Frederick Community College

            BU103ONL -  INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

Spring 2012

 

You must send your email address to the instructor before class begins

 

 

Class begins:  1/30/12    Class ends:  5/18/12   Last day to drop:  4/16/12

 

 

 

 

Instructor Information:

 

 

 

 

Name:   Donna J. Lane, CPA, MBA

Office:  C221

 

E-mail:  dlane@frederick.edu

Phone Number:  301-846-2603

 

Office Hours:  by appointment

Campus Mail Box #: 269

 

 

 

 

Course Information:

 

 

 

Credits:  3

 

On-campus Meetings:  none

On-campus Exams:  2

 

Prerequisites:  EN50A and EN52 or ESL95 and ESL99

Co-requisites:  none

 

 

Course Description:

 

         Introduces effective use of planning, organization, and control in the management of an

         enterprise.  Introduction to finance, personnel and plant management, marketing, and

         business and government relations.

 

 

Core Learning Outcomes:

 

 

1.                 Discuss the major differences between capitalism, socialism, and 

             communism.

2.                 Describe how technology has changed business practices.

3.                 List the forms of business ownership and identify several

             advantages and disadvantages of each.

4.                 Identify the four functions of management.

5.                 Describe the elements of the marketing mix.

6.                 Define the functions of human resource management.

7.                 Describe the tools of the Federal Reserve and how they impact the

             economy.

8.                 Determine the role of debt and equity to finance a business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructional Methods:

 

Textbook assignments

Business news

Internet exercises

Investigative paper

Online discussion

 

 

How is this course organized:

 
Instructions, dates, assignments are on the Blackboard website.  The course is not self-paced.  Due dates are firm.  Weekly assignments are expected to be completed on time.
 

 

Text(s) for Course:

 

Understanding Business, Nickels, McHugh, McHugh,  2012 Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Optional:  Student Assessment and Learning Guide

 

 

 

Evaluation Methods:

 

Tests / Papers / Projects

Point Value

Final Grade Scale

 

4 exams

400

594-660 = A

10 “Net” items

100

528-593 = B

15 Business news summaries

75

462-527 = C

Business interview/paper

25

396-461 = D

Discussion board

Total points

60

660

Below 396  = F

 

 

Progress Report:  

 

Each student will be made aware of his or her progress in the course by the sixth week of classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Services

 

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

 

Participation Policy  

 

No points are given for participation but students are expected to participate. 

 

The course is not self-paced so assignments are due when indicated.

 

Points are given for discussion board postings.

 

Attendance Policy:

To complete this course successfully you do NOT have to be online at a particular day or time.  However, the course follows a weekly schedule.  Students are expected to complete all the work assigned for a particular week and to observe all test and exam deadlines throughout the semester.

 

 

 

Email Policy:

 

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours.

 

 

Academic Integrity:

 

 

 

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times.  Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

 

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                              Topical Outline

 

 

 

 

WEEK

SUBJECT

CONTENT

1

Ch. 1 Managing within the Dynamic Business Environment:  Taking Risks and Making Profits

 

Entrepreneurship

Business Environment

Evolution of Business        

 

Ch. 2 How Economics Affects Business: The Creation and Distribution of Wealth

 

Business news summary #1

Questions for business interview paper

 

Economics and Business

Economic Systems

Economic System of the US

2

Ch. 3 Competing in Global Markets

 

Business news summary #2

Taking it to the Net #1

 

Trading in Global Markets

Reaching Global Markets

Trade Protectionism

3

Ch. 4 Demonstrating Ethical Behavior and Social Responsibility

 

Business news summary #3

 

Managing Business Ethically

Corp. Social Responsibility

International Ethics

 

EXAM 1 (Chapters 1-4)

 

 

4

Ch. 5 Choosing a Form of Business Ownership

 

Business news summary #4

Taking it to the Net #2

 

3 Basic Forms

Mergers and Acquisitions

Franchises

5

Ch. 6 Entrepreneurship and Starting a Small Business

 

 

Becoming an Entrepreneur

Getting Started

Managing a Small Business

 

Ch. 7 Management, Leadership and Employee Empowerment

 

Business news summary  #5

Taking it to the Net  #3

 

 

Functions of Management

Learning Management Skills

6

Ch. 8 Adapting Organizations to Today’s Markets

 

 

Business news summary  #6

Business interview paper due

 

The Changing Organization

Structuring and Restructuring

Organization models

 

7

Ch. 9 Producing World-Class Goods and Services

 

Business news summary #7

Taking it to the Net  #4

 

Manufacturing/Services Base

Operations Management

Production Techniques

 

EXAM 2 (Chapters 5-9)

 

 

8

Ch. 10 Motivating Employees and Building Self-Managed Teams

 

Importance of Motivation

Motivation Theories

Open Communication

 

 

Ch. 11 Human Resource Management: Finding and Keeping the Best Employees

 

Business news summary  #8

Taking it to the Net #5

 

Finding the Best Employees

Keeping the Best Employees

Laws Affecting HR Mgmt.

9

Ch. 12 Dealing with Employee-Management Issues and Relationships

 

Business news summary #9

Taking it to the Net #6

 

 

Collective Bargaining

Labor-Mgmt. Conflicts

Controversial Issues

10

Ch. 13 Marketing: Building Customer Relationships

Marketing Mgmt. And Mix

Consumer Market

Business-to-Business Market

 

 

Ch. 14 Developing and Pricing Products and Services

 

Business news summary  #10

Taking it to the Net #7

 

 

Product Differentiation

Branding and Brand Equity

Brand Management

 

April 16

 

Last Day to Withdraw from Course

 

 

11

EXAM 3 (Chapters 10-14)

 

 

 

Ch. 15 Distributing Products Quickly and Efficiently 

 

Business news summary #11

 

Marketing Intermediaries

Wholesale and Retail

Nonstore Retailing

12

Ch. 16 Using Effective Promotional Techniques

 

Business news summary  #12

Taking it to the Net  #8

 

Promotion Mix

Managing the Promotion Mix

13

Ch. 18 Financial Management

Financial Planning

Short-Term Financing

Long-Term Financing

 

 

Ch. 19 Securities Markets: Financing and Investing Opportunities

 

Business news summary  #13

Taking it to the Net #9

 

Debt and Equity Financing

How to Invest

Understanding Information

14

Ch. 20 Understanding Money, Financial Institutions, and the Federal Reserve

Control of the Money Supply

American Banking System

Future of Banking

 

Bonus Ch. D (p. 633) Managing Your Personal Finances

 

Business news summary  #14

Taking it to the Net  #10

Financial Planning

Building Capital

Retirement Planning

15

EXAM 4 (Chapters 15, 16, 18-20)

Business news summary #15 on a topic covered in Bonus Ch. D

 

                             THE OUTLINE MAY BE CHANGED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.

 

 

         March 19-25  Spring Break