Strategic Decision and Organizational Behaviour

Code:

MD147

Acronym:

DECO

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Economics

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S (since 16-09-2024 to 20-12-2024)

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://sigarra.up.pt/fdup/disciplinas_geral.formview?p_ano_lectivo=2010/2011&p_cad_codigo=MD106&p_periodo=1S
Course/CS Responsible:	Law

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MD	19	Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2023	1	-	7,5	-
		Plano Oficial do ano letivo 2024	1	-	7,5	-

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The main objective of this curricular unit is to transmit knowledge that allows to understand individual and organizational decision-making processes within a framework of strategic interactions between diversified, sometimes opposing, preferences.
Thus, in the first part, where attention is concentrated in the organization, it is intended to create knowledge about conflicts of interest and constraints in decision-making in organizations, as well as on possible socially undesirable reactions. It is also intended to reflect on issues of organizational ethics.
In the second part, the conceptual framework for the analysis of decision-making by individuals and organizations is explained, namely within the frameworks of decision theory and game theory, with special application in the legal context, reinforcing attention in the influential role that the Law can assume on behaviour.

Learning outcomes and competences

After having completed this curricular unit, students should be able to discuss individual and organizations decision-making processes, in a strategic framework of diversified interests.
Regarding the first part of the programme, it is required that students understand the patterns of organizational behaviour and the consequent outcomes of their choices. It is given particular emphasis to the understanding of differences between stakeholders and to other constraints faced by organizations, which can give rise to socially undesirable behaviours. Thus, it is expected students be able to discuss issues of organizational ethics.
Considering the contents of the second part of the program, students may be able to understand and explain the conceptual framework for analysing individual and organizational decision-making, giving examples of practical applications to the legal context

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

N.A.

Program

A - Organizational Behaviour

1. Introduction to organizational behaviour
2. Fundamentals of organizational behaviour: firms in particular
3. Management and structure of organizations
4. Leadership, motivation and performance of organizations
5. Conflicts and negotiation in organizations
6. The cultural dimension of organizations
7. Organizational behaviour in a context of institutional anomie
8. Ethics and social responsibility of organizations

B– Strategic decision-making

1. Theory of decision and game theory
2. Prisoner dilemma and other typical strategic frameworks
3. Dominant strategies and the role of law
4. Nash equilibrium
5. Dynamic interaction
6. Bargaining and information
7. Behavioural game theory

Mandatory literature

Douglas G. Baird; Game theory and the law. ISBN: 0-674-34111-2
Dixit, A. & Nalebuff, B.; The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success in Business and Life, W.W. Norton Publishing, 2010
Avinash K. Dixit; The^art of strategy. ISBN: 978-0-393-06243-4
Cruz José Manuel Neves 1965- 340; Infrações económicas e financeiras. ISBN: 978-972-32-2170-1
Cass R. Sunstein; Behavioral law and economics. ISBN: 978-0-521-66743-2
ULL; Harvard business review. ISBN: 0017-8012
Robbins, Stephen P.; Judge, Timothy A.; Organizational behavior, 17ª ed.. ISBN: 9781292146300
Roberts John; The^modern firm. ISBN: 978-0-19-829376-7
Miguel Pina e Cunha; Manual de comportamento organizacional e gestão. ISBN: 978-972-8871-58-1

Complementary Bibliography

Cruz José Manuel Neves 1965-; Considerações sobre a empresa em contextos globais
Mata José; Economia da empresa. ISBN: 978-972-31-0901-6
Jay B. Barney; O que não aprendi no MBA. ISBN: 978-989-694-212-0
José Manuel Neves Cruz; Anomia, criminalidade e debilidades do sistema de justiça em Portugal
Friedrichs David O.; Trusted criminals. ISBN: 978-0-495-60082-4
Kahneman, D.; Sibony, O.; Sunstein, C.; NOISE, William Collins Books, 2021. ISBN: 978-0-00-830900-8

Comments from the literature

In addition to the bibliography presented here, students will be confronted with scientific articles that deal with more specific aspects of the curricular unit's program.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The lectures will consist of theoretical-practical classes. These begin with a theoretical exposition of the teacher, that is followed by debate with students promoting their critical capacity. Students will actively participate in the learning process under the guidance of the teachers.

The students’ assessment is based on distributed evaluation without a final written exam.
There are no attendance conditions.
The elements for students’ assessment are:
1. Weighing 50% of the final classification, a written work about the contents of part A of the program, whose setup rules and subject topics will be made available in the beginning of the semester;
2. Weighing 50% of the final classification, a written test about the contents of part B of the program.
The lack of one or of both these elements implies the student failure in the curricular unit.
The final classification in the curricular unit consists in the weighted average of the scores in the assessment elements referred to in.
The written test will occur in post-work hours and will be scheduled in the beginning of the semester.

keywords

Social sciences > Economics
Social sciences > Juridical sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	58,50
Frequência das aulas	48,00
Trabalho de investigação	0,00
Trabalho escrito	96,00
Total:	202,50

Eligibility for exams

Cf. General regulation on students’ evaluation.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = 0,50xT  +  0,50xW
T = Test
W = Written work

Examinations or Special Assignments

N.A.

Internship work/project

N.A.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Cf. General regulation on students’ evaluation.

Classification improvement

Cf. General regulation on students’ evaluation.

Observations

Additional elements for supporting classes will be placed in the site of the curricular unit at SIGARRA.