Miami Dade College, Hialeah Campus
School of Business
Course Name: Principles of Business
Course Number: GEB 1011
Reference Numbers: 701792
Semester: Fall 2012-1
Day/Time: MWF: 9:00 am - 9:50 am
Room #1212
Instructor Contact Information:
Instructor: Geoffrey Danzig, MBA
Office Hours: Before class or by appointment
Department Phone: (305) 237- 8753
Office Location Room 1415-24 Email: gdanzig@mdc.edu
Course Description:
Basic principles of ownership, management, marketing, personnel, finance, accounting, business research
and law as they affect the operation of American business and industries.
Required Textbook:
Book:
Understanding Business, 9th Edition
Author(s):
Nickels, McHugh and McHugh
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York
Learning Objectives and Course Objectives:
1. Improve critical thinking skills by learning to reflect, think, and write on Case Study topics
2. Demonstrate ethical thinking by examining and analyzing ethical dilemmas.
3. Students will understand the changing roles of business in a competitive global environment; ethical
considerations and the impact technology have played in changing the nature of business.
4. Students will learn the importance of economics and finance in the success or failure of a business.
5. Students will learn the options for organizing businesses, important considerations for starting a business, and the
changing importance of e-commerce and the Internet in business development.
6. Students will learn important issues of management, human resource management, developing an effective team,
considerations for communication, the importance of strategic planning and quality control.
7. Students will learn the important elements of a business plan, application of principles to the real world, and
develop important presentation skills throughout the course.
Grading Scale:
90-100
A
80-89
B
70-79
C
60-69
D
<60
F
Grading System
10%
Attendance and class participation.
3 Homework/Classroom Assignments @ 5% each
15%
1. Case Study (Team) - HW 1
2. Current Business Event (Team) - HW 2
3. Hypothetical Exercise - HW 3
Midterm Quiz (Ch. 1-6)
20%
2 Chapter quizzes (15% each )
30%
Final Project (Team Venture Capital Business Plan)
25%
Written (20%) and Oral (5%)
Note: At the instructor’s discretion, extra credit points will be awarded towards the final grade with prior agreement. Extra credit will
not exceed 5 points. Quiz/Exam/Project make-ups are to the instructor’s discretion and will require prior consent. It’s the
student’s responsibility to drop or withdraw this course – not doing so will result in an “F” grade to appear on final grade roll.
No late assignments will be accepted unless prior approval granted by instructor (10% penalty). All assignments will be graded on
the basis of content, quality, grammar, spelling, neatness and typed format. Keep in mind that writing is a necessity for the
attainment of academic success.
The mission of Miami-Dade College North Campus is to provide accessible, affordable, high quality education by keeping the
learner's needs at the center of decision-making and working in partnership with its dynamic, multi-cultural community.
Attendance:
Class attendance is an essential part of this course and attendance will be taken every class meeting. If
a student misses a class; they are still responsible for all work that was due for the missed class. The
student may be dropped from the course for excessive unexcused absences. If a student misses
more than 50% of the classes; their final grade will be lowered by a full letter grade.
Academic Dishonesty / Social Responsibility (General Education Outcome #6)
Academic Dishonesty is defined as an action inconsistent with the ethical standards of Miami Dade
College. Academic dishonesty includes the following actions, as well as other similar conduct aimed at
making false representation with respect to a student’s academic performance. The following are some
examples of Academic Dishonesty:
A) Cheating on an examination.
B) Collaborating with others in work to be presented, if contrary to the stated rules of the course.
C) Plagiarizing, including the submission of others ideas, work or papers (whether purchased,
borrowed, or otherwise obtained) as one’s own.
D) Submitting, if contrary to the rules of a course, work previously presented in another course.
E) Knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above actions, including
assistance in arrangement whereby any work, classroom performance, examination, or other
activity is submitted or performed by a person other than the student under whose name the work is
submitted or performed.
Classroom Policy:
Cell phones and beepers must be turned off before students enter the classroom. If a student’s cell
phone or beeper goes off during an exam, the student will receive a zero for that exam (including the
final exam).
Students that leave the classroom during an exam will not be readmitted.
General Education Outcomes:
1) Communication – An open line of communication is critical in all areas of your life; whether school, work or home.
The only “bad” question is the one you do not ask.
2) Numbers/Data Analysis - Whether you realize it or not, numbers are everywhere-from the calorie content of your
favorite soda, to the popularity polls of presidential candidates. All students should be able to process, understand and
accurately analyze numerical data.
3) Creative/ Critical Thinking – In the business world one must be able to analyze the numbers or general
information you working with to project budgets and sales for future periods.
4) Information Literacy - Do you consider "Wikipedia a primary source of information? By the time you graduate,
you'll know the pros and cons of information in internet resources and be able to rate information sources based on
their relevance and accuracy.
5) Global, Cultural, & Historical Perspectives – For a business to be successful it must be able to look at financial
projections and understand what outside influences there might be. Knowing that a products success can be affected
by the aforementioned categories gives a business a head start on fulfilling customers’ needs and wants.
6) Social Responsibility - John Donne said, "No man is an island." Everything you do and say has an impact on
those around you. While at MDC, you'll develop skills to fulfill not only your personal responsibilities, but also your
roles as a citizen and member of a global community.
7) Ethical Thinking & Social Responsibility - It is not just a matter of how you interact with other individuals; but it
also is how you act ethically and morally in a business situation. You must consider what the “best” overall is; this may
not necessarily be what is the best for only yourself.
8) Computer / Technology Usage -You can probably surf the net and send e-mails already, but there are many other
powerful tools at your fingertips. Before you graduate, you will learn how to use word processing, spreadsheet,
database, and presentation programs.
Distribution Date: 08/01/2011
Instructor: Geoffrey Danzig, MBA
The mission of Miami-Dade College North Campus is to provide accessible, affordable, high quality education by keeping the
learner's needs at the center of decision-making and working in partnership with its dynamic, multi-cultural community.
Principles of Business (GEB 1011)
F: 5:40P.M. – 8:10P.M.
Reference: 646116
Dates
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Please note: Activities and Assignments are subject to change
Activities
Assignment(s) for Next Class
Welcome & Introduction
Distribute & Discuss Syllabus/Calendar
 Read Chapter 1
Lecture: Course Overview
 Read Chapter 2
Lecture: Ch. 1
- Team Formation
Lecture: Ch. 2
- Distribute & Discuss Team Case Study
(Homework Assignment 1)
- View Video Business Case
Lecture: Ch. 3
- Case Study Assignment Oral Presentations (HW 1)
- Administer Chapter Quiz 1 (Ch. 1 – 2)



Read Chapter 3
Prepare for Quiz 1 (Ch. 1 & 2)
Complete Assigned Case Study and
Prepare for Case Study Oral Presentation (due 9/25)

Read Chapter 4
Lecture: Ch. 4


Read Chapter 5
Prepare Current Business Event Presentation
Distribute & Discuss Homework Assignment 2
(Current Business Event)
Week 6
Week 7
Lecture: Ch. 5
- Team 1: Present Current Business Event. (HW 2)
- View Video Business Case
Lecture: Ch. 6
Team 2: Present Current Business Event. (HW 2)
Week 8
Lecture: Chapters 7 & 8
- Team 3: Present Current Business Event. (HW 2)
 Read Chapter 6
 Prepare Current Business Event Presentation
 Read Chapters 7 & 8
 Prepare Current Business Event Presentation
 Read Ch. 10
 Prepare for Midterm Quiz (Ch. 1-6) (10/30)
 Prepare Current Business Event Presentation
- Midterm Quiz Review
Week 9
Administer Midterm Quiz (Ch. 1 -6)
- Lecture: Chapter 10
- Team 4: Present Current Business Event. (HW 2)
- Distribute & Discuss Final Project
Week 10
Lecture Ch. 11
Team 5: Present Current Business Event. (HW 2)
Venture Capital Business Plan Lab
(Business Resource Center)
Week 11
Lecture Ch. 12
- View Video Business Case
 Read Ch. 11
 Prepare Current Business Event Presentation
 Read Ch. 12
 Continue work on Final Project
 Begin work on Final Project (Due 12/09/08)
 Read Ch. 13
The mission of Miami-Dade College North Campus is to provide accessible, affordable, high quality education by keeping the
learner's needs at the center of decision-making and working in partnership with its dynamic, multi-cultural community.
- Venture Capital Business Plan Lab
(Business Resource Center)
Week 12
Lecture: Ch. 13
-Administer Chapter Quiz 2 (Ch. 8, 10 & 11)
 Prepare for Quiz 2 (Ch. 8, 10 & 11)
 Continue work on Final Project

 Read Ch. 14
 Continue work on Final Project
Distribute Homework Assignment 3 (Ch. 6)
Week 13
Lecture: Ch. 14
Collect Homework Assignment 3
 Read Ch. 16
 Continue work on Final Project
Venture Capital Business Plan Lab
(Business Resource Center)
Week 14
 Finalize Final Project (written) –
Lecture: Ch. 16
- View Video Business Case
Week 15
Week 16
Course Wrap Up
- Collect Final Project (written)
Oral Final Project PPT. Presentation
Finals Week
 Prepare for Oral Final Project Presentation
Best Wishes for Academic Success at MDC!
The mission of Miami-Dade College North Campus is to provide accessible, affordable, high quality education by keeping the
learner's needs at the center of decision-making and working in partnership with its dynamic, multi-cultural community.