SAIGONTECH
Course Syllabus
BUSG 1301 - Introduction to Business
1. Class:BUSG 1301 - Introduction to Business
Semester: Spring 2016
2. Instructor: Lâm Hữu Hoàng Phúc, MBA
Email: phuclhh@saigontech.edu.vn
Office: R.604
Office telephone: (84-8) 3715 5033 (ext. 1619)
Mobile phone: 0943 77 83 86
Office hours: by appointment
3. Campus and Room Location with Days and Times
Venue: R205 SaigonTech Tower
Time: Friday 13:00 PM – 16:10 PM
4. Course Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 3
5. Total Course Contact Hours: 48 hours
6. Textbook: Kelly, M., &McGrowen, J. (2013). BUSN (5th ed.). Mason, OH 45040, USA:
SouthWestern Cengage Learning.
7. Course Description: This course presents the fundamentals of business principles and practices. The
content emphasizes on decision making and planning, teamwork, technology, and communication.
Topics include analysis of the business environment, starting a new business, managing business and
employees, marketing, accounting, and finance.
8. Program Learning Outcomes
a. Identify essential management skills necessary for career success.
b. Describe the relationships of social responsibility, ethics, and law in business.
c. Construct a business plan.
d. Examine the role of strategic human resource planning in support of organizational mission and
objectives.
9. Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
1. Describe the scope of business environment and enterprise in the nation
Students’
and the world today
learning
2.
Describe the business formation process and the role of small business
Outcomes
to the world economy development
3. Identify major business functions of accounting
4. Identify major business functions of marketing
5. Define and apply business terminology.
Learning
1. Be able to describe the scope of business environment and enterprise in
Objectives the nation and the world today:
1.1. Define business and discuss the role of business in the economy.
1.2. Describe today’s business environment and discuss each key dimension.
1.3. Understand key terms and tools to evaluate economic performance.
1.4. Describe barriers to international trade and strategies to surmount them.
1.5. Explain the role of social responsibility in the global arena.
1.6. Compare, contrast, and choose effective communication channels
2. Be able to describe the business formation process and the role of small
business to the world economy development:
2.1. Describe the characteristics of the four basic forms of business ownership.
2.2. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of franchising.
2.3. Analyze the opportunities and threats that small businesses face.
2.4. Understand ways to become a new business owner and tools to facilitate
success
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3. Be able to dentify major business functions of accounting:
3.1. Describe several methods stakeholders can use to obtain useful insights
from a company’s financial statements.
3.2. Explain how the budget process can help managers plan, motivate, and
evaluate their organization’s performance.
3.3. Describe the tools financial managers use to evaluate their company’s
current financial condition and develop financial plans.
3.4. Explain how financial managers evaluate capital budgeting proposals to
identify the best long-term investment options for their company
4. Production and costs
4.1. Identify the objectives, the process, and the scope of marketing.
4.2. Define the key elements of marketing research.
4.3. Discuss innovation and the product life cycle.
4.4. Understand the promotional mix and the various promotional tools.
V. Firm behavior and market structure
5.1. Understand the role of management and its importance to organizational
success.
5.2. Define four functions of management and distinguish between
management and leadership.
5.3. Discuss key human resource issues in today’s economy.
5.4. Outline challenges and opportunities that the human resources function
faces.
10. Grading policy
An Incomplete may be given only for extenuating circumstances (i.e. family illness, accident, and an
unforeseen event occurring at exam time). The grading policy is summarized below:
Course Grading
Grading Scale
1) Quiz (quantity: 10, mode: individual)
20%
A 90 – 100
2) Participation
10%
B 80 – 89
3) Mid-term exam
20%
C 70 – 79
4) Final exam
30%
D 60 – 69
5) Presentation & Report
0 – 59
20%
F
Total
100%
The passing grade of this course is D.
1) Quiz (individual, closed book, only calculator accepted)
 Each student must attend the class to take the quizzes. If he/she is absent, there is no
other opportunity to make up. Mark of 0 will be given if not taking the quiz.
 Specific time and date for the quizzes are specified in the course calendar. The duration of
each test is 10 minutes. There are 12 quizzes in total.
 The quizzes will be provided in order to test students’ knowledge about the materials
provided in the previous lectures and to help students be prepared before mid-term
and final examinations.
 The results and feedbacks will be received at the next class.
2) Examination Format (individual, only calculator accepted)
Exam
Midterm
Type
MCT
Application
No. of
questions
50
2-3
Points
50
50
Chapters
Mode
Duratio
n
Reading
time
1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Closed
-book
120
mins
5 mins
2
Final
•
•
•
•
•
MCT
Application
50
2-3
50
50
90
7, 8, 9, 10,
14, 15
Closed
-book
120
mins
5 mins
3) Participation (individual): Participation mark depends on your diligence and activeness.
To get full mark (10%), you have to attend all 16 class-sessions and be very active in the
class.
4) Presentation& Report:
Students will form into teams with the direction from the instructor about size and composition.
Each team is required to present about an assigned reading/case study. The topic content should
be further than the knowledge has been referred in textbook. Modification of topic or date of
presentation is not allowed without the instructor’s permission.
Each group is required to do 1 presentation (account for 10%) and 1 report (account for 10%)
for the whole semester. Each presentation will last 20 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions and
answers. The groups have to hand in both hard-copy and soft copy of their power point slides
and Final submission of the Report to the assistant instructor on the presentation day
Everyone in the group has to present. Those who do not present with the group at the
presentation date will receive only 50% of the mark given to the group
There is no extension approval for group presentation
Below is the list of presentation marking criteria:
Criteria
Standards
%
Speaking speed
Not too fast, not too slow
5
Attire
Appropriate
5
Time management
30 minutes for presentation
( including questions & answers section)
5
Power point slides
Good design & layout
5
Pronunciation
Accurate, clear, loud enough
20
Professional
Manner
Proper gesture, face expression, eye contact, audience
control
30
Content
Quality of the content presented, quality of the answers
30
Total
11. Grading Scale
Percentage
Grade
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
0 – 59
The passing grade is D.
100
Letter
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
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12. Course calendar
Week
1
Date
Fri Jan 15
2016
Topic
- Syllabus clarification
- Chapter 1: Business Now: Change is the Only Constant

LO1: Define business and discuss the role of business in the economy

LO2: Explain the evolution of modern business

LO3: Discuss the role of nonprofit organization in the economy

LO4: Outline the core factors of production and how they affect the economy

LO5: Describe today’s business environment and discuss each key dimension.
st
- 1 company video case and discussion
2
Fri Jan 22
2016
- Chapter 2: Economics: The Framework for Business

LO2: Analyze the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on the economy

LO3: Explain the free market system and supply and demand

LO4: Explain planned market systems

LO6: Discuss key terms and tools to evaluate economic performance
- Quiz 1
3
Fri Jan 29
2016
- Chapter 3: The World Marketplace: Business without Borders

LO2: Explain key reasons for international trade

LO3: Describe the tools for measuring international trade

LO4: Analyze strategies for reaching global markets

LO5: Discuss barriers to international trade

LO6: Describe free trade movement
- Global trade news update
- Quiz 2
- Chapter 4: Business Ethics and Social Responsibility: Doing Well by Doing Good
4
Fri Feb 19
2016

LO2: Define business ethics and ethical dilemmas

LO4: Define social responsibility and examine the impact of social
responsibility on stakeholder groups
- Chapter 5: Business Communication: Creating and Delivering Messages that
Matter

LO1: Explain the importance of excellent business communication

LO2: Describe the key elements of nonverbal communication

LO3: Compare, contrast, and choose effective communication channels

LO6: Create and deliver successful verbal presentations
4
- 2nd company video case and discussion
- Quiz 3
5
Fri Feb 26
2016
- Chapter 6: Business Formation: Choosing the Form that Fits

LO2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a sole proprietorship

LO3: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of general partnerships

LO4: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of C corporations

LO6: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of franchising
- Quiz 4
6
Fri Mar 04
2016
- Chapter 7: Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Economic Rocket Fuel

LO1: Explain key reasons to launch a small business

LO2: Describe the typical entrepreneurial mindset and characteristics

LO3: Discuss funding options for small business

LO4: Analyze the opportunities and threats that small business face

LO5: Discuss ways to become a new business owner and tools to facilitate
success
- Quiz 5
- Mid-term exam review
7
Fri Mar 11
2016
8
Fri Mar 18
2016
Mid-term examination
Solution and feedback for Mid–term examination
- Chapter 8: Accounting: Decision Making By the Numbers

LO1: Define accounting and describe how accounting information is used by a
variety of stakeholders

LO2: Identify the purposes and goals of generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP)

LO3: Describe the key elements of the major financial statements

LO6: Explain how the budget process can help managers plan, motivate, and
evaluate their organization’s performance
- Chapter 9: Finance: Acquiring and Using Funds to Maximize Value
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Fri Mar 25
2016

LO1: Identify the goal of financial management and explain the issues financial
managers confront as they seek to achieve this goal

LO2: Describe the tools financial managers use to evaluate their company’s
current financial condition and develop financial plans

LO3: Evaluate the major sources of funds available to meet a firm’s short term
and long-term financial needs
- Chapter 9 (cont’)
- Chapter 11: Marketing: Building Profitable Customer Connections
5

LO1: Discuss the objectives, the process, and the scope of marketing

LO2: Identify the role of the customer in marketing

LO3: Explain each element of marketing strategy

LO4: Describe the consumer and business decision-making process

LO5: Discuss the key elements of marketing research
- Quiz 6
10
Fri Apr 01
2016
- Chapter 11 (cont’)
- Chapter 12: Product and Promotion: Creating and Communicating Value

LO1: Explain “product” and identify product classifications

LO2: Describe product differentiation and the key elements of product planning

LO3: Discuss innovation and product life cycle

LO4: Analyze and explain promotion and integrated marketing communications

LO6: Discuss the promotional mix and the various promotional tools
rd
- 3 company video case and discussion
- Quiz 7
11
Fri Apr 05
2016
- Chapter 12 (cont’)
- Chapter 13: Distribution and Pricing: Right Product, Right Person, Right Place,
Right Price

LO1: Define distribution and differentiate between channels of distribution and
physical distribution

LO2: Describe the various types of wholesale distributors

LO3: Discuss strategies and trends in store and nonstore retailing

LO5: Outline core pricing objectives and strategies

LO6: Discuss pricing in practice, including the role of consumer perceptions
rd
- 3 case presentation and discussion
- Quiz 8
12
Fri Apr 15
2016
- Chapter 13 (cont’)
- Chapter 14: Management Motivation and Leadership: Bringing Business to Life

LO1: Discuss the role of management and its importance to organizational
success

LO2: Explain key theories and current practices of motivation

LO4: Discuss the organizing function of management

LO5: Explain the role of managerial leadership and the key leadership styles
- Quiz 9
13
Fri Apr 22
2016
- Chapter 14 (cont’)
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- Chapter 15: Human Resource Management: Building a Top- Quality Workforce

LO1: Explain the importance of human resources to business success

LO2: Discuss key human resource issues in today’s economy

LO4:Discuss human resource planning and core human resources
responsibilities
- Quiz 10
14
Fri Apr 29
2016
- Chapter 15 (cont’)
- Final exam review
- Case discussion
- Preparation for presentation
15
16
Fri May 05
2016
Fri May 12
2016
- FINAL EXAM (chapter 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- Group presentation
- All written reports and Power Point slides are due at 12:PM the same date with
presentation.
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13. Classroom Policy
Late work will NOT be accepted. I will deduct 10% from that late work’s score per every day after due
date.
Always come to class on time.
No cellphone use is allowed during lectures.
Students are expected to take exam on the scheduled dates. Make-up exams are not guaranteed.
I will ask for your permission if I need to use Vietnamese to explain difficult terms or concepts for you,
and vice versa.
14. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy Please read my PowerPoint on “Cheating and Plagiarism” and the
following policies for more details about Academic Dishonesty Policy:
Acts of plagiarism include but are not limited to:
Submit other people’s works to get points (Nộp bài làm của người khác để lấy điểm cho mình).
Copy words or ideas without citing source and author’s name (Sao chép từ hoặc ý tưởng củangười khác
mà không nêu nguồn tài liệu và tên tác giả được trích dẫn).
Do not use quotation marks for direct citation (Không đặt dấu ngoặc kép trong các trích dẫn nguyên
văn).
Cite the wrong source (Đưa thông tin sai về nguồn của một trích dẫn).
Change the wording but sentence structure without citing author’s name (Thay đổi từ ngữ nhưng vẫn giữ
nguyên cấu trúc câu của một nguồn tài liệu mà không nêu tên tác giả).
Borrow words/ phrases from a source without using quotation marks or with making negligible change
(Vay mượn từ/ cụm từ của một nguồn tài liệu mà không đặt dấu ngoặc kép hoặc chỉ thay đổi chúng một
cách qua loa).
Copy too many words or ideas that make up the most of personal work, regardless of whether source and
author’s name are cited (Sao chép quá nhiều từ ngữ hoặc ý tưởng từ một nguồn tài liệu làm cho các ý
tưởng đó chiếm phần lớn bài làm của mình, bất kể có nêu tên nguồn hoặc tác giả hay không)
Copy information from Internet such as company information, market information etc. (Sao chépthông
tin từ Internet (thông tin công ty, thông tin thị trườngv.v)
Copy completely or partly from the text translated by translation tool such as Google translation etc (sao
chép nguyên văn, hoặc một phần từ các công cụ dịch thuật, chẳng hạn Google Translation)
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Cooperate with other students to do the exams, tests and other assignments without permission of the
Instructor (Cộng tác với sinh viên khác trong lúc làm bài thi/kiểm tra hoặc trong các bài tập mà không
được phép của giáo viên)
Use one assignment to submit for different classes without permission of the Instructor (Sử dụng hoặc
nộp cùng một bài làm cho nhiều lớp khác nhau mà không được phép của giáo viên môn học)
Have other people do the exams, tests and other assignments for you (Đi thi hộ hoặc nhờ người khác thi
hộ mình trong kỳ thi/ kiểm tra hoặc làm giúp hay nhờ người khác làm bài tập cho mình)
The penalties are regulated clearly in “Policy no.2 about Plagiarism, SaigonTech catalogue 2015” which
is available on SaigonTech’s website at: http://www.saigontech.edu.vn/quy-dinh-ve-gian-lan-hocduong.html
Other Student Information: Refer to SaigonTech’s website at www. saigontech.edu.vn for other
students rights and responsibilities at the school
* If you are caught red-handed, you will receive a zero on the assignment. F grade for the course
will be applied in case you commit severe plagiarism for the second time.
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