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Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

Course Design Guide


School of Business BUS/210 Version 5 Foundations of Business
Copyright 2010, 2009, 2007 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description In this course, students explore the foundation of business by reviewing topics regarding the structure and culture of the modern business environment. Additional topics include the evolution of business, the role of business ethics, communication, technology, operations, leadership, and human resources. Upon completion, students are better prepared to make informed decisions regarding their educational and professional goals. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Jones, G. R. (2007). Introduction to business: How companies create value for people. New York, NY: McGrawHill/Irwin. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Supplemental Resource Associate Level Writing Style Handbook, available online at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CWE/pdfs/Associate_level_writing_style_handbook.pdf

Week One: Introduction to Business


Details
Objectives 1.1 Compare and contrast profit and profitability. 1.2 Describe the impact of supply and demand on a market economy. 1.3 Identify the main components of business. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own. Read Appendix A. Read Ch. 1 & 2 of Introduction to Business. Day 1

Due

Points

Course Preparation Readings

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

4 days each DQ week Day 2 Day 4 Day 5

10

Discussion Questions CheckPoint Business Models and Systems

Respond to weekly discussion questions. Consider a local business whose services you frequently use. What are the main components of this company's business model? Write a 200- to 300-word response describing the three components of the business system that comprise the local business you selected. Use Figure 1.2 on p. 11 of Introduction to Business as a reference.

20 20

Week Two: The Changing Environment of Business


Details
Objectives 2.1 Explain the different forms of business organization. 2.2 Describe how business has evolved from feudalism, mercantilism, and capitalism. Resource: Ch. 2 of Introduction to Business Write a 200- to 300-word description of a business scenario, either real or fictional, that depicts each of the following forms of business organization: Joint-stock company Limited liability company Partnership Sole proprietorship Individual Evolution of Business Presentation Resource: Ch. 2 of Introduction to Business Create a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation describing the evolution of business. Include information about the following points: Feudalism Mercantilism Capitalism Commerce Property rights The Industrial Revolution Provide examples and appropriate visuals to illustrate each phase of business. Include detailed speaker notes, a title slide, and an APA reference slide. Day 7 100 Day 6 20

Due

Points

CheckPoint Business Organization

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

Week Three: Legal and Ethical Issues in Business


Details
Objectives Readings Participation 3.1 Recognize the effects of ethics decisions on business. 3.2 Compare and contrast business ethics and the law. Read Ch. 3 & 5 of Introduction to Business. Participate in class discussion. 4 days each DQ week Day 2 Day 4 Day 5 10

Due

Points

Discussion Questions CheckPoint Code of Ethics

Respond to weekly discussion questions. Resource: Ch. 5 of Introduction to Business Imagine that you are starting your own company. What will be the ethical code of your company? Write a 200- to 300-word 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 principle.

20 20

Week Four: The Human Side of Business


Details
Objectives 4.1 Describe the roles and behaviors of entrepreneurs, managers, and employees. 4.2 Outline the four functions of management. 4.3 Examine a business plan using SWOT analysis. Throughout this course, you examine various aspects of business by creating a fictional business. You use the business you created to explore how the different functions of business may affect a company. Resource: Ch. 3 of Introduction to Business Complete Appendix B by writing a paragraph explaining your fictional company. Describe the main roles and behaviors of the entrepreneurs, managers, and employees your company might have. Answer the following question after you have completed the table: What behaviors and attitudes should be cultivated in your organization? Post Appendix B as an attachment. Day 3 20

Due

Points

CheckPoint Roles and Behaviors

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

CheckPoint Four Functions of Management

Resource: Ch. 3 of Introduction to Business Review the four main functions of management, which are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, on pp. 7882 of Introduction to Business. Consider a time when you were tasked with management, such as in the workplace, at home, or coordinating a party. Describe your event and categorize your actions under each of the four functions of management using Appendix C. Post Appendix C as an attachment.

Day 5

20

Individual SWOT Analysis

Resource: Ch. 3 of Introduction to Business Select a sample business plan from the list your instructor provides. Research your sample business plan at http://www.bplans.com/Sample_Business_Plans/. Review 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 an attachment.

Day 7

100

Week Five: Leadership


Details
Objectives 5.1 Discuss the components of persuasive communication. 5.2 Explain the types of political tactics used in business. 5.3 Summarize the major components of the contingency theory of leadership. Read Ch. 68 of Introduction to Business. Participate in class discussion. 4 days each DQ week Day 2 Day 4 10

Due

Points

Readings Participation

Discussion Questions

Respond to weekly discussion questions.

20

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

CheckPoint Contingency Theory of Leadership

Resource: Ch. 6 of Introduction to Business Complete Appendix D by using figures 6.3 & 6.4 on pp. 182183 as a guide. Base your answers on a real or hypothetical work environment. Describe the components of the contingency theory of leadership as it applies to the work environment you selected. Conclude with your recommendation for the best leadership approach. Post Appendix D as an attachment.

Day 5

20

Week Six: Organizational Behavior and Culture


Details
Objectives 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Identify theories of work motivation. Identify the characteristics of high-performing groups and teams. Compare and contrast different types of organizational structure. Explain how organizational culture can impact a business. Day 4 20

Due

Points

CheckPoint Motivation and Teams Case Study

Resource: Ch. 7 of Introduction to Business Read the two case studies on pp. 233236 of the text. Answer the following in a 200- to 300-word response: What motivation theories may be found in each case study? Describe the theories found in each case study and cite specific examples. What was each business owners approach to creating highperforming teams within their company?

Individual Job Fair Brochure

Continue to explore the hypothetical company you created in Week Four. You have set up a booth at the local job fair to generate interest in your new company and search for prospective employees. Create a 1-page brochure describing your company's structure, business model, and culture. Write a 500- to 750-word paper in APA format describing the structure, business model, and culture you selected. Provide justification for why you selected each element and explain how your choice may affect your business. Post your brochure and paper as an attachment.

Day 7

100

Week Seven: Human Resource Management


Details Due Points

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

Objectives Readings Participation

7.1 Explain the ways that human resource management impacts a business. Read Ch. 9, 12, & 13 of Introduction to Business. Participate in class discussion. 4 days each DQ week Day 2 Day 4 Day 5 10

Discussion Questions CheckPoint The Impact of HRM

Respond to weekly discussion questions. Your manager has asked you to draft a proposal for improving the management of human resources in your company. Resource: Ch. 13 of Introduction to Business Describe the best ideas for improvement presented in the brainstorm session from the human resource improvement Discussion Question. Select the best ideas from at least two of the different areas discussed. What are the different ways that changes to these areas would affect a business? Explain your answer in a 200- to 300-word response.

20 20

Week Eight: Technology, Goods, and Services


Details
Objectives 8.1 Identify standard IT applications used in business. 8.2 Describe the typical hardware and software components of business technology. 8.3 Examine the effects and costs of operations and material management in business. Resource: Ch. 9 of Introduction to Business Create a 5- to 7-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to teach your fellow students about the following IT applications: Transaction processing systems Knowledge management systems Expert system and artificial intelligence Enterprise resource planning systems E-commerce systems Include detailed speaker notes and examples. Post your presentation as an attachment. CheckPoint Resource: Ch. 9 of Introduction to Business Day 5 20 Day 3 20

Due

Points

CheckPoint IT Applications Presentation

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

Hardware and Software Components

Complete the table in Appendix E by describing the uses of following hardware and software components: Legacy systems Mainframe computers Microprocessors PCs Network computers World Wide Web and the Internet Wired and wireless broadband technology PC software Networking software Computer security software Post Appendix E as an attachment.

Individual Developing Good Business Sense

Resources: Ch. 12 of Introduction to Business Read the Developing Good Business Sense activity on p. 394 of the text. Answer Questions 14 from the activity in a 700- to 1,050-word paper in APA format. Post your paper as an attachment.

Day 7

100

Week Nine: The Big Picture


Details
Objectives Participation 9.1 Identify career paths within the business environment. 9.2 Create a portfolio based on core business principles. Participate in class discussion. 4 days each DQ week Day 3 10

Due

Points

Capstone Discussion Question

Respond to the capstone discussion question. What career paths are of interest to you? How has the information presented in this course influenced your thoughts about your personal career path? What insights or reactions do you have concerning what you now know about the field of business? Resource: Appendix A Review the CheckPoints and assignments you completed throughout the course. Create a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation of information about the fictional company you created in Week Four. You may use text, charts, tables, and visuals to detail the different areas of business found within your company.

20

Final Project Business Portfolio Presentation

Day 7

250

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

Include information on the following topics: Business organization Potential legal or ethical issues Business culture Types of motivation Human resource management Technology Operations and materials management Include detailed speaker notes, a title slide, and an APA reference slide. Post your final presentation as a Microsoft PowerPoint attachment. Optional Discussion Questions Week One Discussion Questions 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. Respond to your classmates' answers by asking additional questions that a newcomer to business might ask. Is the explanation clear? Which areas do you understand? In which areas would you like more clarification? 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. Week Three Discussion Questions 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 effect 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. 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. Week Five Discussion Questions Consider the different types of communication described on p. 194 of the text. What types of communication would be most effective in persuading groups in an organization, including trainers, employees, programmers, and managers? Why? Review your classmates' responses. Do you agree or disagree with their selections? If you disagree, let them know why. If you agree, provide an additional example of why their selections would work.

Course Design Guide BUS/210 Version 5

Review the political tactics used by organizations described on pp. 196197 of the text. Have you experienced any of these tactics in your workplace or have you heard anyone describe a situation in their workplace in which they experienced a political tactic? Describe the situation and the political tactic. Respond to a classmate who has described a different political tactic than the one you chose. Describe how the outcome of the situation would have been different if a different political tactic had been applied. Week Seven Discussion Questions There are many ways that a company can motivate its employees. Consider the different types of pay and benefits described on pp. 420423 of the text. What type of incentive do you think is most effective for creating a motivating work environment? Why? Your instructor will assign you one of the five areas of human resources management to discuss. Imagine that you work in the human resources (HR) department of a medium-sized company. Your manager has asked you to brainstorm ways to improve one of the five areas of human resource management in your company. Assuming that all five areas are currently functioning at an equal level, what type of improvement would you implement in your assigned area? What effect do you think the improvement will have on your business? Respond to your classmates by considering the implications of their suggested HR improvement. Do you have any recommendations that would expand on their ideas? Are there any negative implications to their suggested HR improvement? Copyright
University of Phoenix is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix editorial standards and practices.

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