COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 1 of 8
Commerce 1B03
Business Environment and Organization
Fall 2013 Course Outline
Strategic Management Area
DeGroote School of Business
McMaster University
COURSE OBJECTIVE
This course will examine the relationship between business organizations, their functional areas, and the
environments - social, political, legal and regulatory, and technological - that affect them.
Prerequisite: Registration in Level 1 or above in any Humanities, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, or
Sciences program.
Antirequisite: COMMERCE 1E03. This course is not open to students registered in a Commerce, Business,
or Engineering program.
INSTRUCTOR AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Rita Cossa
cossar@mcmaster.ca
Office: DSB #223
Office Hour: Wed. 1:30 – 2:30
and by appointment
(905) 525-9140 x26197
Section 1:
Tues. 9:30 – 10:20
Wed.9:30 – 10:20
Fri. 9:30 – 10:20
Location: ITB 137
http://avenue.mcmaster.ca
Course Website:
COURSE ELEMENTS
Credit Value:
Avenue:
Participation:
Evidence-based:
3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Leadership:
Ethics:
Innovation:
Experiential:
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
IT skills:
Numeracy:
Group work:
Final Exam:
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Global view:
Written skills:
Oral skills:
Guest Speakers:
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
COURSE DESCRIPTION
All organizations must continuously scan the business environment and understand what is happening from
this perspective. Such trends will create opportunities and threats that must be addressed in order for
organizations to prosper. Your Instructor will apply current business examples to these environments in order
that you may understand their relevance to Canadian businesses. The latter part of the course will focus on the
functional areas within an organization which include Human Resources, Marketing, Operations, and Finance.
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COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 2 of 8
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the term, you should be able to complete the following key tasks:
¾
¾
¾
¾
Understand the principles, techniques, and terms used by business practitioners;
Apply the ethical principles and practises in marketing research;
Write a group Report that will effectively integrate your research and analysis; and
Develop your time management, organization, communication (both oral and written), and research skills.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS AND READINGS: AVAILABLE IN THE CAMPUS STORE (GH B101)
Based on Understanding Canadian Business, 8th Edition by William G. Nickels et al., you are required to
purchase one of the following options:
Option 1: Textbook package, which includes a Connect card, is $149.95 + tax
Option 2: A Connect card, which includes the eBook with a study and testing program, is $99.00 + tax
EVALUATION
Your final grade calculation will be based on the components and weights noted below.
Components and Weights
Midterm #1
Wednesday, October 16 at 9:30 a.m.
25%
Midterm #2
Friday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m.
30%
Final Exam
Scheduled by the Office of the Registrar
30%
Team Contract
Tuesday, September 24 at 9:30 a.m. (in class)
0%
Company Overview
Friday, October 4 at 9:30 a.m. (in class)
5%¹
Report
Friday, November 15 at 9:30 a.m. (in class)
Total
10%¹
100%
Attendance (Bonus)
Five Classes
5%
¹A 25% late penalty will apply for up to the first 24-hours following the deadline. After this, the mark is zero.
Conversion
At the end of the course your overall percentage grade will be converted to your letter grade in accordance
with the following conversion scheme.
LETTER GRADE
A+
A
AB+
B
B-
PERCENT
90 – 100
85 - 89
80 - 84
77 - 79
73 - 76
70 - 72
LETTER GRADE
C+
C
CD+
D
D-
PERCENT
67 - 69
63 - 66
60 - 62
57 - 59
53 - 56
50 - 52
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LETTER GRADE
F
PERCENT
0 - 49
COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 3 of 8
Communication and Feedback
Students who are uncomfortable in directly approaching the Instructor regarding a course concern may send a
confidential e-mail to the Area Chair, Dr. Nick Bontis (nbontis@mcmaster.ca) or the Associate Dean
(adbusac@mcmaster.ca).
If you wish to correspond with your Instructor directly via e-mail, you must send messages that originate from
your official McMaster University e-mail account. This protects the confidentiality and sensitivity of information
as well as confirms the identity of the student.
Your Instructor will conduct an informal course review with students by Week #4 to allow time for modifications
in curriculum delivery. Your Instructor will provide evaluation feedback for at least 10% of the final grade to
students prior to Week #8 in the term.
Students who wish to have a course component re-evaluated must complete the following form:
http://www.mcmaster.ca/policy/Students-AcademicStudies/Form_A.pdf. In order for the component to be reread, the following steps will be followed:
•
•
•
•
•
The component must be worth 10% or more of the final grade in the course.
Students must pay a fee of $50 in Gilmour Hall, Room 209. The receipt is then brought to the Academic
Programs Office (DSB 104).
The Area Chair will seek out an independent adjudicator to re-grade the component.
An adjustment to the grade for the component will be made if a grade change of three points or greater on
the 12 point scale (equivalent to 10 marks out of 100) has been suggested by the adjudicator that is
assigned by the Area Chair.
If a grade change is made, the student fee will be refunded.
INDIVIDUAL WORK
Complete the assigned readings before class and bring your lecture notes as discussions will support this
preparation. Staying focused on course content is important. To this end, computers should be used only to
take notes and all other electronic devices (e.g., cell phones) should be turned off.
Exams
Each midterm is 45-minutes in length. The non-cumulative final exam is two hours in length. Exams consist of
equally-weighted multiple-choice questions. Sample questions will be covered throughout the course. You are
responsible for all course content. Details will be communicated prior to each exam.
Attendance (Bonus)
Attendance will be taken randomly during five classes throughout the term. As for all classes, students are
expected to arrive on time and to be prepared to actively participate in the topic of the day. As a starting point,
the first bonus opportunity is noted in the Course Outline. Eligibility guidelines will be posted on Avenue.
GROUP WORK
Group work exercises will contribute to the achievement of course learning objectives. In-class exercises will
reinforce group submission expectations. In the case of group work, your individual mark will be based on the
overall group work mark. This mark may be adjusted as a result of the Peer Evaluation process.
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COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 4 of 8
You will form your own group of five in class. If a complete group is not formed, then your Instructor will
randomly assign any remaining students to a group. You need to complete a Team Contract. Details are
posted on Avenue. Take this document seriously as it will set out the group’s expectations throughout the term.
Referencing
In addition to the information provided on Avenue, the Citation Guide (August 2013) summarizes how to format
submissions. Based on the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition, you are required to use this Guide as it is
the only acceptable citation style and you will be graded accordingly.
GROUP WORK LOG
Fill in the group members’ names on the template and make photocopies of this page. You need to complete
this page at the end of each meeting. This tool should support the fees that you allocate to yourself and to your
group members near the term’s end. As well, it will keep you informed of the progress and contribution of each
member over the term. Students that falsify information may be charged with academic dishonesty.
Each member should review the Group Work Log before completing the Confidential Self-and-Peer Evaluation.
Only one hand-written and complete copy of the whole term’s Group Log is to be inserted (not bound) inside
the Report. You need to staple a typed Title Page to the Log. A missing, late, or incomplete Group Log (e.g.,
missing title page) will receive a penalty on the Report.
CONFIDENTIAL SELF-AND-PEER EVALUATION
It is important that you express your impartial opinion about each group member’s contribution (including your
own) over the span of the term. The completed Confidential Self-and-Per Evaluations - that are submitted by
the deadline - will aid your Instructor in translating the group work marks into an overall individual mark.
You are strongly encouraged to submit a Peer Evaluation. Your fees (in dollars) are to be supported by the
Group Work Log and they should reflect contributions to all group work over the term. If you do not submit this
completed form by the deadline, then you have no voice when group marks are converted into individual
marks. Your Instructor does not assume that everyone contributed equally.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
It is the student’s responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. Please refer to the
University Senate Academic Integrity Policy at the following URL:http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity.
This policy describes the responsibilities, procedures, and guidelines for students and faculty should a case of
academic dishonesty arise. Academic dishonesty is defined as to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that will
(or could) result in unearned academic credit or advantage. Please refer to the policy for a list of examples.
The policy also provides faculty with procedures to follow in cases of academic dishonesty as well as general
guidelines for penalties. For further information related to the policy, please refer to the Office of Academic
Integrity at http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity.
In this course, your Instructor will be using Turnitin.com which is a plagiarism detection service. Students will
be expected to submit their work electronically to Turnitin.com so that it can be checked against the Internet,
published works and Turnitin’s database for similar or identical work. If a student refuses to submit his or her
work to Turnitin.com, he or she cannot be compelled to do so and should not be penalized. Instructors are
advised to accept a hard copy of the assignment and grade it as per normal methods. The assignment can be
subjected to a Google search or some other kind of search engine if the Instructor wishes. To see guidelines
for the use of Turnitin.com, please go to http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity/turnitin/students/index.html.
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COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 5 of 8
REQUESTING RELIEF FOR MISSED ACADEMIC WORK
Students may request relief from a regularly scheduled midterm, test, assignment or other course component
(e.g., attendance) in the following two ways: a) for absences from classes lasting up to five (5) days; or (b) for
absences from classes lasting more than five (5) days.
a) For Absences from Classes Lasting Up to Five (5) Days
Students must use the McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF). This is an on-line, self-reporting tool, for
which submission of medical or other types of supporting documentation is normally not required. Students
may use this tool to submit a maximum of one (1) request for relief of missed academic work per term as long
as the weighting of the component is worth 29% of the final grade or less.
Students must follow up with their course Instructors regarding the nature of the relief within two days of
submitting the form. Failure to do so may negate the opportunity for relief. It is the prerogative of the Instructor
of the course to determine the appropriate relief for missed term work in his/her course.
If the value of the component is worth 30% or more (i.e., Midterm #2), students must report to their Associate
Dean’s Office to discuss their situation. They will be required to provide appropriate supporting documentation.
b) For Absences from Classes Lasting More Than Five (5) Days
1.
Students cannot use the MSAF. They MUST report to their Associate Dean’s Office to discuss their
situation and will be required to provide appropriate supporting documentation.
2.
Students who wish to submit more than one request for relief of missed academic work per term cannot
use the MSAF. They must report to their Associate Dean’s Office and discuss their situation with an Academic
Advisor. They will be required to provide supporting documentation.
3.
The MSAF cannot be used during any final examination period.
4.
Students who require accommodations to meet a religious obligation or to celebrate an important
religious holiday must make their requests in writing within three weeks of the start of term to their Associate
Dean’s Office.
5.
Students seeking relief due to: work-related (for part-time students only) commitments; representing the
university at an academic or varsity athletic event; and/or conflicts between two (or more) overlapping
scheduled midterm exams, have the option of applying for special exam arrangements. Such requests must be
made to their Associate Dean’s Office at least ten (10) working days before the scheduled exam along with
acceptable documentation. There will be only one common sitting for the special exam. Instructors cannot
themselves allow students to unofficially write make-up exams/tests. Adjudication of the request must be
handled by their Associate Dean’s Office.
STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) offers various support services for students with disabilities. Students are
required to inform SAS of accommodation needs for course work at the outset of term. Students must forward
a copy of such SAS accommodation to the Instructor normally, within the first three (3) weeks of classes by
setting up an appointment with the Instructor. If a student with a disability chooses NOT to take advantage of
an SAS accommodation and chooses to sit for a regular exam, a petition for relief may not be filed after the
examination is complete. The SAS Website is http://sas.mcmaster.ca.
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COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 6 of 8
POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE COURSE
The Instructor and University reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The University
may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of
modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with
explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of students to check their
McMaster e-mail accounts and course Websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.
COURSE WEBSITE
Avenue will be used to communicate course information (e.g., announcements, lectures, and grades). Bring
the posted notes to the appropriate class. These partial lecture notes will add value to the discussion.
PLACES TO GET HELP
Attend class regularly and contact your Instructor if you have any concerns. Additional resources that you can
consider to achieve your academic goals are noted next.
1.
Connect is a Web-based learning solution that includes study tools, an assessment program, and an
eBook. It includes access to LearnSmart (an adaptive learning program designed to maximize productivity and
efficiency in learning) and SmartBook (an eBook that adapts to students’ learning patterns).
2.
Innis Library staff can provide research and citation assistance.
3.
The Student Success Centre (http://studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/index.php) offers academic skills
workshops and support programs that assist with the development of many academic and life skills.
4.
A study group may contribute to a more productive studying experience. This should not replace
individual studying as its value is to enhance what you have already (independently) learned.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week # and 1st
Class Date
Class
#
1: SEPT. 6
1
Course Introduction
2
Taking Risks and Making Profits Within the Dynamic Business
Environment
3
Taking Risks and Making Profits Within the Dynamic Business
Environment, Cont'd
4
Group Work Discussion
2: SEPT. 10
ECONOMIC
Topics and Activities
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Chapter /
Document
1
1
COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 7 of 8
Week # and 1st
Class Date
3: SEPT. 17
Class
#
Topics and Activities
Chapter /
Document
5
How Economic Issues Affect Business
Group Formation
6
How Economic Issues Affect Business, Cont’d
DUE: Title Page (Group Number to Follow)
7
Citation Guide Overview + Corrections Exercise #1
Avenue
8
Speaker: Ines Perkovic
DUE: Team Contract
Avenue
Class
9
DUE: Corrections Exercise #2 (Bonus #1)
Class
10
Skim: How Canadians Govern Themselves
Avenue
11
The Role of Government in Business
12
Legal and Regulatory Environment Overview
Working Within the Legal Environment of Business
DUE: (Confidential) Informal Course Review
13
Ethics and Social Responsibility
DUE: Company Overview
14
Competing in Global Markets
3
15
Competing in Global Markets, Cont’d
3
16
Midterm One Questions and Answers
17
Forms of Business Ownership
18
Midterm One
19
Forms of Business Ownership, Cont’d
6
20
Entrepreneurship and Starting a Small Business
7
21
Marketing: Building Customer and Stakeholder Relationships
14
22
Managing the Marketing Mix
15
2
2
Class
4: SEPT. 24
POLITICAL
5: OCT. 1
LEGAL AND
REGULATORY
6: OCT. 8
7: OCT. 15
8: OCT. 22
4
Avenue
Appendix B
Class
5
Class
6
SOCIAL
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COMM 1B03 - F2013 - 8 of 8
Week # and 1st
Class Date
9: OCT. 29
Class
#
Topics and Activities
Chapter /
Document
23
Managing the Marketing Mix
15
24
Human Resource Management
12
No Class: Midterm Recess
25
Understanding Employee-Management Issues and Relations
13
26
Understanding Employee-Management Issues and Relations,
Cont’d
13
27
Midterm Two
28
Report Questions and Answers
29
Management and Leadership
30
Motivating Employees
DUE: Report + Insert Group Log and Title Page
DUE: Turnitin.com
31
Speaker: Marketing
DUE: Confidential Peer Evaluation
32
Financial Management
17
33
Financial Management, Cont'd
17
34
The Financial Services Industry in Canada
18
35
Speaker: Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Class
36
Speaker: Financial Services Industry
Class
14:
DECEMBER 3
37
Using Technology to Manage Information
DUE: Complete Course Evaluation
TECHNOLOGY
38
Producing World-Class Goods and Services
10: NOV. 5
11:
NOVEMBER 12
12:
NOVEMBER 19
13:
NOVEMBER 26
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8
11
Class
By Midnight
Class
Appendix A
10