Referring to knowledge

Referring to abilities, skills

The course combines lectures and various complementary practical sessions (case studies, problem-solving exercises, reading, etc.), which are completed either individually or in small groups, both in and out of class.

Two sessions are held per week. Face-to-face learning activities provide the basic information required to study all content in the teaching plan, facilitating the accomplishment of the objectives established for the subject. In addition, part of this time will be dedicated to practical work to deepen knowledge of the interpretation of theoretical concepts.

Information regarding all aspects of the subject (including assessment procedures, tasks, submission deadlines, etc.) is made available on the Virtual Campus, as the tool used for regular communication between teachers and students.

Class attendance to both face-to-face and online sessions is important to the learning process, which is based equally on individual and group work and class participation. Students are expected to prepare for classes by completing the relevant case studies and the recommended reading, as outlined in the course plan.

Classes are regulated by Article 8 of Organic Law 3/2018 of 5 December on the protection of personal data and the guarantee of digital rights. The power to record classes or take pictures is the exclusive right of the teacher (having previously informed students and obtained their consent), since the personal data, image and voice of all persons attending these classes must be protected.Under no circumstances may students record and/or broadcast these classes, or any part of them, as this would constitute a serious offence and the University of Barcelona could take the corresponding legal measures.

As a result of the INNDOC project to promote teaching innovation that is being implemented in the Faculty of Economics and Business, the teaching methodology for some subject groups may differ slightly from that described above. The details of this methodology will be published on the Virtual Campus at the start of the academic year.

The GIE group is for students who have already taken this subject and follows a special learning methodology. Specific details are defined at the beginning of the course.

Assessment is intended to show whether or not the course objectives and competences have been accomplished. Students may choose one of two assessment options: continuous assessment or single assessment.

Continuous assessment involves regular class attendance and consists of submission of different activities throughout the semester, which form the basis of student’s assessment.

The overall mark for continuous assessment is worth 40% of the final grade, and the mark for the final examination is worth the remaining 60%. At the start of the course students are informed via the Virtual Campus of the nature of the assessed tasks, how they will be evaluated and the weightings (each task can be worth a maximum of 15% of the 40% of continuous assessment). These conditions are the same for all students.

To complete the continuous assessment process, students must sit a final examination on the whole course contents, on the date established by the Academic Council.

For this method of assessment, the following points should be observed:

• Students must obtain a mark of at least 3.5 out of 10 in the final examination to be eligible to receive a final grade for the subject. Otherwise, the final grade is the mark for the final examination.
• Students must obtain an overall mark of at least 5.75 out of 10 for the continuous assessment activities to be eligible to receive a final grade. Students who do not meet the above conditions will be required to complete the single assessment option, in which case the examination mark is worth 100% of the final grade.
• Students who submit the first continuous assessment activity are entered for this assessment procedure. On the day of the final examination, students may indicate whether they wish to continue the continuous assessment procedure or opt to change to single assessment.
• The final examination consists of a theory section and a practical section, the weightings of which will be specified in due time. A minimum score of 3 out of 10 must be obtained in each section. The theory section consists of multiple-choice and/or open-answer questions. The practical section consists of problem-solving questions or case studies.  If this minimum score is not reached in any of the components, no weighted average is calculated, and the final grade for the subject is the score obtained in the failed component.

• Capacity for learning and responsibility (capacity for analysis and synthesis, to adopt global perspectives and to apply the knowledge acquired / capacity to take decisions and adapt to new situations). This is measured through multiple-choice tests or case studies, including both theory questions and short problem-solving activities.

• Creative and entrepreneurial skills (capacity to conceive, design and manage projects / capacity to research and integrate new knowledge and approaches). This competence is measured through a range of activities to be chosen from by the lecturer: for example, presentation of a real business case or problem and attendance to a conference by a business manager; design of a short business plan or preparation of a business case, among other possibilities. Some of these activities can be done in groups, so that the capacity for group work is also developed.

• Capacity to analyse business organisations and their environment to identify key aspects. This is measured though case- or problem-solving activities.

Examination-based assessment

Single assessment consists of a final examination worth 100% of the final grade. The final examination consists of a theory section and a practical section, the weightings of which will be specified in due time. A minimum score of 3 out of 10 must be obtained in each section. The theory section consists of multiple-choice and/or open-answer questions. The practical section consists of problem-solving questions or case studies. If this minimum score is not reached in any of the components, no weighted average is calculated, and the final grade for the subject is the score obtained in the failed component.

The examination for students who have chosen the continuous assessment and single assessment options is held on the same day, but the content is different.

The content, procedure and criteria for repeat assessment are the same as those described for the single assessment option.