Structure of the Syllabus

General Information

Total Number of ECTS Credits: 60 (12 month program) of a total 92 offered

Compulsory Subjects (Instrumentals): 12 ECTS Credits
Compulsory Subjects (Fundamental): 18 ECTS Credits
Elective Subjects (specialization requirement): 16 ECTS Credits (Students must choose 4 subjects from the 12 offered)
Master Thesis: 14 ECTS Credits

Implementation Schedule

The Máster was implemented in 2011-2012 and therefore already graduated the second promotion of the program.

Brief description of the modules or subjects, their temporal sequence and skills associated with each of the modules or subjects

Area of Research Methodology, Sources of Data and Statistical Methods (12 ECTS)

Research Methodology (4)
Information and Data Sources (4)
Statistical Methods (4)

Basic Research in Management, Marketing and Accounting (18 ECTS Compulsory Credits and 16 ECTS Elective Credits)

Basic Research in Business Management (6)
Basic Research in Marketing (6)
Basic Research in Accounting (6)

Specialization Modules

The basic outline of the specializations programs of the Master are:

Elective Subjects for Specialization in Management (Module of 16 ECTS Credits)

Basic Research in Strategic Business Management (4)
Basics Research in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (4)
Basics Human Resources Research and Organization (4)
Basic Research in Operations Management and Technology (4)

Elective Subjects for Specialization in Marketing (Module of 16 ECTS Credits)

Consumer Behavior Analysis (4)
Fields of Application of Marketing (4)
Communication in Marketing and Business Distribution (4)
Marketing and New Technologies (4)

Elective Subjects for Specialization in Accounting (Module of 16 ECTS Credits)

Accounting standards (4)
Awareness and Control of Accounting Information (4)
Analysis and Evaluation of Accounting Information (4)
Accounting from the Historical and Sectoral Perspective (4)

Specialization in Management:

The itinerary of Management include 4 courses of 4 ECTS each: Basics Research in Management II (4 ECTS), Basics Business Creation Research (Entrepreneurship) and Innovation (4 ECTS), Basics Research of Organization and Human Resources (4 ECTS) and Basic Research in Operations Management and Technology (4ECTS).

The subject Research Basics of Business II will enable students to gain advanced knowledge, on one hand, of development strategies of the business and corporate growth, the development of vertical and horizontal limits (vertical integration , related diversification and unrelated diversification) and processes outsourcing, outsourcing and corporate restructuring, and entering foreign markets through internationalization processes and the problem of management of the multinational enterprise; and on other hand, business development and growth, such as organic growth, cooperation and strategic alliances, and mergers and acquisitions. Also revise its implementation in specific contexts such as family businesses, service companies, or small and medium enterprises and microenterprises, among others.

The subject of Basic Research in Enterprise Creation (Entrepreneurship) and Innovation will enable students to gain knowledge related to entrepreneurship (Creation of Companies, Entrepreneurship) and innovation. In particular, knowledge about the formation of new companies (start-ups) and entrepreneurial behavior of established companies (corporate entrepreneurship), theories of the businessman and the entrepreneur, the discovery and exploitation of business opportunities and the importance of geographic area in business creation (clusters, science and technology parks and business incubators). Also, they will form on the determinants of innovation (technological opportunity, economic opportunity and technological trajectories, absorbency and business characteristics), strategies for achieving, protecting and exploiting technology and knowledge management and intellectual property.

The subject of Basic Research in Operations Management and Technology will enable students to gain knowledge related to production and operations strategy and new technologies. Specifically, the student will form on the system aspects of a company"s operations, management of new manufacturing systems, management of the supply chain, production in services, development of new products and logistics and relationships with suppliers. Also he / she will form in aspects of models based on the new business technologies, electronic markets, virtual enterprises, the management of technology in organizations and productivity, and network externalities; and its implementation in specific contexts such as family businesses, service companies, or small and medium enterprises and microenterprises, among others.

The subject of Basic Research in Organization and Human Resources will enable students to gain knowledge on one hand related to the organization and the organizational design of the company, the informal organization and human behavior, leadership styles, behavior groups in organizations, and power, conflict and organizational culture. On the other, will be formed in aspects of strategic direction, human resource policies (employment and recruitment, development, compensation and retention), valuing human capital policies to redistribute managers (outplacement services) and shapes human resources evaluation for the development of human resources; and its implementation in specific contexts such as family businesses, service companies, or small and medium enterprises and microenterprises, among others.

Specialization in Marketing:

Areas of Application of Marketing (4), Consumer Behavior Analysis (4), Communication in Business Marketing and Distribution (4), Marketing and New Technology (4).

The Subject of Application of Marketing will allow students to understand the variety of contexts in which marketing takes place, how to determine the analysis and implementation of market strategies. In this regard, the particular markets consumer products, services, public and nonprofit organizations marketing, etc. are explained. Ultimately, it is the student understands the complexity of marketing decisions, and how they are conditional on the particular characteristics of its scope.

The Subject of Analysis of Consumer Behavior allow students to have a full point of view of the process of consumer decision and all influencing factors. In this subject, the object of the study is internal behavioral or psychological factors and external or sociological factors affecting purchasing decisions. In addition, the student will understand the major models of consumer behavior study and learn the basics of customer value analysis (CLV) and everything related to their management from a strategic standpoint.

The Subject of Communication Marketing and Business Distribution lays the foundation knowlegde of integrated marketing communications, including advertising, online media, sales promotion, and new trends in research and brand management. Furthermore, the special characteristics of the store brands and all it has to do with the commercial distribution ( marketing channels, distribution cycle , brokering, etc.) is another object of study in this subject.

Finally, Marketing and New Technology Subject focuses on new media relationship with the consumer. Students will understand the importance of new technologies and their impact on the markets as well as specific techniques such as social networks or WOM. In this course the student will study everything that involves the application of Digital Marketing from a strategic standpoint.

Specialization in Accounting:

Accounting standards (4), Awareness and Control of Accounting Information (4), Analysis and Evaluation of Accounting Information (4) and Accounting from the Historical and Sectoral Perspective (4)

The accounting regulations subject will allow students the proper training in accounting standards and knowledge of the regulated financial information. What is going to allow a systematic understanding of this information, acquiring skills and research methods related. This knowledge, at the same time, will lead to a critical analysis, development and synthesis of new and complex ideas in economic and financial information. The accounting regulations of prudence generate a framework that will allow continuity of institutions and promote sustainability.

Analysis and Evaluation of Accounting Information is a subject created with the purpose of helping students learn and control different techniques of evaluation and analysis of accounting information, giving them the necessary formation in order give them the opportunity to be able to make decisions about the company statements internally and/or externally.

Accounting from the Historical and Sectoral Perspective – as a subject - pursuits the formation of the student in a historical perspective and the paradigms of accounting in different sectors.

Master Thesis

Master Thesis will be conducted among some of the following lines of research. If the student wishes to obtain one of three possible specializations, the final project he should develop must be containt in the lines specified in each of the specializations:

Specialization in Management: (Lines of Research)

Strategic Business Management

Models of corporate governance and social and environmental corporate responsibility and its effect on company performance
The resources and capabilities and their relationship to competitive advantage (creation, maintenance and protection), the strategic direction of the company and the achievement of business income.
The competitive environment: industry clusters and industrial districts. Effect on business results.
Business strategy (cost and differentiation) and business models and their impact on company performance
Development strategies and corporate growth: vertical integration, diversification (related and unrelated) and corporate restructuring.
Internationalization of companiesand the multinational enterprise.
Methods development and business growth: organic growth, mergers and acquisitions and strategic alliances.
Family business
Micro business
Management of SMEs
Venture capital

Research in entrepreneurship and innovation

Creation of new companies (startups). Determinants of success and failure.
Entrepreneurial behavior of existing companies (corporate entrepreneurship).
Entrepreneurial behavior and personal characteristics (psychological, not sociological entrepreneur), cognitive skills and entrepreneurial decision.
Discovery and exploitation of business opportunities. Entrepreneurial discovery and competitive process.
Entrepreneurial Discovery and innovation. Technological innovation in business creation of startups.
Social entrepreneurship.
The role of geographic area in business creation: clusters, science and technology parks and business incubators.
The role of economic, social and institutional environment for business creation.
External factors determinants of innovation: technological and economic opportunities and technological trajectories.
Internal factors determining innovation: absorptive capacity and enterprise features.
Structure and evolution and structure of the industry and support innovation.
Strategies for achieving, protecting and exploiting technology.
Implementation of the strategy of technological innovation. Relationship between innovation and business performance.
Knowledge management and intellectual capital.

Research in Operations and Technology

Production Strategy and operations.
Development of new products.
Manufacture of high performance.
Management, quality management and total quality.
Advanced Production Systems (just in time, lean production).
Management of new manufacturing systems.
Management of the supply chain. Logistics and supplier relationships.
The production services.
Models based on new business technologies. Electronic Markets.
Impact on business structures.
Information systems in the enterprise: ICT as a source of competitive advantage.
Productivity externidades positive network.
Virtual enterprises. Operations management and virtualization Chain
Supply.

Research in organization and human resources

Organizational and efficiency designs.
The impact of technology on organizational design.
Leadership Styles.
The behavior of groups in organizations. Power and conflict.
Organizational Culture.
Human resources policies (employment and recruitment, development, compensation and retention) and business results.
Plans careers and internal mobility.
Performance Evaluation
Evaluation of human capital.
The effect of human resources on business competitiveness.
Relocation Policy of Managers: outplacement services.

Specialization in Marketing:

The proposal of new theories and models of consumer behavior.
Methods of Marketing strategic decision and follow-up on the impact in the market.
The influence of new technologies on the purchase and consumption behavior of consumers.
Effectiveness of communication and measurement systems of impact.
The distribution system in marketing. Strategic implications for consumer markets.
Positioning strategies in the service sector.
Theories of brand choice.
Marketing strategies in the public sector. Social and non-profit marketing.
Segmentation of the market in the field of new technologies.
Innovation in marketing.
Political Marketing.
Theories and models of evaluation of customer value.
Information systems modeling and management decision making in marketing.
Research Marketing in tourism.
Promotional Marketing
Superstores.
Corporate Social Responsibility.

Specialization in accounting:

Accounting regulations.
Accounting information and price generation.
Analysis and evaluation of accounting information.
Economic and financial information of the financial market.
Business combinations and financial statements.
Financial statements of multinational companies.
Historical perspective of accounting.
Accounting information for management.
Projected financial statements.
International Accounting information.
Analysis and goodwill practice impairment.
Aggregation and analysis of accounting information groups.
Sectoral analysis through the accounting information.
Accounting for SMEs
Financial information for public management.
Accounting for nonprofit organizations.
Usefulness of information and accountability.
Accounting information in the context of agency theory and asymmetric information.
International accounting harmonization.
The information to investors of the intangible assets.
Accounting information voluntarily.
Fair pricing accounting.
Analysis of equity and its impact on relations between shareholders and the company.
Cash versus accrual adjustments.
Indicators for management and accountability.
Reports of accountability to stakeholders or society: intellectual capital, environmental and social responsibility report.
Financial information of the new economy.