Course Outline

Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B): BUS D010.
Course Title (CB02): Introduction to Business
Course Credit Status: Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Course Description: An overview of the forces within the business environment (i.e., globalization, economics, government, technology and society), and an introduction to the key functional areas within the firm, such as marketing, operations, accounting, finance, management and human resources.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family: Not Applicable

Course Justification

This is a core course in the A.S. for transfer in Business Administration. Students use this introductory course to learn about the business landscape, to evaluate an investment in a business degree program and to begin career planning. This course is transferable to UC and CSU institutions.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?: No
Foothill Course ID

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)

Course is not a basic skills course.

Grade Options

Letter Grade
Pass/No Pass

Repeat Limit

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability: Transferable to both UC and CSU

C-ID	Area(s)	Status	Details
BUS	Business	Approved	C-ID BUS 110

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units: 5.0
Maximum Credit Units: 5.0

Weekly Student Hours

Type	In Class	Out of Class
Lecture Hours	5.0	10.0
Laboratory Hours	0.0	0.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks): 12.0
Hours per unit divisor: 36.0

Course In-Class (Contact) Hours

Lecture: 60.0
Laboratory: 0.0
Total: 60.0

Course Out-of-Class Hours

Lecture: 120.0
Laboratory: 0.0
NA: 0.0
Total: 120.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Guest speakers

Discussion of assigned reading

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Assignments

Required reading assignments from the textbook and supplemental business sources.
Analysis of business case studies to develop business vocabulary as well as critical thinking skills.
Participation in a project or simulation or written assignment that requires comprehension of business functions and terms.

Methods of Evaluation

Midterm and final exams that appraise comprehension and require application of course material.
Participation in class discussion of case studies to develop business vocabulary as well as to progressively develop the ability to critically consider the given business situation.
Project, simulation, or written assignment requires demonstration of comprehension of business functions and application of business terminology.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials:

None.

Essential College Facilities:

None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

Author	Title	Publisher	Date/Edition	ISBN
Nickels, William, James M. McHugh and Susan McHugh, "Understanding Business," 11th edition, Boston: Irwin/McGraw Hill, 2016.
Collins, Karen "Exploring Business" Flatworld Knowledge, New York, Version 2.1, 2014.
Ebert, Ronald J. and Ricky W. Griffin, "Business Essentials," Eleventh Edition, Pearson, 2017.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

Author	Title	Publisher
Recommended readings: The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, The Economist, and Business Week.
Online financial sites (i.e., Yahoo Finance, MSN Money) and news sources for business current events.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

Describe the context and purpose of business.
Analyze the business environment
Describe entrepreneurship and the process of starting a business.
Explain and analyze the basics of the accounting function.
Identify the nature and importance of operations management to businesses.
Describe the marketing function.
Describe the finance function and its relation to the securities markets.
Describe the role and functions of a manager, and demonstrate management skills.
Describe the function of Human Resource Management.

CSLOs

Distinguish among the primary functions within a business, such as, marketing, operations, human resources, accounting and finance, and identify the interests and roles of key business stakeholders, such as employees, management, owners, and society.
Demonstrate a working vocabulary of business terms.

Outline

Describe the context and purpose of business.
1. Definition and objectives of a business.
2. The functional areas within a business.
3. Forces in the global business environment.
4. Role of business stakeholders
5. Careers in business.
Analyze the business environment
1. Business must respond to its environment.
2. The social and cultural environment.
  1. Diversity issues in business.
  2. The changing labor force.
  3. Changing educational emphasis.
3. The economic environment and its impact on business.
  1. Macroeconomic Systems: Capitalism, Socialism, Communism.
  2. Macroeconomic metrics: GDP, CPI, Unemployment Rate.
  3. Microeconomic forms of competition: Monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, perfect competition.
  4. Microeconomic theories of supply and demand.
  5. The Federal Reserve System and monetary policy.
4. The political and legal environment.
  1. Government protection.
  2. Enforcing competition.
  3. Regulation of business.
  4. Legal terminology (intellectual property, contracts, torts)
5. Technological changes.
  1. Electronic Commerce
  2. Social Media
6. Global business.
  1. Differences in cultural, economic, and legal environments abroad.
  2. Methods of entry into international markets
7. Corporate social responsibility and ethics.
Describe entrepreneurship and the process of starting a business.
1. Importance of entrepreneurship to our economy.
2. Selection of legal form of business ownership.
  1. The sole proprietorship.
  2. General and limited partnerships.
  3. The corporation.
  4. Joint ventures and alliances.
Explain and analyze the basics of the accounting function.
1. Purpose and users of accounting information.
2. The Balance Sheet
3. The Income Statement
4. Interpreting financial statements.
5. Cash flow.
6. Using financial ratios.
Identify the nature and importance of operations management to businesses.
1. Operations management versus production management
2. Production management and automation.
3. Characteristics of operations in service industries.
4. Operational support: Careers in purchasing, quality assurance, scheduling
Describe the marketing function.
1. Customer satisfaction and the marketing concept.
2. Identifying customer needs through market research.
3. Market segmentation.
4. The Marketing Mix.
  1. The product life cycle and new product planning.
  2. Fundamental pricing strategies.
  3. Distribution strategies.
  4. Marketing Communications and Promotion
Describe the finance function and its relation to the securities markets.
1. Financing the firm through use of debt.
  1. Bonds
  2. Term loans
2. Financing the firm through equity.
  1. Common Stock
  2. Preferred Stock
  3. Retained Earnings
3. Security exchanges and how they operate
4. Regulation of securities.
5. Reading the financial news.
6. Risk management and insurance concepts.
Describe the role and functions of a manager, and demonstrate management skills.
1. The manager's job.
2. Common characteristics of well managed firms.
3. Planning.
4. Organizing.
5. Leading/directing.
6. Controlling.
7. Demonstrate management skills in a group/team environment.
8. Managing a multi-cultural workforce.
Describe the function of Human Resource Management.
1. Recruiting and selection practices
2. The human resource management function and its relation to management.
3. Training and development methods
4. Compensation and benefits structures.
5. Career planning for the student: Setting goals, writing a resume, and interviewing for positions.
6. Employment outlook.