COURSE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

Course Title:                 Introduction to Business (BUSI 100) Credit: Three hours

Instructor:                     Peter Van Brunt, Sanford #2, Office Telephone: 746-4063
E-mail address: vanbruap@delhi.edu
Web site:                      http://faculty.delhi.edu/vanbruap/
Office hours:                 MWF 10:00-10:50AM and TR 2:00-3:15PM, but feel free to come see me anytime the door is open.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to business in the United States today.  Attention will be devoted to various business areas including production, marketing, finance and human resource management.  The course will also explore the way businesses operate and their practices in order to illustrate the concepts, structures and theories being studied

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.      Introduce American business practices to students.

2.      Provide students with a broad range of knowledge about business procedures, terms and operating methods.

3.      Acquaint students with the functional areas of business.

4.      Give students a better understanding of the role of business in the American economy and society.

5.      Provide an opportunity to evaluate a real world business and/or business person.

TEXT
Mescon, Bovee and Thill, Business Today, 10th Edition, Prentiss Hall

ATTENDANCE

You and I are expected to attend all classes.  Moreover you are responsible for all material covered in class.  An hour exam that is missed for any reason cannot be made up.  The final exam grade will be used as the grade for any missed hour exam. 

 

LATENESS

Unforeseen circumstances may cause you to be late upon occasion.  Attendance is taken at the beginning of class; it is your responsibility to see me after class to ensure that your presence is recorded should you be late.  Repeated latenesses will be considered as absences should this accommodation be abused.

 

WEATHER EMERGENCIES
 In case of extremely inclement weather, the possibility exists that classes might be cancelled.  If the weather seems extreme, you can call 746-4800 to find out if the college has cancelled classes for the day.  If classes have been cancelled, then the assignment for the cancelled day and the following class will be due at that next class.  If the college has not cancelled classes, you may assume that our class will take place as scheduled.

 

DETERMINATION OF FINAL GRADE
Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Quizzes – (8 minimum)

25%

Project (see pp 3-4)

25%

Class Participation

10%

Mid-term Exam

20%

Final Exam

20%

Total

100%

There may be exceptions to the above grade determinants. If (1) you have missed three or fewer classes (if on a MWF schedule) or if you have missed two or fewer classes (if on a MW or TR only schedule) AND, (2) you have not missed the mid-term exam, you may elect not to take the final exam. You will receive the grade you have earned based on the hour exams and quizzes/homework. Thus, if you have met the attendance and testing requirements and choose not to take the final, your grade will be determined as follows:

Quizzes – (8 minimum)

31.25%

Project (see pp 3-4)

31.25%

Class Participation

12.50%

Mid-term Exam

25.00%

Total

100.00%

QUIZZES
There are a total of eighteen quizzes, each representing a chapter in the text.  Each quiz contains 15 true/false and multiple choice questions which must be answered in 12 minutes.  Each quiz will be available for you to take on my WebCt site only one up 20 minutes before the class following the due date for the chapter assignment.  The quiz component of your final grade will consist of your best eight scores, four of which must come from chapters 1-9, and four of which must come from chapters 10-18.  See p.3 (Website section)for information on accessing WebCt.

EXAMS
The mid-term exam will be announced at least two classes in advance.  If you miss the mid-term exam, the final exam will be counted in its place.  Grades will be assigned as follows:

F    Fail - Students who fail to meet the course objectives at even the most rudimentary (basic) level.

D   Unsatisfactory - Students who meet some, but not all objectives.

C   Satisfactory/Fair - Students who demonstrate a basic competence in the course objectives.

B    Good - Students who have demonstrated competence in all course objectives as well as additional insight based on their comprehension.

A   Excellent - Students who have mastered all course objectives and can apply the material to new situations thereby demonstrating a true command of the material.

 

Plus and minus grades may also be given.  A plus grade signifies performance that is slightly better than the straight letter grade but insufficient to achieve the next higher letter grade.  A minus grade indicates performance that is inferior to the straight letter grade, but superior to the next lower letter grade. No plus grades will be given for the A and F classifications and no minus grade will be given for the F classification.

 

Interim grades (a summary of your performance to date) will be posted periodically on my web site.  See the following section for information on the web site and how to access it.

 

PROJECT: ANALYSIS OF A CORPORATE ANNUAL REPORT

See attached sheet for details.

 

USEFUL INFO FOR STUDENTS ON MY WEBSITES

For my students in Introduction to Business (BUSI 110), Principles of Accounting 1 (ACCT 110), Intermediate Accounting 1 (ACCT 210) and International Business (BUSI 360), I have developed a web site which contains the following information for each course:

 

·        The Course Information Sheet.

  • Current assignments, updated continually.
  • Quizzes and Class Notes – These links are provided on a password protected WebCt platform.
  • Self-Quizzes.
  • Current grades - you can view your quiz and test scores, absences and composite grade (updated at the end of each week).

·        Links to useful web sites for your course.

 

While the site will be upgraded periodically, I encourage you to visit it site NOW:  found at the following address: http://www.delhi.edu/~vanbruap/.  Alternatively, you can go to Delhi’s home page (http://www.delhi.edu), first click on “Faculty and Staff Resources”, then click on “Faculty and Staff Web Pages”, and lastly, click on my name.  For the password protected WebCt components your ID is your student ID number; your password is your 6 digit PIN for accessing Banner web grades and schedules.  If you have not used the Internet before, please come see me and I will get you started.

 

RIGHT TO LEARN

As an aid to learning, I strongly encourage you to engage in open discussion, investigation and expression in the classroom.  Your performance will be evaluated solely on an academic basis, i.e. what you have learned.

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

We are here for the mutually agreed upon purpose of teaching and learning.  Thus, copying, plagiarizing, giving or receiving answers or aid to any student during a quiz, exam or project will result in a zero grade for the activity and possible dismissal from the course.

COURSE CONTENT

1.      Fundamentals of Business and Economics.  Business defined, economic systems, global economy, history of economic growth, e-business today.

2.      Ethics and Social Responsibility of Business.  Ethics in the workplace, the social responsibility of business, business’s response to societal needs, world-wide ethics and social responsibility.

3.      Global Business.  The global business environment, international trade, global interdependence.

4.      Small Business, New Ventures and Franchises.  Understanding small business, starting and growing a small business, financing a new business.

5.      Forms of Business Ownership.  Proprietorships, partnerships and corporations, understanding business combinations.

6.      Functions and Skills of Management.  Four basic management functions, necessary management skills.

7.      Organization, Teamwork and Communication.  Effective organization structures,, working in teams,, managing the flow of information.

8.      Technology and Information Management.  Effective information management, the role of computers, technology issues in the workplace.

9.      Production of Quality Goods and Services.  Production and operations management, designing the production process, technology and production,, management and control issues.

10.  Employee-Management Relations.  Motivating employees, keeping pace with the workforce, labor unions.

11.  Human Resources Management.  What do HR managers do, planning staffing needs, recruiting, hiring and training, performance appraisal, compensation and benefits, changes in employment status.

12.  Marketing and Customer Service.  Marketing defined, importance of understanding customers,, marketing strategies.

13.  Product and Pricing Strategies.  Product strategies, branding and packaging, pricing strategies.

14.  Distribution strategies.  Effective distribution channels, selling through intermediaries, managing physical distribution.

15.  Promotional Strategies.  Promotional mix, personal selling, advertising and direct marketing, dales promotion, public relations.

16.  Accounting.  Accounting’s role, accounting concepts, using financial statements.

17.  Financial Management and Banking.  Financial management defined, the U.S. financial system, the Federal Reserve.

18.  Securities.  Types of securities, investors and investing, securities markets.

 

 

January 04