COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title:
BUSI 1301-271 Business Principles, FALL 2013
MWF 9:00-9:50 a.m.
RM 128-ATC
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
JIM WILHELM
ATC - RM 113
MWF: 8:00-9:00 am
TTH: 8:00-9:30 am
TUES, WED: 5-6 pm
other times by appointment
jwilhelm@southplainscollege.edu
E-mail:
Phone: 716-4636
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to the role of business in modern society. It
includes an overview of business operations, analysis of the specialized fields within the business
organization, and development of a business vocabulary.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completing this course, the student will:
Describe the scope of business enterprise in the nation and the world today.
Identify major business functions of accounting, management, marketing, and economics.
Describe the relationships of social responsibility, ethics, and law in business.
Define and apply business terminology.
TEXTBOOK: Solomon, M.R., Poatsy, M.A., & Martin, K., BETTER BUSINESS, 3rd Edition (2014).
Boston, MA: Pearson.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Punctual and regular class attendance is required of all students attending
South Plains College. Students are expected to be on time to every class meeting. Students
who are late will be marked tardy. Excessive absences and tardiness will result in grade
reductions. Students are responsible for all class work covered during absences from class,
even in cases in which they are able to satisfy the instructor that the absence was unavoidable.
An instructor is required to initiate a student’s administrative withdrawal when the student has
missed every class during any 14 consecutive calendar-day period excluding holidays. Equally
important, if you accumulate 9 absences; YOU WILL BE DROPPED (unless extenuating
circumstances prevail).
EXAMINATION AND GRADING POLICY: There will be four exams plus the Final Exam. There will be
no make-up exams; however, your lowest exam grade of the four will be dropped. The Final Exam is
required and cannot be dropped. Grading will be as follows:
3 exams @ 20% =
Final Exam
=
Project
=
Attendance
=
Discussion/
Participation
=
60%
15%
10%
10%
5%
GRADE STANDARDS:
90-100=A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
BELOW 60 = F
OTHER INFORMATION: I reserve the right to change the course schedule to accommodate videos,
class discussion, etc.
Guidelines for Student Conduct:
1.
Please do not bring cell phones to class, or if you must, then turn them off upon entering
the classroom.
2.
Be respectful of others and contribute to classroom discussion without monopolizing.
Give everyone a chance to participate.
3.
Swearing in the classroom will not be tolerated. Stretch your vocabulary by using
proper language to express yourself.
4.
Please review your Student Guide: Especially sections on: Classroom Conduct,
Cheating and Plagiarism, and Disruptions.
5.
LISD policy prohibits smoking outside the building at all times. South Plains College
is a tenant of LISD at the Advanced Technology Center; therefore, we must follow
their policy when it comes to this matter. Thank you.
COURSE OUTLINE--INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS
After completing the content in each chapter the student will be able to:
CHAPTER 1 – THE CHANGING FACE OF BUSINESS
Distinguish between business and not-for-profit organizations.
Identify and describe the factors of production.
Describe the private enterprise system, including basic rights and entrepreneurship.
Identify the six eras of business and explain how the relationship era – including alliances,
technology, and environmental concerns– influences contemporary business.
Describe how the nature of work itself is changing.
Identify the skills and attributes that managers need to lead businesses in the 21st century.
CHAPTER 2 – BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Explain the concepts of business ethics and social responsibility.
Describe the factors that influence business ethics.
List the stages in the development of ethical standards.
Identify common ethical dilemmas in the workplace.
Discuss how organizations shape ethical behavior.
Describe how businesses’ social responsibility is measured.
Summarize the responsibilities of business to the general public, customers, and employees.
Explain why investors and the financial community are concerned with business ethics and social
responsibility.
CHAPTER 3 – ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FACING CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS
Distinguish between microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Describe each of the four different types of market structures in a private enterprise system.
Compare the three major types of economic systems.
Identify and describe the four stages of the business cycle.
Explain how productivity, price-level changes, and employment levels affect the stability of a nation’s
economy.
Describe the major global economic challenges of the 21st century.
CHAPTER 4 – COMPETING IN WORLD MARKETS
Explain the importance of international business and the primary reasons nations trade.
Describe how nations measure international trade and the significance of exchange rates.
Identify the major barriers that confront global businesses.
Explain how international trade organizations and economic communities reduce barriers to
international trade.
Compare the different levels of involvement used by businesses when entering global markets.
CHAPTER 5 –OPTIONS FOR ORGANIZING SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES
Distinguish between small and large businesses and identify the industries in which most small firms
are established.
Discuss the economic and social contributions of small business and reasons they fail.
Describe how the Small Business Administration assists small-business owners.
Explain how franchising can provide opportunities for both franchisors and franchisees.
Summarize the three basic forms of business ownership and the advantages and disadvantages of
each form.
Describe recent trends in mergers and acquisitions.
Differentiate among private ownership, public ownership, and collective ownership (cooperatives).
CHAPTER 6 – STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS: THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ALTERNATIVE
Define the term entrepreneur and distinguish among entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and
managers.
Identify four different types of entrepreneurs.
Explain why people choose to become entrepreneurs.
Identify personality traits that typically characterize successful entrepreneurs.
Summarize the process of starting a new venture.
CHAPTER 7 – E-BUSINESS: DOING BUSINESS ONLINE
Define e-business and discuss how it can help achieve business success.
Distinguish between a corporate Web site and a marketing Web site.
List the major forms of business-to-business (B2B) e-business.
Explain business-to-consumer (B2C) e-business and identify the products most often sold online.
Describe the major challenges confronting e-business.
List the steps involved in developing successful Web sites and identify methods for measuring Web
site effectiveness.
CHAPTER 8 – MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION
Define management and the three types of skills necessary for managerial success.
Summarize the major benefits of planning and distinguish among strategic planning, tactical planning,
and operational planning.
Describe the strategic planning process.
Contrast the two major types of business decisions and list the steps in the decision-making process.
Define leadership and compare different leadership styles.
Discuss the meaning and importance of corporate culture.
CHAPTER 9 – HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, MOTIVATION, AND LABOR - MANAGEMENT
RELATIONS
Explain the importance of human resource management, the responsibilities of human resource
managers, and the role of human resource planning in an organization’s competitive strategy.
Describe how recruitment and selection contribute to placing the right person in a job.
Explain how training programs and performance appraisal help companies grow and develop their
employees.
Outline the methods employers use to compensate employees through pay systems and benefit
programs.
Explain how Maslow’s hierarchy-of-needs theory, expectancy theory, equity theory, goal setting, job
design, and managers’ attitudes relate to employee motivation.
Summarize the role of labor unions and the tactics of labor-management conflicts.
CHAPTER 10 – IMPROVING PERFORMANCE THROUGH EMPOWERMENT, TEAMWORK, AND
COMMUNICATION
Describe why and how organizations empower employees.
Distinguish among the five types of teams in the workplace.
Identify the characteristics of an effective team and summarize stages of team development.
Relate team cohesiveness and norms to effective team performance.
Describe the factors that can cause conflict in teams and how to manage conflict.
Explain the importance and process of effective communication.
CHAPTER 11 –PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Outline the importance of production and operations management.
Explain the roles of computers and related technologies in production.
Identify the factors involved in a plant location decision.
Explain the major tasks of production and operations managers.
Compare alternative layouts for production facilities.
List the steps in the purchasing process.
Identify the steps in the production control process.
Explain the benefits of quality control.
CHAPTER 12 – CUSTOMER-DRIVEN MARKETING
Summarize the ways in which marketing creates utility.
Discuss the marketing concept.
Describe not-for-profit marketing, and identify the five major categories of nontraditional marketing.
Outline the basic steps in developing a marketing strategy.
Describe the marketing research function.
Identify and explain each of the methods available for segmenting consumer and business markets.
CHAPTER 13 – PRODUCT AND DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES
Explain marketing’s definition of a product and list the components of a product strategy.
Describe the classification system for consumer and business goods and services.
Distinguish between a product mix and a product line.
Briefly describe each of the four stages of the product life cycle.
List the stages of the new-product development process.
Identify the various categories of distribution channels and discuss the factors that influence channel
selection
CHAPTER 14 – PROMOTION AND PRICING STRATEGIES
Discuss how integrated marketing communications relates to a firm’s promotional strategy.
Summarize the different types of advertising and advertising media.
Describe pushing and pulling promotional strategies.
Discuss the major ethical issues involved in promotion.
Outline the different types of pricing objectives.
Discuss how firms set prices in the marketplace, and describe the four alternative pricing strategies.
Discuss consumer perceptions of price.
CHAPTER 15 – USING TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE INFORMATION
Distinguish between data and information and explain the role of management information systems in
business.
Identify and briefly describe the different types of information system programs.
Describe the hardware and software used in managing information
List the ways that companies can protect themselves from computer crimes.
Explain the steps that companies go through in anticipating, planning for, and recovering from
information systems disasters.
Review current trends in information systems.
CHAPTER 16 - UNDERSTANDING ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Explain the functions of accounting, and identify the three basic activities involving accounting.
Describe the roles played by public, management, government, and not-for-profit accountants.
Identify the foundations of the accounting system, including GAAP and the role of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
Explain the functions and major components of the four principal financial statements: the balance
sheet, the income statement, the statement of owners' equity, and the statement of cash flows.
Discuss how financial ratios are used to analyze a company's financial strengths and weaknesses.
Describe the role of budgets in a business.
CHAPTER 17 - THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Outline the structure and importance of the financial system.
List the various types of securities.
Define financial market, and distinguish between primary and secondary financial markets.
Describe the characteristics of the major stock exchanges.
Discuss the organization and functioning of financial institutions.
Explain the functions of the Federal Reserve System and the tools it uses to control the supply of
money and credit.
Evaluate the major features of regulations and laws affecting the financial system.
Describe the global financial system.
CHAPTER 18 - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Define finance, and explain the role of financial managers.
Describe the components of a financial plan and the financial planning process.
Outline how organizations manage their assets.
Compare the two major sources fo funds for a business, and explain the concept of leverage.
Identify sources of short-term financing options.
Discuss long-term financing options.
Describe mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, and divestitures.
SCANS COMPETENCIES COVERED IN THIS COURSE: C1-C17
SCANS FOUNDATION SKILLS COVERED IN THIS COURSE: F1, F2, F5, F10, F13 - F14, F17.
SCANS COMPETENCIES
C-1
C-2
C-3
C-4
C-5
C-6
C-7
C-8
C-9
C-10
C-11
C-12
C-13
C-14
C-15
C-16
C-17
C-18
C-19
C-20
TIME-Selects goal relevant activities, ranks them, allocates time, and prepares and follows schedules.
MONEY-Uses or prepares budgets, makes forecasts, keeps records, and makes adjustments to meet objectives.
MATERIALS & FACILITIES-Acquires, stores, allocates, and uses materials or space efficiently.
HUMAN RESOURCES-Assesses skills and distributes work accordingly, evaluates performances and provides feedback.
INFORMATION-Acquires and Uses Information
Acquires and evaluates information
Organizes and maintains information.
Interprets and communicates information.
Uses computers to Process information.
INTERPERSONAL-Works With Others
Participates as members of a team and contributes to group effort.
Teaches others new skills.
Serves clients/customers-works to satisfy customer’s expectations.
Exercises leadership-communicates ideas to justify position, persuades and convinces others, responsibly challenges
existing procedures and policies.
Negotiates-Works toward agreements involving exchanges of resources resolves divergent interest.
Works with Diversity-Works well with men and women from diverse backgrounds.
SYSTEMS-Understands Complex Interrelationships
Understands Systems-Knows how social, organizational, and technological systems work and operates effectively with them.
Monitors and Correct Performance-Distinguishes trends, predicts impacts on system operations, diagnoses systems
performance and corrects malfunctions.
improves or Designs Systems-Suggest modifications to existing systems and develops new or alternative systems to improve
performance.
TECHNOLOGY-Works with a variety of technologies
Selects Technology-Chooses procedures, tools, or equipment including computers and related technologies.
Applies Technology to Task-Understands overall intent and proper procedures for setup and operation of equipment.
Maintains and Troubleshoots Equipment-prevents, identifies, or solves problems with equipment, including computers and
other technologies.
FOUNDATION SKILLS
F-1
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
F-9
F-10
F-11
F-12
F-13
F-14
F-15
F-16
F-17
BASIC SKILLS-Reads, writes, performs arithmetic and mathematical operations, listens and speaks
Reading-locates, understands, and interprets written information in prose and in documents such as manuals, graphs, and
schedules.
Writing-Communicates thoughts, ideas, information and messages in writing, and creates documents such as letters,
directions, manuals, reports, graphs, and flow charts.
Arithmetic-Performs basic computations, uses basic numerical concepts such as whole numbers, etc.
Mathematics-Approaches practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques.
Listening-Receives, attends to, interprets, and responds to verbal messages and other cues.
Speaking-Organizes ideas and communicates orally.
THINKING SKILLS-Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, and knows how to learn and reason
Creative Thinking-Generates new ideas.
Decision-Making-specifies goals and constraints, generates alternatives, considers risks, and evaluates and chooses best
alternative.
Problem Solving-Recognizes problems and devises and implements plan of action.
Seeing Things in the Mind’s Eye-Organizes and processes symbols, pictures, graphs, objects, and other information.
Knowing How to Learn-Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills.
Reasoning-Discovers a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more objects and applies it when solving a
problem.
PERSONAL QUALITIES-Displays responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity and honesty
Responsibility-Exerts a high level of effort and preservers toward goal attainment.
Self-Esteem-Believes in own self-worth and maintains a positive view of self.
Sociability-Demonstrates understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in group settings.
Self-Management-Assesses self accurately, sets personal goals, monitors progress, and exhibits self-control.
Integrity/Honesty-Chooses ethical courses of action.
CAMPUS GUIDELINES
CHILDREN ON CAMPUS
Many of the students attending classes at South Plains College are also parents who value the
opportunity to participate in higher education. Sometimes students are faced with the decision of
whether to remain at home with their children, bring children with them to class, or be absent from
class. The following guidelines address concerns for the safety of children on campus and provide
for an environment conducive to learning:
1.
Students are not allowed to bring children to class and will be asked to leave in the interest of providing an environment
conducive for all students enrolled in the class. Students are responsible for adherence to the attendance requirements set
forth by the instructor in the course syllabus.
2.
Children may not be left unattended. In order to provide for the safety of children on campus,
parents or other guardians are responsible for supervising children while utilizing services or
conducting business on campus.
3.
Disruptive children will not be allowed to interfere with college business. Parents or other guardians
are responsible for supervising and controlling the behavior of children they have brought on
campus.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT
“Students with disabilities, including but not limited to physical, psychiatric or learning
disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class should notify the
Disability Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate arrangements may
be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodations must
provide acceptable documentation of his/her disability. For more information, call or visit
the Disability Services Office in rooms 809 and 811, Reese Center Building 8, 716-4675.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT*
In this class, the teacher will establish and support an environment that values and nurtures individual
and group differences and encourages engagement and interaction. Understanding and respecting
multiple experiences and perspectives will serve to challenge and stimulate all of us to learn about
others, about the larger world, and about ourselves. By promoting diversity and intellectual exchange,
we will not only mirror society as it is, but also model society as it should and can be.
(*Developed by the Title III summer 2001 participants as part of the training opportunity, May-June
2001, South Plains College).
GENERAL SAFETY ON CAMPUS
South Plains College recognizes the importance of safety on campus. The protection of persons and
property is a responsibility which we all share. Personal safety begins with the individual. The
following guidelines are intended to assist you in protecting yourself and to encourage practices that
contribute to a safe environment for our campus community.
*
*
*
*
Never leave your personal property unsecured or unattended.
Look around and be aware of your surroundings when you enter and exit a building.
Whenever possible, avoid walking alone, particularly after dark. Walk to your vehicle
with other class members or request that the Security Guard walk you to your car.
When approaching your vehicle, keep your keys in your hand; look under your car and in
the back seat and floorboard. Lock the doors as soon as you are inside your car.
FOOD AND DRINK IN CLASSROOMS
It is the policy of South Plains College not to permit food or drink in the classrooms or laboratories.
In case of emergency, contact the following numbers but DO NOT leave a voice mail message:
894-9611, ext. 2338 - Levelland Campus 747-0576, ext. 4677 - ATC 885-3048, ext. 2923 - Reese Center
(mobile 893-5705)
COURSE SCHEDULE
BUSI 1301-271
Aug.
26
28
30
Introduction
“
Chap. 1
14
16
18
EXAM II (5-7)
Chap. 9
“
LABOR DAY
Chap. 2
“
21
23
25
Chap. 10
“
Chap. 11
9
11
13
Chap. 3
“
Chap. 4
28
30
1
“
Chap. 12
Review
16
18
20
“
Video
Review
4
6
8
EXAM III (8-11)
Chap. 12
“
23
25
27
EXAM I (1-4)
Chap. 5
“
11
13
15
Chap. 13
“
Chap. 14
30
2
4
Chap. 6 (Start Project)
“
Chap. 7
18
20
22
Chap. 15
“
(Project Due), review
7
9
11
“
Chap. 8, review
FALL BREAK
25
27
29
EXAM IV (12-15)
THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAY
2
4
6
Workday
“
Final review
11
FINAL EXAM
(Wed. 8-10:00 am)
Sept. 2
4
6
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.