UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI CLERMONT COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE OUTLINE FOR
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS (34-BA-173-001)
AUTUMN QUARTER 2007
MWF 11:00A – 11:50A
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES BUILDING ROOM 160
Instructor Information
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Dr. Jeff Bauer, Associate Professor of Management and Marketing
Snyder Building 252F
Office: 732-5257 24-HR Voicemail
Fax: 732-5304
Division Office: 732-5255
Home: 753-9081
E-Mail:
Jeff.Bauer@UC.Edu
Website:
http://www.ucclermont.edu/~bauerj
Office Hours: MWF 12:00P – 1:00P, T/Th 9:00A – 9:30A, or by appointment.
Text Information
Business – A Changing World, Ferrell & Hirt, McGraw-Hill, 6th Edition, 2008.
ISBN: 978-0-07-351166-5
Course Description
An introduction to the business areas of economics, management, marketing, accounting, and
finance.
Course Objectives
1. Discuss business from a systems and historical perspective.
2. Understand social responsibilities and business ethics.
3. Review economic aspects of the global business environment.
4. Identify the managerial process and the internal structure and organization of firms.
5. Discuss motivation, leadership, group behavior and aspects of human resource
management.
6. Discuss the process of accounting and describe the uses of accounting information.
7. Illustrate the marketing process and product, price, and promotional strategies.
8. Understand securities and investments.
Course Requirements
Reading Assignments: The student is expected to read all assignments prior to the class in which
they will be discussed. He/she should be ready to participate in class discussions and activities.
Issue Summaries: Each student is to prepare and present two (2) issue summaries, which pertain
to any business topic. The issue summaries are due as outlined on the course schedule. The issue
summary should meet the following guidelines:
1. Research and obtain an article from any business periodical (The Wall Street
Journal, Business Week, Fortune, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, etc.)
2. A 3x5 or 4x6 card must be used
3. Attach the article or a copy of it to one side of the card
4. Highlight or underline topics discussed in the article which we have reviewed in
class
5. Write or type your opinion of the issue on the other side of the card. Why is the
issue important? What other issues need to be considered?
Group Cases: Cases detailing various business topics will be assigned. Groups will be formed
during the second week of class.
E-Mail Summaries: Each student is to submit a summary of each week of class discussions via email. The summary should highlight topics discussed in class and raise any questions that you
may have on the material covered. The e-mailed summaries are due by the end of the day
(midnight) each Monday for the previous week’s classes.
Exams: There will be three (3) exams during the quarter. Exam formats will be true-false, fill-inthe-blank, multiple choice, and short essay. Exams will be given as indicted on the Course
Schedule.
Grading:
The final grade will be determined as follows:
Exam One (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5)
100 Points
Exam Two (Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9)
100 Points
Final Exam (Chapters 10, 11, 13, 14, 16)
100 Points
Attendance and Participation
50 Points
Issue Summaries (2 Summaries @ 25 Points Each) 50 Points
Group Case Projects (5 Cases @ 10 Points Each)
50 Points
E-Mail Class Summaries
50 Points
------------Total Points
500 Points
GENERAL COURSE POLICIES
Attendance and Make-Up Work
Attendance is a requirement of the course. If for some reason you cannot attend a class, please let me
know by using one of the phone numbers (or other means) listed above.
Assignments
Any assignments are due at the beginning of the class period as indicated on the Course Schedule. Late
assignments will be reduced at least one letter grade per class day at the discretion of the instructor.
Assignments will not be accepted one week after the due date has passed.
Cell Phones, Pagers, etc.
Consider this class to be a call-free, beep-free, vibrate mode-free zone of silence.
Make-Up Exams
Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor. The student must notify the instructor of
the absence before the exam begins. If proper notification is given, a make-up exam will be administered
which may be significantly more challenging than the examination given on the scheduled date.
Cheating and Plagiarism
The policy as stated in the University of Cincinnati Student Handbook will be strictly enforced. A copy
of the Student Handbook is available in the Student Development Office.
Withdrawals
The current withdrawal policy of Clermont College will apply. The withdrawal policy for this term is
available in the Registration Office.
ADA
Students with Disabilities: The policy of the University of Cincinnati Clermont College requires students
to self-identify and provide proper documentation to the Academic Director of Disability Services,
Student Services Building for appropriate academic assistance.
Grading Scale
The following plus/minus grading system will apply:
92 - 100% = A
91 - 89% = A-
78 – 77% = C+ 76 – 72% = C
88 - 87% = B+
86 - 82% = B
81 - 79% = B-
71 – 69% = C-
68 – 67% = D+ 66 – 62% = D
61 – 59% = D - 58% and Under = F
Note: The course schedule and procedures are tentative and subject to change depending
upon the progress of the class.
COURSE SCHEDULE OUTLINE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS
Week of
09/19
Introduction to Course, Explanation of the Syllabus, and the Schedule Outline
Chapter One – The Dynamics of Business and Economics
09/24
Chapter Two – Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Chapter Three – Business in a Borderless World
Assignment of Groups
Case One Due Friday 09/28
10/01
Chapter Five – Options for Organizing Business
Review for Exam 1
Case Two Due Friday 10/05
10/08
Exam One - Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5
Chapter Six – Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Franchising
10/15
Chapter Seven – The Nature of Management
Chapter Eight – Organization, Teamwork, and Communication
Case Three Due Friday 10/19
Issue Summary One Due
10/22
Chapter Nine – Managing Service and Manufacturing Operations
Review for Exam Two
10/29
Exam Two - Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9
Case Four Due Friday 11/02
11/05
Chapter Ten – Motivating the Workforce
Chapter Eleven – Managing Human Resources
11/12
HOLIDAY – NO CLASS MEETING
11/14
Chapter Thirteen – Dimensions of Marketing Strategy
Case Five Due Friday 11/16
11/19
Chapter Fourteen – Accounting and Financial Statements
Issue Summary Two Due
11/23
HOLIDAY – NO CLASS MEETING
11/26
Chapter Sixteen – Financial Management and Securities Markets
Review for Final Exam
The Final Exam will be Friday, December 7, 2007 from 1:30pm – 3:30pm and will cover Chapters
10, 11, 13, 14, and 16.