Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Business Organization and Experiences in Business

Business Organization and Experiences in Business
4
13523
4
First semester
op
MENTION IN BIOMEDICAL BUSINESS
Main language of instruction: English

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish,

Teaching staff


Mrs. FERNÁNDEZ ALBIZURI, Maria - mfernandezal@uic.es

Questions will be answered online, by videoconference, with the subject coordinator.

Introduction

This course reinforces the practical aspects of material taught in other, more theoretically oriented courses. It begins with an introductory session outlining the landscape of biomedical organizations and their departmental structures, followed by an exploration of three primary business functions—finance, operations, and marketing. Students study these functions in the classroom and subsequently observe their practical application across five diverse institutions: a consultancy firm, a major pharmaceutical company, a venture capital fund, a biomedical start-up, and a hospital. The course is further supported by lectures where—either before or after each site visit—students examine the relevant business function and how it manifests within the specific institution being visited.


This course contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda—specifically SDGs 3, 8, 9, and 17—by examining how biomedical organizations improve health and well-being (SDG 3), promote inclusive economic growth and decent jobs within the sector (SDG 8), foster innovation and the biomedical industry (SDG 9), and establish partnerships between business, investment, and the healthcare system to drive scientific and social progress (SDG 17).

Pre-course requirements

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation module.

Objectives

  • Explain the different types of biomedical companies, their departmental structures, and how they are internally organized by function.
  • Introduction to basic finance.
  • Teach the actual operational dynamics of biomedical companies (start-ups, pharmaceutical companies, service providers) through their primary functions.
  • Present the actual management dynamics of a hospital, with an emphasis on operational organization.
  • Describe the actual management dynamics of an investment fund and the workings of corporate finance in a high-risk environment.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

 
  • CB01 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study that is based on general secondary education, and it tends to be found at a level that, although it is based on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting-edge of their field of study.
  • CB03 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) to issue judgements that include a reflection on significant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
  • CB04 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • CB05 - That students have developed the necessary learning skills to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.
  • CE19 - To be aware of the principles of biomedical science related to health and learn how to work in any field of Biomedical Sciences (biomedical companies, bioinformatics laboratories, research laboratories, clinical analysis companies, etc.).
  • CG07 - To incorporate basic concepts related to the field of biomedicine both at a theoretical and an experimental level.
  • CG10 - To design, write up and execute projects connected to the field of Biomedical Sciences.
  • CG11 - To be aware of basic concepts from different fields connected to biomedical sciences.
  • CT01 - To develop the organisational and planning skills that are suitable in each moment.
  • CT02 - To develop the ability to resolve problems.
  • CT03 - To develop analytical and summarising skills.
  • CT04 - To interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
  • CT05 - To use the internet as a means of communication and a source of information.
  • CT06 - To know how to communicate, give presentations and write up scientific reports.
  • CT07 - To be capable of working in a team.
  • CT08 - To reason and evaluate situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
  • CT09 - To have the ability to develop interpersonal skills.
  • CT10 - To be capable of autonomous learning.
  • CT11 - To apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
  • CT12 - To apply scientific method.
  • CT13 - To be aware of the general and specific aspects related to the field of nutrition and ageing.
  • CT14 - To respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values that are specific to a culture of peace and democratic values.

Learning outcomes of the subject

Upon completion of the course, students must be able to:

  • Demonstrate an adequate understanding of the concept of a business enterprise, its institutional and legal framework, and its organization and management.
  • Identify the various types of biomedical companies and situate them within the sector's organizational landscape.
  • Recognize the differences and similarities between managing a business enterprise and other types of entities, such as a hospital or an academic biomedical research center.
  • Distinguish between the departments that structure commercial entities, their operational dynamics, and the competencies required in each.
  • Read and interpret an organization's basic financial statements.
  • Analyze how marketing and operations functions are carried out in organizations of widely varying natures (industry, services, healthcare facilities).
  • Identify the business roles that a biomedical science graduate can undertake.

Syllabus

  1. Introduction: what a company is, the landscape of biomedical organizations, and their departmental structure. Practical visit to a consulting firm.
  2. Marketing: marketing in the healthcare sector (patient, prescriber, and payer; promotion regulations). Practical visit to a pharmaceutical company.
  3. Finance I: reading financial statements and sources of funding. Practical visit to a venture capital fund.
  4. Finance II: financial projections and company valuation. Practical visit to a biomedical start-up.
  5. Operations: operational management in industry, services, and healthcare facilities. Practical visit to a hospital.

Teaching and learning activities

In person



Fully in-person format, taking place both in the classroom and at the premises of the institutions visited.

The course content will be delivered using two different methodologies or training activities:

1) Lectures (CM) — 10 hours: the teaching staff and, where appropriate, a representative from the institution being visited convey knowledge to the entire student group in the classroom, linking the week's business function to the institution that will be—or has been—visited.

2) Practical visits (VP) — 30 hours: students will tour the selected entities accompanied by a guide from the company itself. This professional will explain—on-site—the various departments that make up the company and their working dynamics.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



1) First assessment opportunity:

  • Class participation and attitude during visits: 10%
  • Continuous assessment (end-of-class quizzes): 20%
  • Portfolio of company profiles: 70%

Attendance: Attendance at lectures is not mandatory to pass the course, although it will be taken into account for the participation and continuous assessment grades. However, attendance at a minimum of three out of the five practical visits is mandatory. For portfolio purposes, only profiles for visits actually attended by the student count; failure to attend a visit results in the direct loss of the points corresponding to that company's profile.

Continuous assessment (20%): At the end of the session, students will complete a digital quiz consisting of ten questions on the session's content, featuring randomized question order and a time limit per question. Each quiz accounts for 5% of the final grade. These quizzes do not use a penalty system for incorrect answers: correct answers add points, while incorrect or unanswered questions do not result in point deductions.

Portfolio of company profiles (70%): Each student will individually prepare a profile—maximum two pages—for each of the companies visited (up to a maximum of five), comprising four fixed sections: (1) company presentation, (2) observed departments and structure, (3) analysis based on the business function corresponding to that week, and (4) a personal observation made exclusively during the visit. Each profile accounts for up to 14% of the final grade. The deadline for submitting each worksheet is one week from the date of the corresponding visit. For the final visit—and thus the final worksheet—a brief reflection on the various companies is also expected, in order to understand which one most captured the student's interest regarding their future career.

There are no midterm or final exams; assessment for this course is 100% continuous. Consequently, the penalty for incorrect answers typically found in multiple-choice exams does not apply.

2) Second or subsequent exam attempt: the grade for class participation and the grades for questionnaires already completed will be carried over from one sitting to the next. If the portfolio is submitted during the second sitting (or any subsequent one), the maximum grade attainable for this component is 6 out of 10.

 

General points to consider regarding the assessment system:

1) To calculate the average across the three components, a minimum grade of 5 out of 10 must be obtained on the company profile portfolio. The overall minimum grade to pass the course is 5 out of 10.

2) Class participation is defined as contributing interesting ideas or raising pertinent questions that help improve the quality of the session, whether it is a lecture or a debriefing session following a visit.

3) If arriving late, you must enter quietly without disturbing or interrupting the class.

Bibliography and resources

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