Introduction to Business Overview

 

Required Materials:

 

 

BUSN, 1st Edition along with Access Code for WebTutor

WebCT Course Website. (BUSN 1010-600 Introduction to Business - Warren)

 

Assignments will be listed in three places for you.  You will find the assignments and any special instructions on the “Assignments” page and within the Chapter Module. You will be asked to post most of your assignments to the message board.  You will find some helpful hints about using the message board at the CCRI Information Technology WebCT Documentation.   Your First Assignment is ready.  You will find Due Dates for assignments on the “Due Dates” page.

You can access quizzes and tests from links on the course menu, through Study Tools, or within each Chapter Module.  Please note that tests will be available for limited periods of time. Please watch for due dates.  I will most likely post a message on the Message Board to remind you.  There are practice quizzes available to help you review.   In most cases you may take them multiple times.  However, no two quizzes are alike.  You will only be allowed one shot for the tests that will count for your grade. 

Grades for each assignment will posted as soon as possible.  You will find them at “My Grades”.  The Criteria for grading assignments will be posted along with the instructions for completing them.

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 to satisfy customers and motivating employees to produce quality goods and services. 

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

 

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Instructional Method/Expectations

This course will utilize the web for all instruction and assessment.  A WebCT Platform course has been developed to guide students through the course content.  Within the WebCT course students will find instructional materials, assignments, tests/exams, as well as a discussion forum.  Students will not be required to meet “face to face” to complete this course.  However, if warranted, orientation and seminar meetings may be scheduled based on student needs. 

Successfully completing a course on-line, does require students to be self-directed and self-motivated.  The course will adhere to a pre-determined schedule, in order to cover the course content.  The flexibility allowed in the on-line environment is limited to access, not completion of assignments. All Assignments will be identified in each course module.

Communication with the instructor will be facilitated through the “Message Board” as well as through e-mail.  It is strongly recommended that students visit the web-site http://webct.ccri.edu on a daily basis.

See What I expect from you and What you can expect from me.

Class Participation/Homework

In lieu of face-to-face discussions, we will use the message board and live chats to facilitate discussion.  Please note the discussion “forums” provided in the Message Board system.  As you proceed through each course module, you will post comments/questions related to that module within a “discussion thread”. Although “more” than “less” is preferred, postings should “add value” to the discussion by posting questions or comments about the module contents.  For example you might want to post messages about something significant you learned, a question you may have and/or an insight you gained.  Review "Posting Messages” at the CCRI Student Help Center.  or review the WebCT Tutorial.

As you go through each course module, you should post comments and questions to the appropriate location on the course message board.  For some assignments you may want to use the "Copy/Paste" function of your word processing software.  

Evaluation (See Student Profiles):

Fall/Spring

Grades will be determined based on the following.	%
Tests/Exams– 550 Points   Knowledge of key concepts and terminology is often necessary for higher-order thinking and problem solving. There are many resources available to you on the website to help you prepare for these tests/exam: Practice Quizzes, Annotated Learning Objectives, Flashcards, as well as Reviews and Summaries for each chapter module.  Quizzes:  Throughout the semester you will take Quizzes on each of the fourteen (14) chapters.  Quizzes will be made available for a limited time.  Tests/Exams:  Four (4) tests/exams will be offered throughout the semester.  Tests will be composed of True/False, Multiple Choice and Essay Questions.  All objective questions for the tests/exams will be drawn from the same bank of questions used for the quizzes.  There will be no make-up tests unless approved by the instructor prior to the test.  Make-ups may not be in the same format as the regular test.  Tests/Exams will be scheduled and you will be given a 5-7 day window to complete.	55%
Teamwork – 100 Points            Developing teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate on-line is one of the goals for this course. You will have ample time to collaborate using the many features of the WebCT Platform.  Chat Rooms will be available for live interactions, e-mail is always available, a private team forum will be created on the message board and then there is the “old” technology of the telephone.   Each team member is responsible for completing assignments and contributing equally to the projects.  Case Study:  You will prepare a response to a situation which presents itself in the workplace.  Teams of 2-3 members will “self-select” a situation.  In most cases a memorandum, brief report or power point presentation will be used to present your recommendations based on research you have conducted.	10%
Class Participation/Discussion - 200 Points In lieu of face-to-face classroom discussions, we will use the message board and live chats to facilitate discussion.  Please note the discussion “forums” provided in the Message Board system.  As you proceed through each course module, you will post comments/questions related to that module within a “discussion thread”. Although “more” than “less” is preferred, postings should “add value” to the discussion by posting questions or comments about the module contents.  For example you might want to post messages about something significant you learned, a question you may have and/or an insight you gained.	20%
Assignments - 150 Points   Throughout the semester, you will be asked to complete Assignments/Activities that you will submit directly to the instructor via e-mail.  These assignments will focus on learning within the major units:  Cultivating business in diverse global environments, Managing financial resources, Marketing, Empowering employees and Business Ownership.	15%

  

Topical Outline: Fall/Spring

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: July 03, 2008