BUSN 1010:  Introduction to Business

 

Required Text:

Understanding Business 7th Edition, Nickels, 2005.
WebCT  BUSN1010 (Warren) Supplemental Course Materials

Course Description:

A one-semester course with emphasis placed upon both the small and publicly traded business and its strategy for competing in modern economic conditions. Topical areas to be covered: Cultivating a business in a diverse global environment; developing and implementing customer driven strategies; empowering employees and motivating employees to satisfy customers and financing the small business.  This course is richly enhanced with web-based supplements.

WebCT is a web-based enhancement to the course.  The website  has a myriad of course materials (lecture notes, power point slide presentations) and tools (quizzes, crossword puzzles, access to grades) to help students succeed in this course.  See my classroom policies and procedures.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe and discuss the various factors necessary for cultivating a business in a diverse global environment, including: The Free Enterprise System; Economics and globalization; Ethics and Social Responsibility
• Describe and apply marketing concepts including the development of customer oriented strategies focusing on having the right product available, where and when the customer wants it
• Describe and apply key aspects of managing a business, including Leadership; Management and Employee empowerment and Operations
• Describe and apply financial decisions as it relates to maximizing shareholder value
• Distinguish among the various forms of business ownership and various ways of getting a business started
• Examine and reflect upon their own individual strengths and weaknesses as it relates to entrepreneurial tendencies
• Use computer skills through WebCT, the Internet, word processing, and other software
• Improve oral and written communication skills through writing and presentation assignments
• Improve team skills through team projects, case studies and problem analysis

 

Instructional Method:

“ I hear and I believe, I see and I understand, I do and I remember.” – John Dewey 

To the extent possible, this class will model the statement above.  This will require active participation by all.  Topics presented in the text may be covered through lecturettes, problems, cases, current events and active discussions, with an emphasis on application.  We will use a variety of “tools” to accomplish this:  self-assessment, professional journals (print and web-based), books, a website as well as each other. This is a highly interactive course in which discussion relevant to the topics being addressed is welcomed and encouraged.  See my teaching and learning philosophy.

Evaluation (See Student Profiles):

  

Topical Outline:

This page developed and maintained by JoAnn Warren. Send comments and suggestions to: jwarren@ccri.edu. © 2006, Community College of Rhode Island.

This page last modified on: August 24, 2006