UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI CLERMONT COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE OUTLINE FOR

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS (34-BA-173-002)
AUTUMN QUARTER 2004
MWF 10:00A – 10:50A
STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING ROOM 245

 

Instructor Information

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Bauer, Associate Professor of Management and Marketing

Office:              Snyder Building 272C

Phone:              Office:  732-5257   24-HR Voicemail

                        Fax:  732-5304
                        Division Office:  732-5255

                        Home:  753-9081

E-Mail:             Jeff.Bauer@UC.Edu

Website:           http://www.ucclermont.edu/~bauerj      

Office Hours:    MWF 9:30A – 10:00A, T 4:00P – 6:30P, or by appointment

Text Information

Business – A Changing World, Ferrell & Hirt, McGraw-Hill, 4th Edition, 2003.

Course Description

An introduction to the business areas of economics, management, marketing, accounting, and finance.

Course Objectives

1.      Discuss business from a systems and historical perspective.

2.      Understand social responsibilities and business ethics.

3.      Review economic aspects of the global business environment.

4.      Identify the managerial process and the internal structure and organization of firms.

5.      Discuss motivation, leadership, group behavior and aspects of human resource management.

6.      Discuss the process of accounting and describe the uses of accounting information.

7.      Illustrate the marketing process and product, price, and promotional strategies.

8.      Understand securities and investments.

Course Requirements

Reading Assignments: The student is expected to read all assignments prior to the class in which they will be discussed. He/she should be ready to participate in class discussions and activities.

Issue Summaries: Each student is to prepare and present two (2) issue summaries, which pertain to any business topic. The issue summaries are due as outlined on the course schedule. The issue summary should meet the following guidelines:

1.      Research and obtain an article from any business periodical (The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, etc.)

2.      A 3x5 or 4x6 card must be used

3.      Attach the article or a copy of it to one side of the card

4.      Highlight or underline topics discussed in the article which we have reviewed in class

5.      Write or type your opinion of the issue on the other side of the card. Why is the issue important? What other issues need to be considered?

Group Cases:  Cases detailing various business topics will be assigned.  Groups will be formed during the second week of class.

E-Mail Summaries: Each student is to submit a summary of each week of class discussions via e-mail. The summary should highlight topics discussed in class and raise any questions that you may have on the material covered. The e-mailed summaries are due by the end of the day each Monday for the previous week’s classes.

Exams: There will be three (3) exams during the quarter. Exam formats will be true-false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and short essay. Exams will be given as indicted on the Course Schedule.

Grading:

The final grade will be determined as follows:

Exam One (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5)                                 100 Points
Exam Two (Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9)                                100 Points
Final Exam (Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)           100 Points
Attendance and Participation                                      50 Points
Issue Summaries (2 Summaries @ 25 Points Each)   50 Points
Group Case Projects (5 Cases @ 10 Points Each)      50 Points
E-Mail Class Summaries                                            50 Points
                                                                                  -------------

                              Total Points                                500 Points


GENERAL COURSE POLICIES

Attendance and Make-Up Work

Attendance is a requirement of the course.  If for some reason you cannot attend a class, please let me know by using one of the phone numbers (or other means) listed above.

Assignments

Any assignments are due at the beginning of the class period as indicated on the Course Schedule.  Late assignments will be reduced at least one letter grade per class day at the discretion of the instructor.  Assignments will not be accepted one week after the due date has passed.

Cell Phones, Pagers, etc.

Consider this class to be a call-free, beep-free, vibrate mode-free zone of silence.

Make-Up Exams

Make-up exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor.  The student must notify the instructor of the absence before the exam begins. If proper notification is given, a make-up exam will be administered which may be significantly more challenging than the examination given on the scheduled date.

Cheating and Plagiarism

The policy as stated in the University of Cincinnati Student Handbook will be strictly enforced.  A copy of the Student Handbook is available in the Student Development Office.

Withdrawals

The current withdrawal policy of Clermont College will apply.  The withdrawal policy for this term is available in the Registration Office.

ADA


Students with Disabilities:  The policy of the University of Cincinnati Clermont College requires students to self-identify and provide proper documentation to the Academic Director of Disability Services,
Student Services Building for appropriate academic assistance.

 

Grading Scale

The following plus/minus grading system will apply:

92 - 100% = A     91 -  89% = A-     88 -  87% = B+     86 -  82% = B     81 - 79% = B-
78 – 77% = C+    76 – 72% = C       71 –  69% = C-     68 – 67% = D+   66 – 62% = D
61 – 59% = D -   58% and Under = F

Note:  The course schedule and procedures are tentative and subject to change depending upon the progress of the class.

COURSE SCHEDULE OUTLINE – INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

Week of

09/22               Introduction to Course, Explanation of the Syllabus, and the Schedule Outline
            Chapter One – The Dynamics of Business and Economics

09/27               Chapter Two – Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Chapter Three – Business in a Borderless World
Assignment of Groups
Case One Due Friday 10/01

10/04               Chapter Five – Options for Organizing Business
Review for Exam 1
Case Two Due Friday 10/08

10/11               Exam One - Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5
Chapter Six – Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Franchising

10/18               Chapter Seven – The Nature of Management
Chapter Eight – Organization, Teamwork, and Communication
Case Three Due Friday 10/22
Issue Summary One Due

10/25               Chapter Nine – Production and Operations Management
Review for Exam Two

11/01               Exam Two - Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9
Case Four Due Friday 11/05

11/08               Chapter Ten – Motivating the Workforce
Chapter Eleven – Managing Human Resources

11/15               Chapter Twelve – Customer Driven Marketing
Chapter Thirteen – Dimensions of Marketing Strategy
Case Five Due Friday 11/19

11/22               Chapter Fourteen – Accounting and Financial Statements
Issue Summary Two Due

11/26               HOLIDAY – NO CLASS MEETING

11/29               Chapter Sixteen – Financial Management and Securities Markets
                        Review for Final Exam

The Final Exam will be Wednesday, December 8, 2004 from 8am – 10am and will cover Chapters 10, 11, 12 13, 14, and 16.