Introduction to Management

This Curricular Unit does not require specific basic knowledge.

Expository method complemented with the discussion of case studies in class. The aim is to promote student participation and encourage interaction between students and the development of skills associated with teamwork through case discussion and group work.

Contact with real cases is also promoted through contact with companies where information is collected for carrying out group work.

The following are defined as the objectives of the UC:

O1. It is intended to convey to students the fundamental concepts of management that will allow them to acquire a global vision of the functioning of companies and the importance of management for success.

O2. It is also intended to introduce the student to the management functions with which the manager deals – Planning, Organization, Motivation, Leadership and Control.

O3. It is also intended to introduce the student to some critical business functions of any company – Innovation and Marketing.
O4. Finally, it is intended to integrate knowledge through strategic thinking and the global vision of the business.
These are skills to be developed by students:

C1. Understand the management process and its functions;

C2. Understand the importance of business functions with emphasis on innovation and marketing for business success;

C3. Understand the central role of people in organizations;

C4. Understand the need to develop the strategy and identify the strategies adopted

C5. Develop a critical and analytical spirit and communication skills.

I. The organization

1.1. The organization, management and managers

1.2. Globalization and internationalization of companies

II. The functions of the manager and management: Planning, organizing, motivating and leading, controlling

A – PLAN

1.1. Planning and its basic levels

1.2. The importance of objectives in the planning process

1.3. Types of Plans

B – ORGANIZE

1.1. Structure functions

1.2. Structural dimensions

1.3. Types of Organizational Structures

1.4. Determinants of the choice of structure

C – MOTIVATE AND LEAD

1 – Motivation

1.1. Concept of motivation

1.2 – The main views on motivation

1.3 – Contemporary visions

2 – Leadership

2.1 – A definition of leadership

2.2 – The approach based on personality traits

2.3 – The behavioral approach

2.4 – The contingency approach

D – CONTROL

1.1 –  Basic steps in the control process

1.2 – Types of control

1.3 – Tradiconal methods of control and new trends in control

III. BUSINESS FUNCTIONS: INNOVATION AND MARKETING

A- INNOVATION

1.1 -I Concept of innovation

1.2 -Types of innovation

1.3. Models of innovation 

1.4 – Ways to innovate: from making to buying

B – MARKETING

1.1. The evolution of Marketing

1.2. Marketing principles

1.3. Marketing Segmentation and Positioning

1.4. Marketing action variables

IV. THE FINAL INTEGRATION: THE STRATEGIC FUNCTION

1.1. The strategic management process

1.2. Strategy levels

1.3. The strategic analysis 

1.4. The choice of strategy

1.5. Strategy Implementation

NAO

Fundamental

Teixeira, Sebastião (2022). Gestão das Organizações, Escolar editora, 4ª ed.

Maçães, M. (2018). Manual de Gestão Moderna (2nd ed.). Actual. Coimbra

Complementary

Donnely, James, James Gibson e John Ivancevich (2000), Administração – Princípios de gestão empresarial, McGraw-Hill, 10ª ed.
Ferreira, Manuel, João Santos, Nuno Reis e Tânia Marques (2010), Gestão Empresarial, Lidel, 2ª ed.

Robbins, S. e David DeCenzo (2005), Fundamentals of Management – Essential concepts and applications, Prentice Hall, 5th ed.

Stoner, J., E. Freeman and D. Gilbert Jr (1995), Management, Prentice-Hall, 6ª ed.