Business 32 – Introduction to Business
(Off-line Section 31)
Distance Learning Fall Semester 2007
Instructor:
Tony S. Robertson
Office:
Building G2, Office G
Office hours: M – W 9:00 – 10:30A.M. & T – Th 10:00 – 11:30 A.M., and by scheduled
appointments.
Phone:
(661) 763-7931
E-mail:
trobertson@taftcollege.edu
Prerequisites: None
Advisory:
Eligibility for English 50 and 54 strongly recommended; 48 hours lecture
Course Description
A survey course designed to give the student an overview of the functions, objectives,
organization and structure of business and its importance in a free enterprise system.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, a successful student will be able to:
1. Describe a broad overview of business, and
2. Analyze business organization and operation
3. Evaluate the various areas of business operation, and
4. Appraise the effect of multiple cultures on global business activity.
Required Materials
Text: Contemporary Business, 11th Edition, Boone and Kurtz.
*
*
The book is available from the Taft College Bookstore or may be purchased
from any other source available to the student (ISBN: 0-324-20613-5)
Text Book Online Resources - http://www.contemporarybusiness.com/
Evaluation
1. Critical thinking use to solve case study questions.
2. One mid-term exam and one final exam, not cumulative.
Grading
Your grade will be calculated on a total point system. There will be 550 points possible for the
semester, allocated in the following manner;
1. (Case studies)
250 points
2. Mid-term exam
150 points
3. Final Exam
150 points
Case Studies: There will be 6 case studies assigned throughout the semester worth
approximately 40 points each. The student is expected to use critical thinking and answer each
question comprehensively using relevant techniques and information provided throughout the
text. Using outside resources, if cited and relevant are encouraged (please include a photo copy
of articles). Case studies assignments are to be typewritten, including the questions you are
answering on the assignment. Failure to meet these criteria will result in a 10 – 20% penalty
dependent upon legibility of the hand written work. Late assignments will be accepted but with
a 50% penalty. The case study questions assigned are due the first day of the week succeeding
the completion of the assigned reading (e.g. the questions form case study part 1, are due
Monday, October 22, 2007, the beginning of week number three). If you receive full credit there
will be a check mark at the top of the paper. Late assignments or assignments that originally
received no credit but are reworked to meet the aforementioned criteria will have a check mark
followed by a minus sign signifying one-half credit. There are two options for turning in
completed assignments. First, assignments can be mailed to my attention at Taft College, 29
Emmons Park Dr., Taft, CA, 93268. If you choose this option, the postmark must be on or
before the assignment due date to receive full credit. If you would like your graded assignments
returned to you please include a self addressed stamped envelope, other wise it will be in the
graded file for the class located in the LRC. The other option for turning in assignments is using
the LRC located in the Taft College library.
Mid-term and Final Exam: The format of the exams will consist of approximately 75-100
multiple choice questions. The mid-term will cover chapters 1-11. The final exam is not
cumulative; it will cover chapters 12-18. Testing will take place at the Learning Resource Center
(LRC) at Taft College if you are in the immediate area. If you are out of the Taft area and wish to
take your exams at a proctored site you must identify that site and the proctor. Appropriate
proctors could include the following: full-time schools or public librarians, guidance
counselor/counseling staff, full-time teacher, school principal or superintendent, seminary
principal, IST officers, corporate training officer, military base/station education officer, base
commander you may identify, subject to approval. All tests for the semester will be available at
the LRC (763-7783). The mid-term test will be put on file Monday, November 12, 2007 and is
due Friday, November 16, 2007. The final exam will be placed on file Monday, December 10,
2007 and is due by Monday, December 17, 2007.
Statement of Academic Integrity
The administration, faculty and staff at Taft College believe that students are entitled to the finest
education that the college can provide. At the same time, a student’s achievement must include
the realization that there are standards of academic honesty that must prevail. Each student
should exert every effort to maintain these standards.
Academic dishonesty is defined by this college as any illegitimate act by any student, such as
plagiarism or falsifying documents that would gain that student an advantage in grading,
graduating from the college, or qualifying for entrance into any academic program. It is a serious
breach of student conduct and will be treated as such by administrators, instructors, staff
members, and students of the college. Penalties for such conduct, depending on its severity, may
range from a simple reprimand to actions that result in expulsion from the college. All flagrant
instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Vice President of Instruction and/or the
Vice President of Student Services, and appropriate measures will be taken by those officers of
the college to correct the problem.
ADA Statement
Students who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact
Student Support Services (661) 763-7927 as soon as possible to better ensure such
accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Classroom conduct
Class will be conducted according to the Standards of Student Conduct policies prescribed by
Taft College. Please review the student conduct policies as stated in the catalogue.
Course Scope and Content
Date
Topic and Reading
Week 1
(10/8 – 10/12)
•
Business: 2005 and Beyond
•
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
•
Economic Challenges Facing Global and Domestic
Business
(Read Chapters 1, 2 and 3)
Week 2
•
(10/15 – 10/19)
•
Competing in Global Markets
Options for Organizing Small and Large Businesses
•
Starting and Growing Your Business: The
Entrepreneurship Alternative
(Read Chapters 4, 5 and 6)
•
Case Study (Part 1) - Krispy Kreme: A Business
for Every Taste [ pg (s) 151-152]
Week 3
•
(10/22 – 10/26)
Management, Leadership and the Internal
Organization
•
Human Resource Management
(Read Chapters 7, 8 and 9)
•
Case Study (Part 2) - Krispy Kreme: Fostering
the Entrepreneurial Spirit [Pg (s) 261- 262]
•
Week 5
•
(11/05 – 11/09)
•
Pg. 152 Ques. 1-5
Electronic Commerce: The Internet and Online
Business
•
Week 4
•
(10/29 – 11/02)
Case Study
Questions
Pg. 262 Ques. 1-4
Improving Performance through Empowerment,
Teamwork and Communication
Production and Operations Management
(Read Chapters 10 and 11)
Case Study (Part 3) – Krispy Kreme: On a
Mission to Create Magic [Pg (s) 379-380]
Review/Study for Mid-Term Exam
Pg. 380 Ques. 1-4
Week 6
•
Mid-Term Exam Chapters 1-11
(11/12 – 11/16)
Week 7
•
(11/19 – 11/23)
•
Customer Driven Marketing
Product and Distribution Strategies
•
Promotion and Pricing Strategies
(Read Chapters 12, 13 and 14)
•
Case Study (Part 4) – Krispy Kreme: To
Advertise or Not to Advertise [Pg (s) 485-486]
Week 8
•
(11/26 – 11/30)
•
•
Week 9
•
(12/03 – 12/07)
•
•
75-100 Multiple
Choice Questions
Pg. 486 Ques. 1-4
Using technology to Manage Information
Understanding Accounting and Financial
statements
(Read Chapters 15 and 16)
Case Study (Part 5) – Krispy Kreme: A LowTech Product in a High-Tech World [Pg (s) 541542]
Pg. 542 Ques. 1-4
Financial Management and Institutions
Financing and Investing through Securities Markets
(Read Chapters 17 and 18)
Case Study (Part 6) – Krispy Kreme: Investors
Have an Appetite for Krispy Kreme [Pg (s) 598599]
Week 10
•
(12/10 – 12/14)
Review/Study for Final Exam
Finals Week
•
(12/17 – 12/21)
Final Exam, Chapters 12-18, Due Date is
December 17, 2007
Pg. 599 Ques. 1-4
75-100 Multiple
Choice Questions