Frederick Community College

            BU103ONL -  INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

Fall 2008

 

Class begins:  8/23/08    Class ends:  12/13/08    Last day to drop:  11/3/08

 

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

 

Instructor Information:

 

Name:  Donna J. Lane, CPA, MBA

Office:   L101F

E-mail: dlane@frederick.edu

Phone Number: 301-846-2603

Secretary:          301-846-2694 

Office Hours: as posted outside office

Campus Mail Box Number: 133

 

 

Course Information:

 

Credits:           3

Last Day to Drop: November 3, 2008

                                

Prerequisites:   None

Co-requisites:   None

Meeting Day(s): Internet class

Meeting Time(s): n/a

 

 

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:

 

By the completion of the course students will:

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

 

 

 

Text(s) for Course:

Understanding Business, Nickels, McHugh, McHugh, 8th Edition, 2008, McGraw-Hill/Irwin ISBN #978-0-07-3105970-0

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.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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

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.