Topic	Name	Description
Course Introduction	Course Syllabus

1.1.1: Foundational Business Practices	What is a Business?	Read this page for an overview of basic business concepts that will give you a solid foundation for the rest of the course. While the goal of business is to make a profit, there are also many other goals. This article will explain the types of goals, how they are assessed, the markets they serve, and their effect on society.

1.1.2: Factors Affecting the Success of Business	Getting Down to Business	Read this section to learn about internal and external factors that affect the success of businesses. Pay particular attention to Figure 1.2 to gain an understanding of where each of these factors fall.

1.1.3.1: Positive Impact of Business on Society	Corporate Social Responsibility	Read this section, paying particular attention to the sections on communities, financial contributions, volunteerism, and supporting local causes, to learn more about the positive impact of businesses.

1.1.3.2: Negative Impact of Business on Society	Environmentalism	Read this section to see the environmental effects of businesses and why sustainability is important.
	When Coal Plants Shut Down, What Happens Next?	Read this article for an interesting look at the environmental impact that changes in industry can have. While many would argue that the shift away from coal as an energy source is good for the environment, one must also consider the lasting impact that coal plants can have on the environment even after they have closed.
	A New Chart Conclusively Proves that Automation is a Serious Threat	Next, read this article, which helps show what can happen when businesses that once employed many people in an area begin to advance technologically and rely more on automation. Pay special attention to the "Sleeping Through a Wake-Up Call" section, which describes the negative effect that shifts to automation in the manufacturing industries can have on the labor force.

1.1.3.3: Case Study	Cases and Problems	Now that you've read about some of the positive and negative effects of businesses, complete the activity that asks if Nike was responsible for compensating Honduran factory workers. Consider how Nike affected society, and determine whether you think their impact was positive or negative.

1.2.1: Productivity	The Context of Business	Read Module 1 on pages 51–74 for an explanation of the United States economy. American workers are considered some of the most productive in the world. Productivity is your final output after you have considered the hours worked. Our productivity in this country has grown because technology has lowered the cost of producing goods and services. As you read these pages, please note that for this first section, you are focusing on macroeconomics, which includes the gross domestic product, unemployment rate, and price indexes.

1.2.2: The Business Cycle	Business Cycles	Review pages 74–76 to learn about the characteristics of the business cycle and its relationship with the GDP. The combination of expansion and contractions is called the business cycle.
	The Business Cycle	Read this article. Pay particular attention to the items listed under Key Points, Terms, and Examples. After reviewing this section, summarize what you consider the three most viable causes of business cycles.

1.3.1: Economic Indicators	Economic Indicators	Review pages 81–84. Research three economic indicators: leading, coincidental, and lagging. Discuss what the data seems to be showing in the results of your research. Rank or order the economic indicators you consider most important. Write a 2- to 3-page essay that explains your findings, especially in terms of what the indicators say about the economy. In your conclusion, share where you believe the economy is going.

1.3.2: Consumer Price Index	CPI Inflation Calculator	Go to the CPI Inflation Calculator and perform two calculations: Compute what a pair of denim jeans cost the year you were born if they cost $80 today. Compute what a car cost the year you were born if it is selling for $23,000 today. Please feel free to explore the inflation rate of interest by performing additional calculations on this calculator.

1.3.3: Rate of Inflation	How the U.S. and Other Countries Experience Inflation	Read this article about the pattern of U.S. price and inflation rates from 1913 to the present. Pay particular attention to the charts that show the comparison between U.S. rates and those of other countries around the world.

1.3.4: Gross Domestic Product	What is the Gross Domestic Product?	Read this article, which provides an explanation of the Gross Domestic Product, which is the dollar value of goods and services produced in a given country in a year. What is the significance of GDP as an economic indicator?

1.3.5: Nominal and Real GDP Growth	Economic Growth	Review "Economic Growth" on page 55. The United States' high GDP allows Americans to have a high standard of living.
	Measuring the Health of the Economy	Read this section to learn more about economic and growth. Looking at GDP alone does not give much of an indication of the health of an economy. It is the change in GDP that is relevant. If GDP goes up, the economy is growing. This positive movement is what we want as we leave behind the most recent recession. Complete the exercises at the end of the section.

1.3.6: GDP Per Capita	Country Comparison – GDP Per Capita	Carefully review this chart, which compares the GDP per capita of several countries around the world. Note the date of information provided, and compare this to the charts provided on pages 66 through 69 of Introduction to Business. Studying GDP per capita will allow you to compare one country to another. As you review this resource, answer the following questions: Why is the U.S. GDP per capita higher than China? How is GDP per capita found?

1.3.7: Inflation and Consumer Spending	Consumer Income, Purchasing Power, and Confidence	Read this section for an in-depth look at the relationship between inflation, the economy, and how we spend our money. As you read, consider the effect of inflation on your own purchasing power and buying habits. As the rate of inflation increases, there is a decline in your purchasing power as a consumer, but a decrease in inflation and lower prices can also affect what we buy. For example, as gas prices decline, we see an associated decline in the rate of hybrid car purchases. List three ways that inflation might affect your life.
	Inflation Rate	The graph of inflation rate on page 70 shows the direction inflation has gone from 1914 to 2007. Review this graph and read the text below it. High interest rates can hurt businesses because consumers are less likely to buy when interest rates are high. Additionally, businesses find it expensive to purchase equipment and other overhead they may need to prosper.

1.4.1: Budget Deficit (Expenses Exceed Revenues)	Fiscal Policy	Re-read "Fiscal Policy" on page 77 and review the graph on page 78 to learn about the definition of the budget deficit. In the year of an election, the candidates promise to reduce government spending. Usually, this does not happen. The deficit in the United States is growing with the continuation of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The yearly deficit continues to add to the national debt. Some U.S. citizens think that government spending helps the economy grow. Others think that government spending comes out of the hands of consumers and business owners, thereby slowing growth. After you read, write a paragraph that expresses your thoughts on this argument.

1.4.2: Budget Surplus (Revenues Exceed Expenses)	The Government's Role in Managing the Economy	Read this section, focusing on the national debt, to learn about budget surpluses. It is quite unlikely that the United States will see a budget surplus in the near future. This situation is present when the tax revenues collected are greater than the expenses of the United States government. Complete Exercise 1 at the end of the section.

1.4.3: Government Regulation	Monetary Policy	Review the graphic and text on page 79 to learn about the monetary policy. Monetary policy manages the money supply under the control of the Federal Reserve Board.
	What Does the Federal Reserve Do?	Read this article to learn more about the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

1.5.1: Feasibility of Doing Business in a Foreign Country	The World's Economies	Review pages 56–69 to learn about the importance of international business.
	The Drive for International Trade	Read this section to learn about why businesses are going global and the difference between imports and exports.

1.5.2: Methods for Business Entry into the Global Marketplace	Types of International Business	There are a variety of methods businesses can use to enter the global marketplace. Some carry heavier risk than others, and some require businesses to give up some of their control. Read about the types of international business and rate them based on risk and control.

1.5.3: Global Trade Restrictions	International Trade Barriers	While international trade seems like a win-win situation for businesses, many governments impose trade restrictions such as tariffs or quotas as a way to control how much foreign product is introduced into their country. Often, these trade restrictions are put in place to protect domestic industries or insure a working population. Read about the trade restrictions and reflect on what would precipitate a government imposing one trade restriction rather than another.

1.5.4: Global Trade Facilitators	International Trade Agreements and Organizations	It can be daunting to start a business in the United States. One must learn how to navigate through the bureaucratic red tape. Can you imagine how much more difficult it must be to navigate the bureaucratic red tape for more than one country? Luckily, for a business entering the global marketplace, there are organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary fund, trade agreements such as GATT and NAFTA, and economic communities, which make the process easier to navigate.

Unit 1 Activities	Banks and the 2008 Financial Crisis	These videos discuss the 2008 financial crisis in the United States. In the first, Didier Sornette talks about how early warning signs for a financial crisis can be plotted. In the second, William Black gives an insider's view of how banking practices led to the 2008 financial crisis.

2.1: Legal Forms of Business	Entrepreneurship and Legal Forms of Business	Read Module 2 on pages 149 – 159 to get an overview of the various forms of business ownership, including advantages and disadvantages, and to learn about some of the factors that go into deciding which form is best for any given situation. No hard and fast formula helps an entrepreneur pick the right form. However, there are some important considerations, such as risk, taxes, transferability, and even image.
	Factors to Consider	Read this section for a more in-depth look at these factors and some questions entrepreneurs can ask themselves to help them decide which form is right for them. Soon, we'll look at each of the forms in more detail.

2.1.1: Sole Proprietorship	Sole Proprietorship	Many new business owners choose the sole proprietorship because it is the easiest form to initiate and provides the most control since only one person makes the decisions (for good or ill). Pay particular attention to the discussion on unlimited liability, since this is a major drawback for sole proprietorships. It might be interesting to try the exercise at the end of the section and find a sole proprietor in your area.

2.1.2: Partnerships (General and Limited)	Partnerships	Now, let's look at partnerships. Just like in any other element of society, when more than one person is involved, things become a little more complicated. As you’ll see, unlimited liability is an issue with partnerships as well. In light of what you've learned, think about what advice you would give Jason in the exercise at the end of the section.

2.1.3: Corporations (LLC and Subchapter S)	Corporations	Corporations are the most complicated form of business ownership. Though they are more complicated, they provide some safeguards that sole proprietorships and partnerships do not. In this section, you'll learn about the most common type of corporation, the C Corporation. You'll also learn some important information about purchasing ownership in a publicly traded corporation in the form of stocks.
	Other Types of Business Owners	While C-corporations are the most common type of corporate ownership, there are other forms that you should be aware of. Read this section to learn about S-corporations, limited liability companies, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations. Completing the exercise at the end of the section will give you a nice table to use as you prepare for the final exam.
	Forms of Business	Go to pages 171 and 172 for the team assignment on forms of business. Try to complete this exercise. Since you are working individually, only choose one scenario and consider what would happen if it was a different form of business: sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Of course, you may consider all six scenarios, though this is not required.

Activity: Business Structures	Choose Your Business Structure	Review the various options and select two business structures to compare and contrast. Review the various options and select two business structures to compare and contrast. You will write about these structures in the following writing activity.

2.2: Entrepreneurship and How Small Businesses Impact the Economy	What is an Entrepreneur?	Review this section to learn about entrepreneurs.

2.2.1: Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs	Is Entrepreneurship For You?	Read this page to see if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Then, write a summary paragraph that explains the characteristics of an entrepreneur that you believe you have and ones that you feel you could work on improving.

2.2.2: How Small Businesses Impact the Economy	The Importance of Small Businesses to the U.S. Economy	Read this section to learn more about the importance of small businesses to the U.S. economy.
	What Industries Are Small Businesses In?	Read this section to learn about some of the industries you are likely to find small business operations. You'd be surprised at how much of the U.S. economy is driven by small businesses.
	Advantages and Disadvantages of Starting a Business	Read sections 5.4 and 5.5 for more detail about starting a business and some of the advantages and disadvantages in store for small business owners.

2.2.3: Role of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)	What the SBA Offers to Help Small Businesses Grow	Read this article for a detailed explanation of what duties are assigned to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
	What the SBA Offers	This article goes into more detail on specific programs the SBA offers, including a guaranteed loan program.

2.3: Analyzing the Potential of a Business to be Profitable	The Challenges of Starting a Business	Read the introduction of Chapter 5 to see some of the challenges facing business owners.

2.3.1: Components of a Business Plan	The Business Plan	This section discusses why business plans are important and what sections should be included.
	Starting a Business – The Business Plan	Read pages 159–167 for another look at business plans.
	Write Your Business Plan	Review this article to see some examples of already written business plans and learn how to write a business plan of your own.

2.3.2: Breakeven Analysis	Breakeven Analysis	Read the nice explanation of breakeven analysis on pages 167–169.
	Breakeven Analysis	Read this section for a more detailed look at how breakeven analysis calculations are completed, and then try the exercise at the end of the section.

2.3.3: The Role of Taxes	Taxes and Growth	Read this article about the effect taxes have on the U.S. economy and watch the video for additional information.

3.1: Marketing Defined	Marketing	Read pages 176–190 to learn more about the marketing process.
	Marketing: Providing Value to Customers	Read the introduction, section 9.2, and section 9.3 to get another perspective on marketing and the marketing mix. Complete the exercises at the end of each section.
	The History of the Marketing Concept	Read this section, which describes the various marketing orientations through time. As you read, think about how this evolution has impacted products or services you may purchase.

3.2.1: The Product	Product Design and Development	The first element is the product. A product is a good or service intended to meet the needs of consumers or society. Read the introduction and sections 10.1, 10.2, and 10.7 to learn about products and product development.

3.2.2: Pricing	Pricing a Product	Read this section to learn about various pricing strategies. Once a business has a product to sell, the next consideration is how to price the product. They want to price the product high enough that they make a profit, but not so high that their typical customer wouldn't buy it.

3.2.3: Placement (Distribution)	Placing a Product	Once a product has been developed and a pricing strategy has been chosen, the business must now consider where it should place the product and how to get it there. This placement and distribution. Read this section to learn about product distribution strategies and supply chain management.

3.2.4: Promotion	Promoting a Product	The final P in our marketing mix is promotion. This is often what people think about when they hear the term marketing. But, as we have seen, it is only a part of the marketing mix. The promotion mix includes advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, and publicity. Some of these elements are paid for and the business has direct control over the message, some are not. Read this section to learn more about promoting a product.

3.3: Consumer Behavior	Consumer Purchasing Behavior	Read this section, which reviews consumer behavior and gives a more in-depth look at the elements that influence what we buy and why we buy.

3.3.1: Customer-Relationship Management	Customer Relationship Management	The customer should be the focus of all business endeavors; without the customer, there would be no business. In fact, without repeat customers, most businesses would be hard-pressed to keep going. Because of this, creating a relationship with the customer is extremely important to the business in general and marketers in particular. Read this short article that describes Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and what it means to businesses.

3.3.2: Multicultural CRM	Customers	Read pages 191–192 to look at Customer Relationship Management from a multicultural perspective. Complete the assignment on page 193 to develop a PowerPoint presentation that addresses the five main points of research. Instead of presenting this to a class, you should try to present to family members or friends and have them give you feedback on your presentation.

3.3.3: Electronic Commerce	Introduction to Electronic Commerce and E-Business	First, we need to understand the difference between electronic commerce and e-business. Read this short excerpt that explains the terms and how they came about.
	Categories of Electronic Commerce	Read this short excerpt to learn the various forms ecommerce could take.
	Key Motivators Behind Taking a Business Online	Most businesses now have online presences, ranging from informational websites to full-blown marketplaces for buying and selling online. Read this short excerpt for some key motivators for taking a business online.
	Interacting with Your Customers	Now that we've learned a little about e-business and e-commerce, read about the importance of interacting with customers. Pay particular attention to the section about social media marketing. You'll gain a better understanding of why businesses are using social media to promote their products and what their goals may be.

3.4.1: Marketing Segmentation	Target Market	Rather than trying to sell their products to every possible consumer, businesses will concentrate their marketing efforts on a target market. The target market is the consumer who would be most likely to purchase a product. Read pages 183–184 to learn more about target markets paying particular attention to the figure on page 183 detailing the differences between segmentation, targeting, positioning. Complete the assignment on page 199. Since you will be working by yourself rather than with a team, you may decide to create a profile on only one radio station.

3.4.2: Marketing Research	The Marketing Research Process	Businesses must conduct research to find out who their typical customers are. Read this article to learn about conducting marketing research. Try to summarize these lessons, by writing a brief reflection of how you would conduct your own research if you were the owner of an upscale retail clothing store in a major metropolitan city with several competitors.

3.4.3: Product Life Cycle	Product	Earlier we learned about products and product development (in the marketing mix). Businesses must consider where a product currently is in its lifecycle so appropriate marketing strategies can be created. For example, a product in the introductory stage would require heavy advertisement compared to a product in the decline state. Read pages 186–188 and look carefully at the product lifecycle. Complete the assignment on the product life cycle on pages 194–195. For this assignment, indicate where each of the eight technology products is on the product lifecycle chart based on the percentages of the population that has that technology. Be sure to explain your reasoning.

3.4.4: Branding	Branding	Selling its products to make a profit is something businesses desire, and the next level up is making the business a household name or a brand. Read the section on branding on page 190. Then, complete the individual assignment on branding on page 196. For this exercise, you will explore the PBS "Persuaders" site, which discusses the branding of a failed airline. You will then write a personal reflection of approximately 700–900 words. Finally, complete the assignment on Starbucks branding and channels on page 197.

3.4.5: SWOT Analysis	Marketing Strategy	Read the description of the SWOT analysis on page 184.
	SWOT Analysis	Watch this brief video about how a SWOT analysis can be applied in various business scenarios. Then, select a company and develop a general SWOT analysis for that organization. Based on your analysis, consider two actions the company could take to improve its market position. After developing your new strategies, re-create the SWOT analysis for the company and consider how the company's situation would be affected by those changes.

4.1: Business Accounting	Accounting, Financial Analysis, and Banking	Read pages 206–207 to get an overview of accounting and the financial statements used by managers and financiers to determine the financial health of a business.
	The Role of Accounting in Business	Read the Chapter 12 introduction and section 12.1 to learn the difference between managerial and financial accounting.

4.1.1: Understanding Financial Statements	Understanding Financial Statements	Read this overview of the functions of the basic financial statements: income statement, balance sheet, and statement of owner's equity. These documents serve as guidelines for making intelligent business decisions.

4.2: Components of an Income Statement	Income Statement Basics	Let's look at the income statement in more detail. Read pages 208–209. The income statement shows sales, expenses, and net profit or net loss.

4.2.1: Key Financial Ratios	Income Statement Analysis of Companies	Read pages 211–213 for more information on income statement analysis.
	Accrual Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis	Read sections 12.3 and 12.4 to learn how to evaluate your company's success based on the income statement and ratio analysis. In section 12.3, focus on the income statement and work through the business scenario with the College Shop, which will allow you to determine if this company actually made any money.

4.3.1: Assets, Liabilities, and Stockholders' Equity	Balance Sheet Statement Basics	Read pages 210–211 for more on assets and liabilities.
	The Role of Accounting in Business	Review "How Do Financial Statements Relate to One Another?" and the key takeaways in Section 12.2. Then, read "Ratio Analysis" in section 12.4.

4.3.2: Key Financial Ratios Using the Balance Sheet	Conducting a Financial Analysis for Retail Apparel Companies	Working independently, complete the assignment on pages 234–240, where you will perform a financial analysis on one retail company based on the given financial statements. As you work, try to answer the following questions: What is the main purpose of completing ratio analysis using any firm's financial statement? What are the categories of financial ratios? It is important to remember that financial ratio guidelines may be different for one industry as compared to another.

4.4: Financial Ratio Analysis	Financial Ratio Analysis	Now that you've had a chance to look at the income statement and balance sheets and see some of the financial ratios that can be calculated from the individual statements, let's take a look at profitability ratios that can be developed by using data from both statements. Read pages 214–220 and pay attention to the profit margin, return on equity, and debt to equity ratios.

4.5: The Role of Banks in Finance	The Federal Reserve Today	Read this overview of the Federal Reserve. Then, review section 13.2 in the textbook. What were the causes of the 2008 banking crisis? What does the FDIC do for you if you deposit your money in a bank? Are savings, loans, and credit unions part of the banking system?

4.5.1 The Role of the Federal Reserve	Banking and the Federal Reserve	To get a better understanding of the Federal Reserve, read pages 220–223.
	The Federal Reserve System	Read this section and focus on the definition of the Fed in the first paragraph.
	The Fed Explains Monetary Policy and the Central Bank	Watch these two videos to bring it all together.

4.5.2: The Federal Reserve and Interest Rates	The Federal Reserve System	Review this section and focus on the reserve requirements. What are the three tools used by the Federal Reserve System to regulate the money supply in the United States? How does the usage of these three tools affect you as a consumer? Who is at the head of the Federal Reserve Board?

4.5.3: The Federal Reserve's Involvement in the Recent Financial Crisis	The Financial Crisis and the Federal Reserve	Working independently, complete the assignment on page 245. Review the timeline and video. In an essay of 900–1,200 words, answer the questions in the instructions.

4.5.4: The Federal Reserve's Monetary Tools	The Federal Reserve Today	Look over this overview of the Federal Reserve today.
	The Federal Reserve System	Review section 13.3, focusing on the tools of the Fed.

4.6.1: Financing Options	The Role of the Financial Manager	Read this section to see where businesses can get capital to start up and operate their businesses.
	Understanding Securities Markets	Read this section to take a closer look at equity financing in the form of buying and selling stocks.
	Financing the Going Concern	Finally, read this section to look at the advantages and disadvantages of equity and debt financing.

4.6.2: Credit Analysis	Credit Analysis	It's all well and good to know the difference between debt and equity financing, but businesses (and individuals) must understand what lenders are looking for in terms of creditworthiness. Review the section on credit analysis on pages 225–227. Then, complete the assignment on page 242.

4.6.3: The Time Value of Money	The Time Value of Money	Another consideration for whether or not a business should participate in investment or financing activities is the time value of money. Take a moment to review pages 228–230. Then, complete the assignment on pages 243–244.

4.6.4: Personal Finances	Personal Finances	This unit wouldn't be complete without giving you a look at how individuals manage their money. Read this chapter to see how you might be able to give advice to someone who has too much debt or whose monthly bills are too high.

5.1: Defining Management	Management, Leadership, and Employees	Read pages 248–264 for an overview of what management is like. We will look at this section in more detail as we delve deeper into the process of management.
	Managing for Business Success	Read the introduction and section 6.1 to see how important effective management is for a successful business, and to get an overview of the functions of the management process.

5.1.1.1: Planning	Planning	Read this section about the process businesses use to develop and implement a strategic plan.

5.1.1.2: Organizing	Organizing	Read this section to get a better understanding of the levels of management, functional organizational structures, the span of control, and how organizational charts are created.

5.1.1.3: Directing	Directing	Read this section for more on the levels of management, functional organizational structures, the span of control, and how organizational charts are created.

5.1.1.4: Controlling	Controlling	The last function we will look at is controlling. The goal is to have all the other management functions working superbly, but how will you know they are working? This is where controlling comes in. The controlling function is all about monitoring and assessing performance. This lets you know what is working and what needs corrective action.

5.1.2: The Skills Needed for Management	Top Management	Read page 251 for a brief discussion of the leadership styles we looked at in the last section and, more importantly, the compensation managers receive in comparison to the average worker. Why is there such a discrepancy?
	Managerial Skills	Read this section to help answer the question about pay differences between managers and other employees. Managers have to have a number of skills that put them at the top of the pay scale, including problem-solving skills that the average worker does not need to have.

5.2: The Role of Human Resource Management	Human Resource Management	Human resource management (HRM) could be the most important managerial duty for a business. Consider this: if a business cannot recruit, train, develop, motivate, and appraise their employees, they are likely wasting money which means cutting into their profit. Read the introduction and section 7.1 to get an overview of the scope of HRM.

5.2.1: Recruitment	Recruitment and Retaining	Re-read pages 253–256 about recruitment and retaining to get a sense of the depth of information an HR person has to have just in the process of hiring and training new employees.

5.2.2: Development	Developing	What happens once an employee has been hired? This section discusses training and developing employees and the importance of having a diverse workforce.

5.2.3: Motivation	Motivating	Drawing on many older theories of motivation like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg's two-factor theory, as well as newer theories like expectancy and equity theories, HR managers can learn what might motivate employees to do their best work. Read this section to see how these theories can be used.

5.2.4: Appraisal	Appraisal	It's not enough for HR to recruit, train, develop, and motivate employees. It is also important for employees to be assessed or reviewed so they know how they are doing. Read this section to learn about some methods for employee performance review.

5.2.5: Employee Benefits	Employee Benefits Overview	Another important duty of human resources is creating a compensation or benefits package that is sufficiently robust to keep employees from leaving but not so extravagant that the business goes bankrupt in trying to compensate their employees. Read pages 256–262 for an overview of a few common and a few less common, but enticing, types of employee benefits.
	What Makes a Great Place to Work?	This section takes another look at benefits and some factors that make a business a good place to work.
	Creating and Comparing Employee Benefit Plans	Complete the assignment on page 271, and then complete the assignment on pages 273–274. Work on these tasks independently rather than with a team.

5.2.6: Labor Negotiation	Unions	A discussion of human resource management would not be complete without including some information on labor unions. While it would be nice to think that business owners would have their employees' best interests at heart, this is not the case. To provide employees with some power to negotiate for their benefits, labor unions use collective bargaining to get employees what they deserve. Read pages 263–264 to learn some key terms in labor unions and labor negotiations.
	Labor Unions	Now, let's take a look at why unions exist, how they are structured, and how the collective bargaining process works.

5.3: Teamwork and Communications	Teamwork and Communications	Communication is a vital part of any human interaction and business is no exception. Read this chapter to learn about teams, teamwork, and communication in business environments. Complete the exercises at the end of each section to learn more about the importance of communication.

5.4: Forming a Corporate Mission and Culture	Mission Statements and Corporate Culture	Review pages 249–250. Then, complete the assignment on page 265. Develop your own mission statement from your company analysis. It may help to find mission statements online for similar companies. Fill in the chart with your company and mission statement, as well as other the companies, and their mission statements, that you found online. Summarize your findings in a 500–700-word report.

5.5: Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics	Corporate Social Responsibility	While the primary goals of a business are to provide a product society needs and to make a profit, they do not operate in a vacuum. In fact, they are an integral part of society and have a certain amount of responsibility to the society in which they operate. Review pages 252–253 to refresh your memory about corporate responsibility.
	Business Ethics and Social Responsibility	Corporate social responsibility also includes a mandate for businesses to act ethically. While businesses themselves are neither ethical nor non-ethical, the people that run them are. Read this chapter to see how ethics plays a role in business operations, then complete the exercise at the end of the chapter.
	CSR Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame	Complete this assignment. Instead of working as a team, work individually to research several companies that have succeeded or failed at maintaining ethics for social responsibility. Keep track of these companies by using the chart provided. After you have completed your research, present your finding to family members or friends, and then have them vote on which company was the best for the Hall of Fame and the worst for the Hall of Shame.

5.6.1: Risk and Risk Management	Risk Management	Since there is so much that is risky in operating a business, shouldn't there be ways to manage the risk? Read this article on risk management to get an overview of how businesses can manage risk.

5.6.2: Contracts	Introduction to Contracts, Sales, and Product Liability	Contracts are an integral part of doing business. Managers in all areas of a business should have a basic understanding of what constitutes an enforceable contract. Read the introduction and first section of each of chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Combined, they will provide you will a basic understanding of the requirements for a contract.

5.6.3: Bankruptcy	Introduction to Bankruptcy and Overview of the 2005 Bankruptcy Act	While business managers would of course hope not to be in a situation where they had to consider bankruptcy, they should still be aware of the options that are available to them – from complete liquidation to reorganizing or renegotiating part of their debt. Read this section to learn more about the purpose of, and options for, bankruptcy.

Study Guides	BUS101 Study Guides

Course Feedback Survey	Course Feedback Survey