Introduction to Business

Kingsborough Community College
The City University of New York

Syllabus: Introduction to Business - 3 credits, 3 hours Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to the dynamic world of business. The students are introduced to the dynamic world of business organization, from the sole proprietorship (entrepreneur) to the corporation. Through discussion, case studies and the Internet, students explore the fundamentals of management, marketing, human resources, finance and business in the global environment.

College Now Description:

Students are introduced to the dynamic world of business through lectures, discussions, case studies, readings and the Internet. The course focuses on the fundamentals of management, marketing, finance and business in the global environment, with special attention to the issues involved in entrepreneurship, franchising and formulating a business.

Explanation:

Business is one of the cornerstones of the American way of life. This course introduces students who may wish to pursue Business as a major to the basic concepts required to understand the successes and failures of business organizations at every level, and their impact on the U.S. economy. It will also acquaint students with the dynamics of technological changes occurring in the domestic and global environment so that their knowledge of the business world will be current and practical.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Have a firm grasp of the practical aspects of fundamentals of
  • Define various business systems, with their potential risks and
  • Identify the interactive roles of households, businesses and
  • Understand the types of ethical concerns and social responsibilities that arise in the business world.
  • Describe the basic differences, advantages and disadvantages among the three most common forms of business ownership; sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporation.
  • Describe the nature of small businesses and the reasons that some succeed while others fail.
  • Define management in terms of its four basic functions: goal setting and planning, organizing, leading and motivating, and controlling.
  • Identify key management skills and roles in various organizational
  • Explain the major components of human resource management as well as the challenges of cultural diversity in the work place.
  • Trace the development of major marketing concepts, including the four elements of the marketing mix: product, price, promotion and
  • Identify the factors that may influence consumer and industrial buying
  • Analyze international trade and its positive and negative impact on US business and society.
  • Identify career opportunities in the context of current employment
Topical Course Outline:
  1. Exploring the World of Business (Chapter 1)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/1-introduction
  2. Being Ethical and Social Responsibility (Chapter 2)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/2-introduction
  3. Choosing a Form of Business Ownership (Chapter 4)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/4-introduction
  4. Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing Your Own Business (Chptr 5)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/5-introduction
  5. Management and Leadership in Today's Organizations (Chapter 6) and Designing Organizational Structures (Chapter 7)
    (AKA: Understanding the Management Process)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/6-introduction
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/7-introduction
  6. Managing Human Resources and Labor Relations (Chapter 8) (AKA: Attracting and Retaining the Best Employees)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/8-introduction
  7. Creating Products and Pricing Strategies to Meet Customers’ Needs (Chapter 11)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/11-introduction
  8. Distributing and Promoting Products and Services (Chapter 12)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/12-introduction
  9. Competing in the Global Marketplace (Chapter 3)
    https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/3-introduction
Optional Topics:
Methods of Teaching:
  • Assigned readings on relevant topics selected by the
  • Class discussion of assignments including relevant reading
  • Lectures to elucidate concepts described in the textbook and ancillary reading
  • Oral presentations and debates by students focusing on relevant
  • Student written reports and analyses of
  • Talks on relevant topics by guest
  • Distribution of articles and critiques identified in leading business
  • Use of audio-visual materials where relevant and
  • Review of examinations as a means of comprehensively summarizing the course material.
  • Private student conferences to provide individual guidance relating to either course content or the student's particular interest and career plans.
Assignments:
  • Required reading in course
  • Assigned readings from current business journals and case
  • Term
  • Written analysis of an interview with management
  • Oral presentation and/or debate on current business
Method of Evaluation:
  • Midterm and final examinations based on assigned readings and class
  • Unit examinations, where
  • Analysis of student contributions to class
  • Analysis of written and oral
  • Analysis of oral
  • Analysis of term
  • Analysis of internet-based

Required Reading:

Introduction to Business; an OpenStax textbook, Publisher XanEdu

This textbook is a Zero Cost Textbook (ZTC) and is available at no cost online at the following link:

https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-business

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.