Week One: Introduction to Business

DQ

Week One: Introduction to Business

DQ 1: What makes some companies more profitable than others? What are the similarities and differences between profit and profitability? Provide real-world examples to support your answer

DQ 2: Your friend has asked you why the price of bananas is higher during certain times of the year. Using what you have learned about the laws of supply and demand, explain to your friend how the market affects price.

CheckPoint: Business Models and Systems:

Consider a local business whose services you frequently use. What are the main components of this company’s business model? Using Figure 1.2 on p. 11 of your text as a guide, describe the three components of the business system that comprise the local business you selected. Your response should be 200-300 words in length.

Week Two: The Changing Environment of Business

CheckPoint: Business Organization:

Describe a business scenario, either real or fictional, that depicts each of the following forms of business organization:

o Joint-stock company

o Limited liability company

o Partnership

o Sole proprietorship

· Your response should be 200-300 words in length.

Assignment: Evolution of Business Presentation:

Create a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation describing the evolution of business.

Use examples and appropriate visuals to illustrate each phase of business. Include information about the following points:

o Feudalism

o Mercantilism

o Capitalism

o Commerce

o Property rights

o The Industrial Revolution

· Include detailed speaker notes, a title slide, and an APA reference slide.

· Post your presentation as a PowerPoint® attachment.

Week Three: Legal and Ethical Issues in Business

DQ 1: Post your response to the following: Review the Business in Action case studies on pp. 143, 146, 154, & 159 of the text. Select one case that you find especially interesting and explain how ethics and decision-making impact the individuals involved in the scenario.

Respond to two of your classmates who selected a case study other than the one you selected. Ask for additional information or clarification if needed. Explain why you agree or disagree with their assessment of the issues.

DQ 2: post your response to the following: If the majority of companies strive to conduct their business ethically, why is there a need to create laws? How are ethics different from the law? How are ethics and the law the same? Support your answer with real-world examples.

CheckPoint: Code of Ethics:

Imagine that you are starting your own company. What will be the ethical code of your company? In a 200- to 300-word response, draft an ethical code of conduct listing the rules and principles that your company will use in decision-making.

· Provide a brief explanation of why you selected each rule and/or principle.

Week Four: The Human Side of Business

CheckPoint 1: Roles and Behaviors:

Throughout this course you will examine various aspects of business by creating a fictional business. You will use the business you created to explore how the different functions of business can impact a company.

· Resource: Ch. 3 of Introduction to Business, Appendix B

· Due Date: Day 3 [Individual] forum

· Complete Appendix B by writing a paragraph explaining your fictional company. Then, describe the main roles and behaviors of the entrepreneurs, managers, and employees your company might have. After you have completed the table, answer the following question: What behaviors and attitudes should be cultivated in your organization?

· Post Appendix B as an attachment.

CheckPoint 2: Four Functions of Management:

Review the four main functions of management (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling) on pp. 78-82 of the text.

· Consider a time when you were tasked with management, such as in the workplace, at home, or coordinating a party.

· Use Appendix C to describe your event and categorize your actions under each of the four functions of management.

· Post Appendix C as an attachment.

Assignment: SWOT Analysis:

Select a sample business plan from the list your instructor provides.

· Research your sample business plan at http://www.bplans.com/Sample_Business_Plans/.

· Use the example on p. 97 of the text as a guide.

· Conduct a SWOT analysis of the sample business plan you selected.

· Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in APA format explaining the business plan you selected and your SWOT analysis discussing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the company you chose.

· Post your paper as a Microsoft® Word attachment.

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