Unemployment
3. Fiscal Policy
4. Exchange Rates
5. Monetary Policy

The course assessment is made with the help of:
- Final Exam (100%)

At the end of this curricular unit, students should be able to:
LG1 - Identify and rationally debate ethical issues in management
LG2 - Demonstrate an understanding of the scope of strategic CSR and sustainability issues
LG3 - Recognize that multiple, often conflicting, viewpoints and trade-offs exist around strategic CSR and sustainability issues
LG4 - Develop a critical and sophisticated understanding of the complex issues confronting global and local leaders.

S1 - Basic Terminology and the need for this curriculum
S2 - Business Ethics
S3 - Sustainability, Circular Economy and the Sustainable Development Goals
S4 - Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
S5 - Sustainable business model designs: a reflection of our commitment

Option 1- Periodic assessment
- Exam (50%)
- Group Assignments (50%)
For approval: Weighted average of 10 or more, with the average of each component of 8 points. Minimum attendance of 2/3 of the classes.

Option 2- Final exam
For approval: 10 or more.

LG1. Define a research problem and research objectives and select appropriate research methods
LG2. Formulate research hypothesis and select and relevant research variables aimed at hypothesis testing
LG3. Conduct literature searches in order to maximize relevance and reliability
LG4. Write a research project using a scientific style

PC1. Introduction: Differences between scientific and common sense knowledge
PC2.Major research processes
Research phases
Literature review
Problem formulation
Defining research objectives
Conceptualizing variables and their relations
PC3. Data gathering
Data gathering techniques
Secondary information analysis
Doing research in organizational settings

PC4. Report organization and writing

-Class participation - 20%
-Project - 80%

The minimum passing grade is 10.

1. Define a scientific problem and its relevance.
2. Define research goals and possible hypothesis;
3. Produce a literature review supporting the dissertation main problem
4. Apply the methodologies more suitable to data collection and analysis;
5. Critical reflexion sustained on theoretical frameworks and empirical results.

1. Writing the introduction and abstract
2. Definition of a research problem
3. Definition of research goals
4. Literature review
5. Defining hypothesis
6. Data collection methods
7. Data analysis methods
8. Writing conclusions and defining new research paths

Evaluation:
- Written presentation of the thesis
- Oral presentation with the synthesis of the thesis followed by a public defense with a jury.

1. Diagnosticar envolvente organizacional interna e externa que enquadre uma intervenção de gestão;
2. Conduzir uma revisão de literatura que suporte a elaboração de um projecto aplicado;
3. Definir as fases de um projecto de intervenção;
4. Definir as forma de acompanhamento e avaliação de projectos após a sua implementação.

1. Diagnóstico sumário da organização
2. Diagnóstico específico da envolvente e de um problema organizacional
3. Revisão de literatura aplicada
4. Análise de custos/benefícios do projeto para as organizações
5. Definição de projecto de intervenção, ou síntese de caso e possíveis formas de resolução
6. Avaliação de impactos possíveis e formas de controlo de resultados

- Apresentação escrita de um projecto
- Apresentação oral da síntese do projecto e posterior discussão pública perante um júri