FOUNDATIONS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (4
cr.)
BU 113
Spring
Semester 2008
Teaching Team:
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Joanne Scott |
Office: JEM 146 |
654-2241 |
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Section A |
Office Hours: |
M |
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Home |
453-4715 |
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Steve Doyon |
Office: JEM 169 |
654-2000 ext. 2748 |
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Section B |
Office Hours: |
MW |
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John Ambrose |
Office: JEM 169D |
654-2608 |
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Section C |
Office Hours: |
T/Th |
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Email: |
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Bill Porter |
Home: |
658-9446 |
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Section D |
Office Hours: |
By appointment |
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Required Text:
Ebert, R.J. & Griffin, R.W. (2007).
Business Essentials (6th
edition).
Other Recommended
Resources:
Companion Website to Business Essentials:
http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_ebert_be_6/0,12493,3682353--t,00.html
Benson, P. (2007). Study
Guide: Ebert/Griffin Business Essentials (6th edition).
Course Objectives:
Foundations of Business Administration (BU 113) concentrates on the management, finance and marketing functions of organizations. The specific course objectives include:
1) An introduction to business concepts through lectures, readings, assignments, group work and class discussions;
2) Exposure to classical and contemporary thinking in business;
3) The opportunity to develop and improve skills in three areas: business writing, business presentations and working in groups. In addition, students will improve their time management skills.
Course Structure:
This will be a team-taught course. Class will meet in large or medium group sessions for lecture material and periodically will meet in smaller groups for discussions, activities and presentations. There will be both team and individual assignments. Students are responsible for both reading and lecture material.
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Large groups |
Cheray 101 |
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Medium groups |
Cheray 101 or Cheray 111 |
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Small groups: Scott |
JEM 168 |
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Doyon |
Cheray 101 |
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Ambrose |
Cheray 111 |
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Porter |
JEM 389 |
Assignments:
1) Résumé and cover letter. Each student must prepare a résumé showing his/her personal experience and qualifications for a selected job position, as well as an accompanying cover letter.
2) Team evaluation. Each student will prepare an interim and a final team evaluation. In the interim evaluation, each team member will receive constructive feedback on his/her performance so corrective action can be taken to improve the individual and team performance. The final evaluation will be a 2-3 page memo evaluating the functioning of his/her team as a whole, as well as individual evaluations of each team member using the performance evaluation form provided. Failure to follow through on the interim evaluation instructions will adversely affect the grade on the final team evaluation.
3) Ethics memo. Each student will prepare a written reflection on an ethical issue. This memo should integrate material from the text (Chapter 2) and include the student’s personal thoughts on the issue.
4) Finance application memo. Each student will prepare a financial review of a publicly traded company based on publicly available information about the company. The student will then prepare a 2-3 page memo (single-spaced) comparing the company to another firm in the industry.
Group Work
5) Run a group business. Each team will select a product and sell it for several weeks during the semester. The product can either be a physical good or a service. The professors may prohibit the selling of an inappropriate good or service. (See Business Principles below.) The team will develop a marketing strategy, market the product and keep financial records. Assignments associated with this business include the following:
a) Business Plan. Each team will submit and present a business plan (single spaced), including a management, marketing, and finance plan, describing the nature of their business concept. The projected income statement, beginning balance sheet and revised résumés of each team member should be attached.
b) Business Web Site. Each team will prepare a business web site.
c) Report to Shareholders. Each team will review and analyze performance of its business from marketing, financial, and management perspectives, and discuss suggestions for improvement. The team will present its review in a comprehensive memo and presentation.
Each company will issue stock to
investors. Each student in the class
will be required to invest a minimum of $1, and the whole class represents the
investment community. Each share of stock costs $.25. Shares may not be sold to investors outside BU 113. Companies will be liquidated and dividends
paid at the end of the semester. A
minimum of 20 shares must be offered to the investment community.
Note that the following principles apply to the type of business you
may select and the manner in which you must manage it:
§
Products/services
offered by student teams at Saint Michael’s College must be legal, ethical,
safe and consistent with the college’s mission.
§
Use of
SMC name and official logos requires permission of the college’s Director of Marketing.
§
Products/services
that promote or encourage use or abuse of alcohol and/or drugs are prohibited.
§
Advertising
and promotion of products/services must be consistent with college policies.
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Product
slogans must be approved by your professor.
6) Site visit memo/presentation. Each group of students will meet with a real company during the semester to research issues relating to the management and marketing strategy of the company. A written memo and class presentation summarizing the site visit is required.
Note: Where applicable, all memos should include a copy of the PowerPoint slides used in the related presentation.
7) Exams: The four exams during the semester will not be cumulative, but will cover both lecture and reading material.
Grading: % Due Date*
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Resumé and cover letter (I) |
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1/28 |
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Ethics memo (I) |
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2/6 |
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Exam #1 (E) |
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2/8 |
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Site visit memo and presentation (G) |
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2/20 |
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Business plan and presentation (G) |
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2/27 |
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Interim team evaluation (I) |
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Week of 3/3 |
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Business web site (G) |
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3/7 |
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Finance application memo (I) |
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3/14 or 4/14 |
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Exam #2 (E) |
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3/28 |
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Team evaluation (I) |
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4/7 |
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Draft Financial Statements/Financial Statement Worksheet |
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4/16 |
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Exam #3 (E) |
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4/18 |
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Exam #4 (E) |
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4/25 |
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Report to shareholders and presentation(G) |
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4/28 |
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Peer review (based on team and instructor evaluations) (I) |
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ongoing |
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Group business performance (G) |
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ongoing |
Total: 100 %
I= Individual project; G= Group project; E= Exam
*Late work may be graded down or not accepted.
Students must abide by the Saint Michael’s College Academic Integrity policy as outlined in the college catalogue and Student Handbook. Violations of academic integrity include the following: plagiarism, unauthorized assistance, interference, and multiple submissions. Sanctions may include repeating the assignment with a grade reduction, failure for the assignment, a grade reduction for the course, failure for the course, or dismissal from the course (Saint Michael’s College Policy on Academic Integrity).
Attendance:
Students should understand that the main reason for attending college
is to be guided in their learning activities by their professors. This guidance takes place primarily in the
classroom and laboratory. Students are
expected to meet all scheduled classes unless prevented from doing so by
illness or other emergencies (Saint Michael’s College Class Attendance Policy).
Failure to do so will adversely influence a student’s grade.
Other:
Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations should
discuss options with their professors as soon as possible during the semester.
Course Schedule: Spring 2008
Date |
Day |
Topic / Format |
Reading due |
Assignment due |
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1/14 |
M |
Introduction (large) |
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1/16 |
W |
Team Introduction/Resumé (large) |
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1/18 |
F |
Form Groups/Group Dynamics (small) |
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1/21 |
M |
Business Communications (large) |
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1/23 |
W |
Introduction to Management (large) |
Chapter 5
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1/25 |
F |
Introduction to Marketing (large) |
Chapter 11 |
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1/28 |
M |
Types of Business Ownership (small) |
Chapter 3, pp. 90-96 |
Résumé and Cover Letter Due
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1/30 |
W |
Business Ethics and Legal Considerations (small) |
Chapter 2 and Appendix II |
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2/1 |
F |
Structure of Organizations (large) |
Chapter 6 |
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2/4 |
M |
Job Interviews/Parameters for Group Business (small) |
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Bring 4 Copies of Résumé and Cover Letter |
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2/6 |
W |
Site Visit Prep/Ethics Discussion (small) |
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Ethics Memo Due
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2/8 |
F |
Exam #1 (small) ( |
Review Ch. 2, 3, 5, 6,
11, App. II.
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Study for exam
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2/11 |
M |
Introduction to Business Plan (medium) |
Chapter 3, pp. 79-90 |
Submit idea for group business |
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2/13 |
W |
Presentation Skills/(small) |
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2/15 |
F |
Website Development (large) (Cynthia Kelly) |
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2/18 |
M |
Break |
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2/20 |
W |
Site Visit
Presentations (small) |
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Site Visit Memo Due |
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2/22 |
F |
Marketplace (TBA) |
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Introduce
Product/Service |
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2/25 |
M |
Business Plan
Presentations |
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Business Plan due |
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2/27 |
W |
U.S. Business System (large) |
Chapter 1 |
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2/29 |
F |
On-line research or Leading and Motivating |
Chapters 8,9 (Leading & M) |
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3/3 |
M |
Finance-Inc. Stmt.(small) or Marketing: History of Business (medium) |
Chapter 14, pp. 427-43 (finance) |
Interim team check up this week (as directed by your professor) |
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3/5 |
W |
Finance-B/S (small) / Marketing: Product (medium) |
Chapter 14, pp. 427-443 or Ch.11 |
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3/7 |
F |
Finance Ratios (small) / Marketing: Promotion (medium) |
Chapter 14, pp. 443-end or Ch.12 |
Website due for sharing
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3/10 |
M |
Finance-Working Session (small) / Marketing: Price (medium) |
Chapter 14 or 12 |
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3/12 |
W |
Finance-Risk, Return (medium) / Marketing: Place (medium) |
Appendix I, pp. 523-532 or Chapter 12 |
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3/14 |
F |
Human Resources (large) |
Chapter 10
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Finance Application Due (From Finance Group) |
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3/17 |
M |
Spring Break Begins |
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3/26 |
W |
Securities Markets (large) |
Chapter 16
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3/28 |
F |
Exam #2 Finance (small): OR Marketing
(medium): |
Review Ch. 14, 16, App. I for finance. |
Study for exam |
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3/31 |
M |
Marketing: History of Business (medium) / Finance: Inc. Statement (small) |
Chapter 14, pp. 427-43 (finance) |
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4/2 |
W |
On-line Research or Leading and
Motivating
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Chapters 8, 9 (Leading
& M.)
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4/4 |
F |
Marketing: Product (medium) / Finance: B/S (small) |
Chapter 11 or 14, pp. 427-443 |
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4/7 |
M |
Marketing: Price (medium) / Finance: Ratios (small) |
Chapter 12 or 14, pp. 443-end |
Team Evaluation Due |
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4/9 |
W |
Marketing: Promotion (medium) / Finance: Working Session (small) |
Chapter 12
or 14
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