This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Business History

Code: 102095 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Accounting and Finances OP 4

Contact

Name:
Montserrat Llonch Casanovas
Email:
montserrat.llonch@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

To follow this course, it is highly recommended that students had done the course Economic History.


Objectives and Contextualisation

There are two main goals to accomplish.

First of all, this course will start with the analysis of the evolution of business all through the last two centuries and, therefore, to see the changes in size and form. This is for the student to acquire a dynamic vision of business by contrasting theory and historical reality, and to be able to understand the way the determining factors of transformations work in terms of technological changes, resources, potential demand, market structure, financial system, institutional framework... in their magnitude, structure, and in the organization of the enterprises.

Second, this course is about giving the students some knowledge in order to understand the relationship that exists between companies and economic growth. This way, the course will emphasize on the construction of well defined organizational capacities in space and time (nations and regions) and then we will be able to study the relationship between determined forms of business and the intensity of the economic growth.


Learning Outcomes

  1. CM24 (Competence) Analyse the inequalities on the grounds of sex/gender and gender bias in the field of knowledge.
  2. CM25 (Competence) Analyse the dynamics of the internal functioning of companies in the long term.
  3. KM19 (Knowledge) Recognise the factors determining international trade patterns, financial relations and the factors determining the competitiveness of companies.
  4. SM23 (Skill) Assess the evolution of labour markets and capital in the evolution of the company during the economic development process.
  5. SM24 (Skill) Assess the existence and dynamic of long-term national and international business models.

Content

Block I. THE COMPANY IN THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

 1.   COMPANY IN THE PROPERTY CAPITALISM

1.1. Origins of the factory system and of the new industrial company

1.2. The new dimensions of the industrial company

1.3. The predominant form of company

1.4. Enterprise within commerce and finances

Block II. SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND THE BIG MODERN COMPANY: THE EMERGENCE OF CAPITALS MARKET

2.   PRECEDENTS OF THE BIG MODERN COMPANY AND THE MODERNIZATION OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM

2.1. The railway and the new challenges of business complexity

2.2. The Second Industrial revolution and the integration of the international market

2.3. The modernization of the financial system

3.    GROWTH STRATEGIES AND THE NEW COMPETENCE

3.1. Growth strategies

3.2. The new competence

3.3. The new commercialization techniques

3.4. The emergence of the multinational companies 

4.    DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIG COMPANY AND DIVERSITY OF FINANCING FORMS

4.1. The USA: from the trusts to the big multidivisional company. The role of the Stock Exchange

4.2. Big companies and cooperative capitalism in Germany. The importance of the banks

4.3. Japan: a business and financial integration model

Block III. OTHER FORM OF ENTERPRISES IN THE WESTERN WORLD 

5.   CONTINUITIES AND CHANGES: FAMILY BUSINESS AND SME

5.1. Family business: the complexities

5.2. the Small and Medium size Companies and the district phenomenon

Block IV: THE COMPANY IN THE LATEST CAPITALIST GLOBALIZATION 

6.  THE COMPANY IN THE RECENT SUCCESSFUL PROCESSES OF INDUSTRIALIZATION

6.1. The recent industrialization economies: developments, technology transfer paradigms and forms of companies

6.2. Chinese emergent companies


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Exercise resolution, presentations in class and class discussions 17 0.68 CM24, CM25, KM19, SM23, CM24
Theory: lectures, case study and reverse class 32.5 1.3 CM25, KM19, SM23, SM24, CM25
Type: Supervised      
Attendance at seminars and conferences 22 0.88 CM25, KM19, SM23, CM25
Type: Autonomous      
Search and extension of complementary materials 14 0.56 SM23, SM24, SM23
Study of the material and preparation of study work 55 2.2 CM25, KM19, SM24, CM25

1. Lecture.- The teacher will carry out an analytical conceptualization and an updated synthesis of each of the study topics. The objective of this activity is to facilitate the transmission of knowledge and motivation for historical analysis, which are focused on promoting active and cooperative learning.

2. Innovative methodologies such as the flipped classroom The flipped classroom methodology will be implemented in order to encourage students to analyze different topics, such as family businesses and organizational changes in production.

3. Practical sessions.-The objective of these sessions is to promote, in addition to the specific knowledge of the subject, the improvement and acquisition of various transversal skills by the student. In the classroom, problems or questions raised in relation to different aspects of the syllabus that each student will have previously worked on with the readings or materials indicated will be worked on.

4. Individual work of students based on readings and information research. The guided work is complemented by individual or autonomous group work. The objective of this activity is to enhance the independence of the student in the learning process and provide analytical tools that promote their critical capacity.

5. Tutorials.- The subject teacher will be available to students during the established times to resolve doubts. 

6. Virtual Campus.- The Virtual Campus has all the relevant information for monitoring the subject and the different types of materials that the teacher considers basic to advance in the learning process. 

7. Use of Artificial Intelligence.- Restricted use.- For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed exclusively in [support tasks, such as bibliographic or information search, text correction or translations or other situations, provided that they are indicated by the teacher. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency of the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a partial or total penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.”

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Essay work and/or oral presentation 15% 1 0.04 CM25, SM23, SM24
Partial exam 1 30% 1.5 0.06 CM24, CM25, KM19, SM23, SM24
Partial exam 2 30% 1.5 0.06 CM25, KM19, SM23, SM24
Practicum 15% 5.5 0.22 CM24, CM25, KM19, SM23

Assessment System. The assessment consists of four types of activities:

  • 30% – Midterm exam

  • 40% – Final exam

  • 15% – Oral presentation and/or written essay. The specific format of this activity will be determined based on the size and characteristics of the group.

  • 15% – Practical assignments

The course will be considered passed if the following two conditions are met:

  1. The average grade for the course is equal to or higher than 4.8, and

  2. The final exam grade is equal to or higher than 4.0.

  • If a student meets the first requirement but not the second, the average course grade will be adjusted to 4.5, and the student will be eligible to take the resit examination, in accordance with the guidelines detailed in the section "Resit Process" found later in this guide.
  • If a student meets the second requirement but not the first—or meets neither—then their overall course grade will be the result of the direct application of the above weightings, and they will also be eligible to take the resit examination, following the provisions outlined in the "Resit Process" section.

This subject/module does not offer the option for comprehensive evaluation.

Calendar of evaluation activities

The dates of the four assessment exercises will be announced in advance by the teacher of the group. These tests will not be rescheduled for any reason. If a student cannot attend the test on the day announced, he/she will receive a score of zero and will not be able to take the test on another day.

The date of the final exam is scheduled in the assessment calendar of the Faculty.

"The dates of evaluation activities cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an evaluation activity cannot be carried out. In this case, the degree coordinator will contact both the teaching staff and the affected student, and a new date will be scheduled within the same academic period to make up for the missed evaluation activity." Section 1 of Article 115. Calendar of evaluation activities (AcademicRegulations UAB). Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, who in accordance with the previous paragraph need to change an evaluation activity date must process the request by filling out an Application for exams' reschedulehttps://eformularis.uab.cat/group/deganat_feie/application-for-exams-reschedule

 

Grade revision process

After all grading activities have ended, students will be informed of the date and way in which the course grades will be published. Students will be also be informed of the procedure, place, date and time of grade revision following University regulations.

 

Retake Process

"To be eligible to participate in the retake process, it is required for students to have been previously been evaluated for at least two thirds of the total evaluation activities of the subject." Section 3 of Article 112 ter. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an average grade of the subject between 3.5 and 4.8.

The date of the retake exam will be posted in the calendar of evaluation activities of the Faculty. Students who take this exam and pass, will get a grade of 5 for the subject. If the student does not pass the retake, the grade will remain unchanged, and hence, student will fail the course.

 
ATTENTION: A student is considered "Not Assessable" in this subject as long as he has not participated in any of the assessment activities. "The qualification of NON-ASSESSABLE implies exhausting all the rights inherent in the registration of the subject.

This subject/module does not provide for the system single assessment.

Irregularities in evaluation activities

In spite of other disciplinary measures deemed appropriate, and in accordance with current academic regulations, "in the case that the student makes any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation activity, it will be graded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that can be instructed. In case of various irregularities occur in the evaluation of the same subject, the final grade of this subject will be 0". Section 10 of Article 116. Results of the evaluation. (UABAcademic Regulations).




Bibliography

REFERENCE BOOK, COMPULSORY

  - VALDALISO, Jesús M.; LÓPEZ, Santiago (2007), Historia Económica de la Empresa, Barcelona: Crítica.  

  - PALAFOX, Jordi (ed) (2014). Los tiempos cambian. Historia de la economía. València: Tirant Humanidades, chapter 4 (108-140), chap. 8 (230-253) and chap. 10 (280-308) https://biblioteca-tirant-com.are.uab.cat/cloudLibrary/ebook/show/9788416062195

 -  JONES, Geoffrey; ZEITLIN, Jonathan (2008), The Oxford handbook of business history Oxford; New York : Oxford University Press.

 

COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES

 -  BAUMOL, William J.; LITAN, Robert E; Schramm, Carl J.(2007), Bad Capitalism and the Economics of Growth an d Prosperity. New Heaven: Yale University Press. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.are.uab.cat/lib/uab/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=3420392

-  BLACKFORD, Mansel G. (1998), The Rise of Modern Business in Great Britain, the United States and Japan. Chapel Hill. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.are.uab.cat/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=4049d815-147c-4300-8619-130e375e7deb%40redis&vid=0&format=EB

-  CARNEVALI, F.(2005), Europe’s Advantage: Banks and Small Firms in Britain, France, Germany and Italy since 1918.Oxford- New York: Oxford University Press. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.are.uab.cat/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=fa490579-0f60-4fcc-93aa-b3dd7b39b8ee%40redis&vid=0&format=EB

-  CATALAN, Jordi; MIRANDA, José Antonio; RAMON, Ramon (eds) (2011) Distritos y clusters en la Europa del Sur. Madrid: Lid. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.are.uab.cat/lib/uab/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=6883325

-  CHANDLER, Alfred D. (1987), La mano visible. La revolución en la dirección de la empresa norteamericana. Madrid: Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social.

-  CHANDLER, Alfred D. (1991), "La lógica permanente del éxito industrial", Harvard Deusto Business Review,nº 45, 117-129. (disponible amb autenticació)

-  CHANDLER, Alfred D. (1996), "Los fundamentos del capitalismo gerencial en la industria alemana" en CHANDLER, Alfred D., Escala y diversificación : la dinámica del capitalismo industrial. Zaragoza : Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza, 657-705.

-  COLPAN, Asli M.; HIKINO, Takashi; Lincoln, James R. (ed) (2010), The Oxford Handbook of Business Groups. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://web-s-ebscohost-com.are.uab.cat/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=f55b1ce8-9d5f-4c9d-afcf-409f3ece4011%40redis&vid=0&format=EB

-  COMÍN, Francisco (1996), “La empresa pública en la España contemporánea: formas históricas de organización y gestión” en COMÍN, F.; MARTÍN ACEÑA, P. (ed), La Empresa en la historia de España. Madrid: Civitas, 349-367.

-  DEI OTTATI, Gabi (1996). "El distrito industrial y el equilibrio entre cooperación y competencia", Información Comercial Española754, 1996, 85-95.

-  DORE, Ronald (2005), Capitalismo bursátil, capitalismo del bienestar. Japón y Alemania versus los anglosajones. Madrid: Akal, 31-52 y 201-217.

-  FREEMAN, Chris; LOUÇÂ, Francisco (2002) As time goes by: from the industrial revolutions to the information revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.are.uab.cat/lib/uab/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=3052743

-  JONES, Geoffrey (2005), Multinationals and Global Capitalism: From the Nineteenth to Twenty-First Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://oxford-universitypressscholarship-com.are.uab.cat/view/10.1093/0199272093.001.0001/acprof-9780199272099

-  LAMBERT, Juha-Antti; LUBINAITÉ, Sandra; OJALA, Jari; TIKKANEN, Henrikki (2021), The curse of agility: The Nokia Corporation and the loss of market dominance in mobile phones, 2003–2013, Business History, 63, 4,  547-605. 

-  PIORE, Michael J.; SABEL, Charles F. (1990), La Segunda Ruptura Industrial. Madrid: Alianza.

-  POLLARD, S. (1987), La génesis de la dirección de la empresa moderna.  Madrid, Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social.

-  YOSHIMORI, Masaru (1993), "Claves de la competividad japonesa", Harvard-Deusto Business Review, 56, 1993, 20-30.


Software

Recommended software is Word, Excel and Power Point.

Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 101 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 10 Catalan second semester morning-mixed