BUS 102 - Introduction to Business

• Acquire foundational knowledge of business laws and regulations to understand their nature and scope.
  • Describe methods used to protect intellectual property
  • Describe legal issues affecting businesses
• Apply knowledge of business ownership to establish and continue business operations.
  • Explain types of business ownership
• Read to acquire meaning from written material and to apply the information to a task.
  • Identify sources that provide relevant, valid written material
  • Extract relevant information from written materials
  • Apply written directions to achieve tasks
  • Analyze company resources to ascertain policies and procedures
• Apply active listening skills to demonstrate understanding of what is being said.
  • Explain communication techniques that support and encourage a speaker
  • Follow oral directions
  • Demonstrate active listening skills
• Explain how digital communications (e.g., email, text messages, chats) exposes business to risk
  • Use social media to communicate with a business’s stakeholders.
  • Describe the impact of a person’s social media brand on the achievement of organizational objectives
  • Distinguish between using social media for business and personal purposes
  • Foster positive relationships with customers to enhance company image.
  • Explain the nature of positive customer relations
  • Demonstrate a customer-service mindset
  • Explain management’s role in customer relations
• Understand the nature of customer relationship management to show its contributions to a company.
  • Discuss the nature of customer relationship management
  • Explain the role of ethics in customer relationship management
  • Describe the use of technology in customer relationship management
• Understand fundamental economic concepts to obtain a foundation for employment in business.
  • Distinguish between economic goods and services
• Understand the nature of business to show its contributions to society.
  • Explain the role of business in society
  • Describe types of business activities
  • Describe types of business models
  • Explain the organizational design of businesses
  • Discuss the global environment in which businesses operate
  • Describe factors that affect the business environment
  • Explain the nature of business ethics
  • Explain how organizations adapt to today’s markets
• Understand economic systems to be able to recognize the environments in which businesses function.
  • Explain the types of economic systems
  • Identify the impact of small business/entrepreneurship on market economies
  • Explain the concept of private enterprise
  • Identify factors affecting a business’s profit
  • Determine factors affecting business risk
  • Explain the concept of competition
• Acquire knowledge of the impact of government on business activities to make informed economic decisions.
  • Determine the relationship between government and business
  • Describe the nature of taxes
  • Discuss the nature of monetary policy
  • Discuss the supply and demand for money
  • Explain the role of the Federal Reserve System
• Analyze cost/profit relationships to guide business decision-making.
  • Explain the concept of productivity
  • Analyze impact of specialization/division of labor on productivity
  • Explain the concept of organized labor and business
• Understand economic indicators to recognize economic trends and conditions.
  • Discuss the measure of consumer spending as an economic indicator
  • Describe the economic impact of inflation on business
  • Explain the concept of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
  • Discuss the impact of a nation’s unemployment rates
  • Explain the economic impact of interest-rate fluctuations
  • Determine the impact of business cycles on business activities

Understand global trade’s impact to aid business decision-making.

• • Explain the nature of global trade
  • Discuss the impact of globalization on business
  • Explain cultural considerations that impact global business relations
  • Discuss the impact of cultural and social environments on global trade
  • Explain the impact of major trade alliances on business activities
  • Describe the impact of the political environment on world trade
• Use communication skills to foster open, honest communications.
  • Explain the nature of effective communications
  • Explain ethical considerations in providing information
  • Foster open, honest communication
  • Collaborate with others
  • Solicit feedback
  • Use social media to solicit new ideas and solutions
• Use communication skills to influence others.
  • “Sell” ideas to others
  • Persuade others
  • Demonstrate negotiation skills
  • Offer constructive criticism

Understand fundamental factors about entrepreneurship to recognize its role and importance in the economy

• • Describe the nature of entrepreneurship
  • Explain the role requirements of entrepreneurs and owners
• Acquire a foundational knowledge of accounting to understand its nature and scope.
  • Describe the need for financial information
  • Explain the concept of accounting
  • Discuss the role of ethics in accounting
  • Explain the use of technology in accounting
  • Explain legal considerations for accounting
• Implement accounting procedures to track money flow and to determine financial status.
  • Describe the nature of cash flow statements
  • Explain the nature of balance sheets
  • Describe the nature of income statements
• Acquire a foundational knowledge of finance to understand its nature and scope.
  • Explain the role of finance in business
  • Discuss the role of ethics in finance
• Implement financial skills to obtain business credit and to control its use.
  • Explain the purposes and importance of obtaining business credit
  • Identify risks associated with obtaining business credit
  • Explain sources of financial assistance
  • Explain loan evaluation criteria used by lending institutions
• Understand the role and function of human resources management to obtain a foundational knowledge of its nature and scope.
  • Discuss the nature of human resources management
  • Explain the role of ethics in human resources management
  • Describe the use of technology in human resources management
• Manage staff growth and development to increase productivity and employee satisfaction.
  • Explain the role of training and human resources development
  • Explain the nature of management/supervisory training
  • Explain the nature of leadership in organizations
• Acquire a foundational knowledge of information management to understand its nature and scope.
  • Discuss the nature of information management
  • Explain the role of ethics in information management
  • Explain legal issues associated with information management
• Utilize information-technology tools to manage and perform work responsibilities.
  • Identify ways that technology impacts business
  • Explain the role of information systems
• Maintain business records to facilitate business operations.
  • Describe the nature of business records
• Acquire information to guide business decision-making.
  • Describe current business trends
• Create and access databases to acquire information for business decision-making.
  • Explain the principles of data analysis
  • Explain the nature of tools that can be used to access information in the database system

Apply data mining methods to acquire pertinent information for business decision-making.

• • Discuss the nature of data mining
  • Describe data mining tools and techniques
  • Discuss the importance of ethics in data mining
• Understand marketing’s role and function in business to facilitate economic exchanges with customers.
  • Explain marketing and its importance in a global economy
  • Describe marketing functions and related activities
• Acquire foundational knowledge of customer/client/business behavior to understand what motivates decision-making.
  • Explain factors that influence customer/client/business buying behavior
  • Discuss actions employees can take to achieve the company’s desired results  
• Understand operation’s role and function in business to value its contribution to a company.
  • Explain the nature of operations
  • Discuss the role of ethics in operations
  • Describe the use of technology in operations
• Utilize project-management skills to improve workflow and minimize costs.
  • Explain the nature of project management
• Implement purchasing activities to obtain business supplies, equipment, resources, and services.
  • Explain the nature and scope of purchasing
• Understand production’s role and function in business to recognize its need in an organization.
  • Explain the concept of production
• Implement quality-control processes to minimize errors and to expedite workflow.
  • Describe crucial elements of a quality culture
  • Describe the role of management in the achievement of quality
• Implement expense-control strategies to enhance a business’s financial wellbeing.
  • Explain the nature of overhead/operating costs
  • Explain employee’s role in expense control
• Understand supply chain management role to recognize its need in business.
  • Explain the concept of supply chain
• Acquire self-development skills to enhance relationships and improve efficiency in the work environment.
  • Maintain appropriate personal appearance
  • Demonstrate systematic behavior
  • Set personal goals
  • Balance personal and professional responsibilities
• Utilize critical-thinking skills to determine best options/outcomes.
  • Explain the need for innovation skills
  • Make decisions
  • Demonstrate problem-solving skills
  • Demonstrate appropriate creativity
  • Use time-management skills
• Participate in career planning to enhance job-success potential.
  • Assess personal interests and skills needed for success in business
  • Analyze employer expectations in the business environment
  • Explain the rights of workers
  • Identify sources of career information
  • Identify tentative occupational interest
  • Explain employment opportunities in business
  • Explain career opportunities in entrepreneurship
• Recognize management’s role to understand its contribution to business success.
  • Explain the concept of management
  • Explain the nature of managerial ethics
• Utilize planning tools to guide organization’s/department’s activities.
  • Explain the nature of business plans
  • Define business mission
  • Conduct an organizational SWOT
  • Explain external planning considerations
• Identify potential business threats and opportunities to protect a business’s financial wellbeing.
  • Explain the nature of risk management