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BMOL30100

Academic Year 2025/2026

Introduction to Business of Biotech Skills (BMOL30100)

Subject:
Biomolecular & Biomed Science
College:
Science
School:
Biomolecular & Biomed Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Antonio Garzon Vico
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Bringing a biotech research from the lab to the market takes more than good science. It also requires an understanding of how people work together, how organisations create value, and how projects are chosen and managed. This module gives students an introduction to these key business skills in the context of biotechnology.

This module introduces students to three key but interconnected fields in business studies:

Organisational behaviour: how people think, act, and work in teams.
Business strategy: how organisations understand their environment and decide where value lies.
Project management: how projects are selected and structured to support strategy.

The focus is on building a basic awareness of these ideas and seeing how they connect to the process of commercialising biotech research. Teaching will mix short lectures with discussions of real examples from science-based organisations.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

- Demonstrate an understanding of the key factors (such as values, personality, and environment) that affect human behaviour in teams and organisations.
- Explain what value creation is and recognise the importance of internal and external analysis in strategic choices.
- Describe the importance of project selection and organisational structure for effective strategy implementation.
- Apply these concepts to simple biotech cases, showing how people, strategy, and projects connect in the process of commercialisation.

Indicative Module Content:

We will cover various concepts from organisational behaviour, business strategy and project management in the context of the biotech industry:

Organisational Behaviour:
- Attitudes
- Personality and Values
- Perception and Decision Making
- Motivation

Business Strategy
- Value
- Internal Analysis: Resources and Capabilities
- External Analysis: Industry Analysis

Project Management
- Projects as Strategy Implementation
- Project Selection
- Organisational Structure
- Defining Projects

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

14
Specified Learning Activities

25
Autonomous Student Learning

64
Total

103

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Class Group work; Lectures; Critical writing; Problem-based learning; Case-based learning.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Reflective Assignment: At the end of each class, students will complete a short online reflection on the content covered that week. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Exam (In-person): A final exam consisting of multiple-choice questions and one short essay-style question to be chosen from a set. Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will get individual feedback on plans for learning journal submission orally upon request. Lecturer will also discuss general feedback in class regarding final exam. Students will have access to online MCQ test similar to final exam.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Mon 15:00 - 16:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 29 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
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