Topic outline

  • Welcome!

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    Welcome to CBUS 1003 – General / Introduction to Business Administration

    Course Introduction
    Introduction to Business Administration covers the scope and sequence of most introductory business courses. The course provides detailed explanations in the context of core themes such as customer satisfaction, ethics, entrepreneurship, global business, and managing change. Introduction to Business includes hundreds of current business examples from a range of industries and geographic locations, which feature a variety of individuals. The outcome is a balanced approach to the theory and application of business concepts, with attention to the knowledge and skills necessary for student success in this course and beyond.

    Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
    • Identify the basic components of the marketing mix: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion
    • Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the forces that shape the business and economic structure of the United States of America in a global marketplace and compare it to other economic systems.
    • Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
    • Explain the legal forms of business ownership and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
    • Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.
    • Identify the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.

    Navigating the Course
    Adopting institution should provide learners information on how to navigate the course. Consider adding an introductory navigation video. Text description could include, for example:

    This course is set up in Modules covering various topics which may be accessed from the course navigation menu on the left or by scrolling below. Modules may be collapsed in the menu and it the body of the course to minimize scrolling. Each module includes the relevant chapters followed by various activities, which may include discussion forums, listening activities and quizzes, practice quizzes, module tests, and other relevant activities as appropriate for each module. Many items are required and may be marked as completed automatically when the activity has been submitted (the broken check box), but others will marked as done by the student (the solid check box). 

    Please move through the items below and continue through the Learner Support and Getting Started modules before moving on to Module 1. Be sure to check for announcements and due dates to stay on track.


    Creative Commons attribution license This course and its contents are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network, except where otherwise noted. 

  • Learner Support

    Main Body

  • Getting Started

    This module contains all the items you should review and complete before you begin Module 1. Before moving on, be sure to:
    1. Check the News and Announcements Forum
    2. Read the Course Syllabus
    3. Introduce yourself to the class
    4. Read the instructions for the Q & A Forum
    5. Learner Expectations
    6. Grading Policy
    Good luck in the course!
    • Forum icon
      News and Announcements Forum
      This forum contains general news and announcements. You can find all announcements listed in the "Latest News" block in Course Tools within this course or on your My Courses page.
    • File icon
      Course Syllabus and Schedule File
      Students must
      Mark as done
    • Forum icon
      Introduce Yourself! Forum
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Use this forum to tell us a little about yourself and your interests. Some topic ideas:

        1. What is your field of study/research interest or concentration?
        2. What are you most interested in learning about in this class and why?
        3. Have you ever taken an online class before?
        4. Any other information you would like to share with your classmates, such as special interests or activities.

      Post a picture!  We look forward to meeting you.

    • Forum icon
      Q & A Forum for Students
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Use this forum to ask your instructor any questions you have about the course. You may post at any time, and your instructor will respond here. Be as specific as possible.

      Please keep in mind that others can see your posts, so do not post any personal information. If you have questions about your grade, please email your instructor directly. You can expect a response to posts and emails within [X] hours. [Recommendation is 24 hours M-F, next business day on weekends.]

      Subscription should be set to Auto.

    • Page icon
      Learner Expectations Page
      Students must
      Mark as done

      This page provides time expectations and expectations of course assignments.

    • Page icon
      Grading Policy Page
      Students must
      Mark as done
      Graded course components and grade distribution
    • File icon
      Discussion Rubric File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      This document is used for all discussion assignments.

    • URL icon
      Understanding the Legal and Tax Environment URL

  • Module 1: Understanding Economic Systems and Business

    Title: Economics Author: Thomas Hawk Source: Flickr Description: View of City Skyline

    This module provides the basic structures upon which the business world is built: how it is organized, what outside forces influence it, and where it is heading. It also explores how the world’s economies and governments shape economic activity. Each day in the United States, thousands of new businesses are born. Only a rare few will become the next Apple, Google, or Amazon. Unfortunately, many others will never see their first anniversary. The survivors are those that understand that change is the one constant in the business environment. Those organizations pay attention to the business environment in which they operate and the trends that affect all businesses and then successfully adapt to those trends. In this module, we will meet many businesses, both large and small, profit and not-for-profit, that prosper because they track trends and use them to identify potential opportunities. This ability to manage change is a critical factor in separating thesuccess stories from the tales of business failure.

    We begin our study of business by introducing you to the primary functions of a business, the relationship between risk and profits, and the importance of not-for-profit organizations. We’ll also examine the major components of the business environment and how changing demographic, social, political and legal, and competitive factors affect all business organizations. Next, we’ll explore how economies provide jobs for workers and also compete with other businesses to create and deliver products to consumers. You will also learn how governments attempt to influence economic activity through policies such as lowering or raising taxes. Next, we discuss how supply and demand determine prices for goods and services. Finally, we conclude by examining key trends in the business environment, economic systems, and the competitive environment.


    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

    1. Discuss how businesses and not-for-profit organizations help create our standard of living.
    2. Identify sectors of the business environment and how changes in them influence business decisions.
    3. Identify the primary features of the world’s economic systems and how the three sectors of the U.S. economy are linked.
    4. Explain how economic growth, full employment, price stability, and inflation indicate a nation’s economic health.
    5. Discuss how the government uses monetary policy and fiscal policy to achieve its macroeconomic goals.
    6. Identify the basic microeconomic concepts of demand and supply, and exaplain how they establish prices.
    7. Identify the four types of market structure.
    8. Discuss which trends are reshaping the business, microeconomic, and macroeconomic environments and competitive arenas.

    The objectives of this module correspond with all course outcomes by offering an introduction to the business environment in general. Subsequent modules will focus more in-depth on specific course level outcomes.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 1 Introduction.
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 1 Pressbooks book.
    3. Complete the Module 1 Quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 1 Ethics Activity.
    5. Compete the Module 1 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

    Note the check boxes to the right that help you track your progress: some are automatic, and some are manual. 

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 2: Making Ethical Decisions and Managing a Socially Responsible Business

    Title: ethics! Author: amk713 Source: Flickr This image is of graffiti on a wall that spells out the word, "ethics."

    Every day, managers and business owners make business decisions based on what they believe to be right and wrong. Through their actions, they demonstrate to their employees what is and is not acceptable behavior and shape the moral standard of the organization. As you will see in this module, personal and professional ethics are important cornerstones of an organization and shape its ultimate contributions to society in the form of corporate social responsibility. 








    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Discuss philosophies and concepts shape personal ethical standards.
    2. Explain how organizations can encourage ethical business behavior.
    3. Explain corporate social responsibility.
    4. Illustrate how businesses meet their social responsibilities to various stakeholders.
    5. Identify the trends in ethics and corporate social responsibility.

    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

    To achieve these objectives: 

    1. Read the Module 2 Introduction.
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 2 Pressbooks book.
    3. Complete the Module 2 Quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 2 Ethics Activity.
    5. Compete the Module 2 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 3: Competing in the Global Marketplace

    Title of Image: Cryptotrading. Image is showing cryptocurrency trading.

    This chapter examines the business world of the global marketplace. It focuses on the processes of taking a business global, such as licensing agreements and franchisees; the challenges that are encountered; and the regulatory systems governing the world market of the 21st century.

    Today, global revolutions are under way in many areas of our lives: management, politics, communications, and technology. The word global has assumed a new meaning, referring to a boundless mobility and competition in social, business, and intellectual arenas. The purpose of this chapter is to explain how global trade is conducted. We also discuss the barriers to international trade and the organizations that foster global trade. The chapter concludes with trends in the global marketplace.



    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Discuss why global trade important to the United States, and demonstrate how it is measured.
    2. Explain why nations trade.
    3. Explain the barriers to international trade.
    4. Compare how governments and institutions foster world trade.
    5. Describe international economic communities.
    6. Explain how companies enter the global marketplace.
    7. Recognize threats and opportunities that exist in the global marketplace.
    8. Explain the advantages of multinational corporations.
    9. Identify the trends in the global marketplace.

    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of the forces that shape the business and economic structure of the United States of America in a global marketplace and compare it to other economic systems.
    2. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 3 Introduction
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 3 Pressbooks book.
    3. Complete the Module 3 quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 3 Ethics Activity
    5. Compete the Module 3 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 4: Forms of Business Ownership

    Title: Boscombe businesses Author: Bournemouth Borough Council Description: Three chefs standing inside their business

    This chapter discusses sole proprietorships, as well as several other forms of business ownership, including partnerships and corporations, and compares the advantages and disadvantages of each.

    With a good idea and some cash in hand, you decide to start a business. But before you get going, you need to ask yourself some questions that will help you decide what form of business organization will best suit your needs.

    Would you prefer to go it alone as a sole proprietorship, or do you want others to share your burdens and challenges in a partnership? Or would the limited liability protection of a corporation, or perhaps the flexibility of a limited liability company (LLC), make more sense?

    There are other questions you need to consider too: Will you need financing? How easy will it be to obtain? Will you attract employees? How will the business be taxed, and who will be liable for the company’s debts? If you choose to share ownership with others, how much operating control would they want, and what costs would be associated with that.


    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the sole proprietorship form of business organization.
    2. Discuss the advantages of operating as a partnership, and what downside risks should partners consider?
    3. Discuss how the corporate structure provide advantages and disadvantages to a company, and what are the major types of corporations.
    4. Discuss other options that a business organization has in addition to sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.
    5. Describe what makes franchising an appropriate form of organization for some types of business, and why does it continue to grow in importance.
    6. Indicate why mergers and acquisitions are important to a company’s overall growth.
    7. Identify how current trends will affect the business organizations of the future.

    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Explain the legal forms of business ownership and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
    2. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 4 Introduction 
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 4 Pressbooks book.
    3. Complete the Module 4 Quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 4 Ethics Activity.
    5. Compete the Module 4 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.


    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 5: Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing Your Own Business

    Title: Soho3Q Source: Flickr Author: Daniel Cukier Description: Three conference presenters at Soho3Q

    Companies started by entrepreneurs and small-business owners make significant contributions to the U.S. and global economies. Hotbeds of innovation, these small businesses take leadership roles in technological change and the development of new goods and services. Just how important are small businesses to our economy? You will find out in this chapter.

    You may be one of the millions of Americans who’s considering joining the ranks of business owners. As you read this chapter, you’ll learn why entrepreneurship continues to be one of the hottest areas of business activity. Then you’ll get the information and tools you need to help you decide whether owning your own company is the right career path for you. Next you’ll discover what characteristics you’ll need to become a successful entrepreneur. Then we’ll look at the importance of small businesses in the economy, guidelines for starting and managing a small business, the many reasons small businesses continue to thrive in the United States, and the role of the Small Business Administration. Finally, the chapter explores the trends that shape entrepreneurship and small-business ownership today.


    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Identify why people become entrepreneurs, and differentiate the different types of entrepreneurs.
    2. Discuss the characteristics that successful entrepreneurs share.
    3. Support how small businesses contribute to the U.S. economy.
    4. Illustrate the first steps to take if you are starting your own business.
    5. Explain how managing a small business presents special challenges for the owner.
    6. Categorize the advantages and disadvantages facing owners of small businesses.
    7. Describe how the Small Business Administration helps small businesses.
    8. Explain how trends are shaping entrepreneurship and small-business ownership.

    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Identify the fundamentals of entrepreneurship
    2. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.


    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 5 Introduction.
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 5 Pressbooks book.
    3. Complete the Module 5 quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 5 Ethics Activity
    5. Compete the Module 5 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 6: Management and Leadership in Today's Organizations

    Speakers on stage at the 2014 NEA National Leadership Summit Program. Located on Flickr. Author: NEA Leadership Summit (West)

    Today’s companies rely on managers to guide daily operations using human, technological, financial, and other resources to create a competitive advantage. For many beginning business students, being in “management” is an attractive but somewhat vague future goal. This vagueness is due in part to an incomplete understanding of what managers do and how they contribute to organizational success or failure. This chapter introduces the basic functions of management and the skills managers need to drive an organization toward its goals. We will also discuss how leadership styles influence a corporate culture and highlight the trends that are shaping the future role of managers. 





    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Compare and contrast the four types of planning.
    2. Discuss the primary functions of managers in organizing activities.
    3. Illustrate how leadership styles influence a corporate culture.
    4. Explain how organizations control activities.
    5. Discuss the roles managers take on in different organizational settings.
    6. Identify the managerial skills necessary for managerial success.
    7. Recognize the trends that will affect management in the future.

    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
    2. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 6 Introduction.
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 6 Pressbooks book.
    3. Complete the Module 6 quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 6 Ethics Activity
    5. Compete the Module 6 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment


    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 7: Designing Organizational Structures

    The words team and success are expressed as pictures of door keys. Title: 3D Team Success Attribution: www.ccPixs.com

    This module focuses on the different types of organizational structure, the reasons an organization might prefer one structure over another, and how the choice of an organizational structure ultimately can impact that organization’s success.






    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

    1. Identify the traditional forms of organizational structure.
    2. Discuss which contemporary organizational structures companies are using.
    3. Discuss why companies are using team-based organizational structures
    4. Identify which tools companies use to establish relationships within their organizations.
    5. Articulate how can the degree of centralization/decentralization be altered to make an organization more successful.
    6. Recognize how mechanistic and organic organizations differ.
    7. Discuss how informal organizational structure affect the performance of the company.
    8. Discuss what trends are influencing the way businesses organize.

    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
    2. Explain the legal forms of business ownership and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
    3. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 7 Introduction 
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 7 Pressbooks book
    3. Complete the Module 7 Quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 7 Ethics Activity.
    5. Compete the Module 7 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 8: Managing Human Resources and Labor Relations

    A word cloud featuring "Human Resources".

    This chapter looks at the role of human resources within an organization, from the general processes of developing and planning to the more specific tasks of employee evaluation and compensation.

    Human resource management and labor relations involve acquisition, development, use, and maintenance of a human resource mix (people and positions) to achieve strategic organizational goals and objectives. Successful human resource management is based on a company’s ability to attract and hire the best employees, equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to excel, compensate them fairly, and motivate them to reach their full potential and perform at high levels. Today’s business environment presents numerous challenges to effectively managing employees.

    Each day, human resource experts and front-line supervisors deal with these challenges while sharing responsibility for attracting and retaining skilled, motivated employees. Whether faced with a large or small human resources problem, supervisors need some understanding of difficult employee-relations issues, especially if there are legal implications.

    In this chapter, you will learn about the elements of the human resource management process, including human resource planning and job analysis and design, employee recruitment and selection, training and development of employees, performance planning and evaluation, and compensation of the workforce. The chapter also describes labor unions and their representation of millions of American workers in construction, manufacturing, transportation, and service-based industries.

    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Explain the human resource management process and how are human resource needs determined.
    2. Illustrate how firms recruit applicants.
    3. Demonstrate how firms select qualified applicants?
    4. Identify the types of training and development organizations offer their employees.
    5. Discuss how performance appraisals are used to evaluate employee performance.
    6. Compare the types of compensation and methods for paying workers.
    7. Discuss what is a labor union and how is it organized, what is collective bargaining, and what are some of the key negotiation issues.
    8. Explain how grievances between management and labor are resolved, and what tactics are used to force a contract settlement.
    9. List key laws and federal agencies affecting human resource management and labor relations.
    10. Recognize trends and issues affecting human resource management and labor relations.


    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.
    2. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
    3. Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 8 Introduction.
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 8 Pressbooks book.
    3. Complete the Module 8 quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 8 Ethics Activity.
    5. Compete the Module 8 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

  • Module 9: Motivating Employees

    An image of the word Motivation.

    This chapter details motivational theory, both historically and currently, and applies that theory to the business world, where motivation, whether in the form of a rock band or not, is a key to success.

    People can be a firm’s most important resource. They can also be the most challenging resource to manage well. Employees who are motivated and work hard to achieve personal and organizational goals can become a crucial competitive advantage for a firm. The key then is understanding the process of motivation, what motivates individuals, and how an organization can create a workplace that allows people to perform to the best of their abilities.





    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
    1. Identify the basic principles of Frederick Taylor’s concept of scientific management.
    2. Explain what Elton Mayo’s Hawthorne studies reveal about worker motivation.
    3. Describe Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and illustrate how these needs relate to employee motivation.
    4. Distinguish McGregor’s Theories X and Y and Ouchi’s Theory Z and explain how they are used to explain worker motivation.
    5. Identify the basic components of Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene theory.
    6. Describe four contemporary theories on employee motivation offer insights into improving employee performance.
    7. Explain how managers redesign existing jobs to increase employee motivation and performance.
    8. Examine initiatives that organizations are using today to motivate and retain employees.

    The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
    1. Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
    2. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read the Module 9 Introduction 
    2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 9 Pressbooks book
    3. Complete the Module 9 Quiz.
    4. Complete the Module 9 Ethics Activity.
    5. Compete the Module 9 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    1. Module 10: Achieving World-Class Operations Management

      An image of a stack of cogs to represent the manufacturing process.

      This chapter examines how manufacturers and service firms manage and control the creation of products and services. We’ll discuss production planning, including the choices firms must make concerning the type of production process they will use; the location where production will occur; the design of the facility; and the management of resources needed in production. Next, we’ll explain routing and scheduling, two critical tasks for controlling production and operations efficiency. Then we will look at how firms can improve production and operations by employing quality management and lean-manufacturing techniques. Finally, we will review some of the trends affecting production and operations management.





      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Explain why production and operations management is important in both manufacturing and service firms.
      2. Describe the types of production processes manufacturers and service firms use.
      3. Examine why organizations decide where to put their production facilities and the choices made in designing the facility.
      4. Discuss resource-planning tasks such as inventory management and supplier relations that are critical to production.
      5. Express how operations managers schedule and control production.
      6. Explain how quality-management and lean-manufacturing techniques help firms improve production and operations management.
      7. Explain the roles technology and automation play in manufacturing and service-industry operations management.
      8. Identify key trends affecting the way companies manage production and operations.

      The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
      1. Identify the basic components of the marketing mix: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion.
      2. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
      3. Demonstrate an understanding of the forces that shape the business and economic structure of the United States of America in a global marketplace and compare it to other economic systems.
      4. Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
      5. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read the Module 10 Introduction.
      2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 10 Pressbooks book.
      3. Complete the Module 10 quiz.
      4. Complete the Module 10 Ethics Activity.
      5. Compete the Module 10 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    2. Module 11: Creating Products and Pricing Strategies to Meet Customers' Needs

      Photo of columns of prices on a chart.

      Marketing plays a key role in the success of businesses. It is the task of marketing to generate sales for the firm. Sales revenue, in turn, pays workers’ salaries, buys supplies, covers the costs of new buildings and equipment, and hopefully enables the company to earn a profit. This chapter looks at the nature of marketing and the creation of product and pricing strategies to meet customers’ needs. In this chapter, you will learn about the marketing concept, marketing strategies, and consumer and business buying decisions. You will also see how the marketing mix is used to create sales opportunities. We discuss how new products are created and how they go through periods of sales growth and then decline. Next you will discover how managers set prices to reach organizational goals.





      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Explain the concept of marketing and relationship-building.
      2. Illustrate how managers create a marketing strategy.
      3. Describe the marketing mix.
      4. Explain how consumers and organizations make buying decisions.
      5. List and describe the five basic forms of consumer and business market segmentation.
      6. Explain what is a product and how is it classified.
      7. Discuss how organizations create new products.
      8. List and describe the stages of the product life cycle.
      9. Examine strategies used for pricing products, and identify future trends.
      10. Recognize trends occurring in products and pricing.

      The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
      1. Identify the basic components of the marketing mix: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion.
      2. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
      3. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read the Module 11 Introduction 
      2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 11 Pressbooks book.
      3. Complete the Module 11 quiz. 
      4. Complete the Module 11 Ethics Activity
      5. Compete the Module 11 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    3. Module 12: Distributing and Promoting Products and Services

      Ad from Cranberries; : the national cranberry magazine

      This module continues to reveal the role of marketing, starting with a discussion of the distribution system and concluding with a look at traditional and nontraditional marketing channels. It explores how organizations use a distribution system to enhance the value of a product and examines the methods used to move products to locations where consumers wish to buy them. Distribution is also known as “place” in terms of the 5Ps, key components of the marketing mix. It is important to have an understanding of the members of a distribution system and to explore the role of wholesalers and retailers in delivering products to customers. In addition to understanding how the supply chain works to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction, marketers must also develop tactics for promotion, the last element of the marketing mix. Promotion is comprised of six parts, which include traditional advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, public relations, social media, and e-commerce.



      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Describe the nature and function of distribution (place).
      2. Discuss what is wholesaling, and what are the types of wholesalers.
      3. Compare and contrast the different kinds of retail operations.
      4. Illustrate how supply-chain management can increase efficiency and customer satisfaction.
      5. Discuss what is promotion, and describe the key elements of a promotional mix.
      6. Explain how advertising media are selected.
      7. Explain what is personal selling.
      8. List the goals of a sales promotion, and compare several types of sales promotion.
      9. Demonstrate how public relations fits into the promotional mix.
      10. Explain social media and how it has changed promotion.
      11. Describe e-commerce and how it affects promotion.

      The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
      1. Identify the basic components of the marketing mix: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion.
      2. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
      3. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read the Module 12 Introduction 
      2. Read and view the materials in the Module 12 Pressbooks book
      3. Complete the Module 12 quiz.
      4. Complete the Module 12 Ethics Activity.
      5. Compete the Module 12 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    4. Module 13: Using Technology to Manage Information

      Image of a servers on a server rack.

      This chapter focuses on the role of information technology (IT) in business, examining the details of MIS organization, as well as the challenges companies encounter in an increasingly technological world. As John Daly learned, harnessing the power of information technology gives a company a significant competitive advantage.







      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Describe how information technology has transformed business and managerial decision-making.
      2. Explain why computer networks are an important part of today’s information technology systems.
      3. Discuss the types of systems that make up a typical company’s management information system.
      4. Express how technology management and planning help companies optimize their information technology systems.
      5. Identify the best ways to protect computers and the information they contain.
      6. Identify the leading trends in information technology.

      The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
      1. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
      2. Demonstrate an understanding of the forces that shape the business and economic structure of the United States of America in a global marketplace and compare it to other economic systems.
      3. Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
      4. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read the Module 13 Introduction 
      2. Read and view the materials in the Chapter 13 Pressbooks book
      3. Complete the Module 13 quiz.
      4. Complete the Module 13 Ethics Activity.
      5. Compete the Module 13 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment.

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    5. Module 14: Using Financial Information and Accounting

      Photo of a financial advisor holding a portfolio

      Financial information is central to every organization. To operate effectively, businesses must have a way to track income, expenses, assets, and liabilities in an organized manner. Financial information is also essential for decision-making. Managers prepare financial reports using accounting, a set of procedures and guidelines for companies to follow when preparing financial reports. Unless you understand basic accounting concepts, you will not be able to “speak” the standard financial language of businesses. This module examines the role of accounting in business, how accounting contributes to a company’s overall success, the three primary financial statements, and careers in accounting. 



      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Illustrate why financial reports and accounting information are important, and identify who uses them.
      2. Contrast the differences between public and private accountants, and state how federal legislation has affected their work.
      3. Describe the six steps in the accounting cycle.
      4. Distinguish the terms that a balance sheet uses to describe the financial condition of an organization.
      5. Discuss how the income statement reports a firm’s profitability.
      6. Support how the statement of cash flows is an important source of information.
      7. Demonstrate how ratio analysis be used to identify a firm’s financial strengths and weaknesses.
      8. Identify major trends affecting the accounting industry today.

      The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
      1. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
      2. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read the Module 14 Introduction 
      2. Read and view the materials in the Module 14 Pressbooks book
      3. Complete the Module 14 quiz.
      4. Complete the Module 14 Ethics Activity
      5. Compete the Module 14 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    6. Module 15: Understanding Money and Financial Institutions

      Photo of coins and money.

      Advanced technology, globalization of markets, and the relaxation of regulatory restrictions continue to accelerate the pace of change in the financial services industry. These changes are giving businesses and consumers new options for conducting their financial transactions. The competitive landscape for financial institutions is also changing, creating new ways for these firms to increase their market share and boost profits.

      This chapter focuses on the role of financial institutions in U.S. and international economies. It discusses different types of financial institutions, how they are set up and how they function internally, and government oversight of their operations. Because financial institutions connect people with money, this chapter begins with a discussion of money, its characteristics and functions, and the components of the U.S. money supply. Next, it explains the role of the Federal Reserve System in managing the money supply. Then it describes different types of financial institutions and their services and the organizations that insure customer deposits. The chapter ends with a discussion of international banking and trends in financial institutions.


      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Describe what is money, what are its characteristics and functions, and what are the three parts of the U.S. money supply.
      2. Explain how the Federal Reserve manage the money supply.
      3. Identify what are the key financial institutions, and what role do they play in the process of financial intermediation.
      4. Explain how the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) protect depositors’ funds.
      5. Discuss the role U.S. banks play in the international marketplace.
      6. Argue how trends are reshaping financial institutions.

      The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
      1. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
      2. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.
      3. Identify the fundamentals of entrepreneurship

      To achieve these objectives:
      1. Read the Module 15 Introduction 
      2. Read and view the materials in the Module 15 Pressbooks book
      3. Complete the Module 15 quiz.
      4. Complete the Module 15 Ethics Activity
      5. Compete the Module 15 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.

    7. Module 16: Understanding Financial Management and Securities Markets

      Photo of the New York Stock Exchange

      In today’s fast-paced global economy, managing a firm’s finances is more complex than ever. For financial managers, a thorough command of traditional finance activities—financial planning, investing money, and raising funds—is only part of the job. Financial managers are more than number crunchers. As part of the top management team, chief financial officers (CFOs) need a broad understanding of their firm’s business and industry, as well as leadership ability and creativity. They must never lose sight of the primary goal of the financial manager: to maximize the value of the firm to its owners.

      Financial management—spending and raising a firm’s money—is both a science and an art. The science part is analyzing numbers and flows of cash through the firm. The art is answering questions such as these: Is the firm using its financial resources in the best way? Aside from costs, why choose a particular form of financing? How risky is each option? Another important concern for both business managers and investors is understanding the basics of securities markets and the securities traded on them, which affect both corporate plans and investor pocketbooks.

      This chapter focuses on the financial management of a firm and the securities markets in which firms raise funds. We’ll start with an overview of the role of finance and of the financial manager in the firm’s overall business strategy. Discussions of short- and long-term uses of funds and investment decisions follow. Next, we’ll examine key sources of short- and long-term financing. Then we’ll review the function, operation, and regulation of securities markets. Finally, we’ll look at key trends affecting financial management and securities markets.


      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Discuss how finance and the financial manager affect a firm’s overall strategy.
      2. Identify the types of short-term and long-term expenditures firm's make.
      3. Identify the main sources and costs of unsecured and secured short-term financing.
      4. Contrast the key differences between debt and equity, and differentiate the major types and features of long-term debt.
      5. Illustrate when and how firms issue equity, and what are the costs.
      6. Discuss how securities markets help firms raise funding, and what securities trade in the capital markets.
      7. Distinguish when investors buy and sell securities and how securities markets regulated.
      8. Discuss the current developments in financial management and the securities markets.

      The objectives of this module correspond with the following course outcome(s):
      1. Explain accounting and financial management including planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and sources of funding.
      2. Demonstrate an understanding of the forces that shape the business and economic structure of the United States of America in a global marketplace and compare it to other economic systems.
      3. Describe the functions of the business manager: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
      4. Describe the ethical, regulatory, and social environments of business.

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read the Module 16 Introduction 
      2. Read and view the materials in the Module 16 Pressbooks book
      3. Complete the Module 16 quiz.
      4. Complete the Module 16 Ethics Activity
      5. Compete the Module 16 Critical Thinking Case Group Assignment

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      You will find the following resources and activities in this module at the Pressbooks website. Click on the links below to access or complete each item.