BUSN: Introduction to Business

Description

Cover Brief Contents Contents Letter to Students Part 1 The Business Environment Chapter 1: Business Now: Change Is the Only Constant 1-1 Business Now: Moving at Breakneck Speed 1-2 The History of Business: Putting It All In Context 1-3 Nonprofits and the Economy: The Business of Doing Good 1-4 Factors of Production: The Basic Building Blocks 1-5 The Business Environment: The Context for Success 1-6 Business and You: Making It Personal Chapter 2: Economics: The Framework for Business 2-1 Economics: Navigating A Crisis 2-2 Managing the Economy through Fiscal and Monetary Policy 2-3 Capitalism: The Free Market System 2-4 Planned Economies: Socialism and Communism 2-5 Mixed Economies: The Story of the Future 2-6 Evaluating Economic Performance: What's Working? Chapter 3: The World Marketplace: Business without Borders 3-1 An Unprecedented Opportunity 3-2 Key Reasons for International Trade 3-3 Global Trade: Taking Measure 3-4 Seizing the Opportunity: Strategies For Reaching Global Markets 3-5 Barriers to International Trade 3-6 Free Trade: The Movement Gains Momentum Chapter 4: Business Ethics and Social Responsibility: Doing Well by Doing Good 4-1 Ethics and Social Responsibility: A Close Relationship 4-2 Business Ethics: Not Anoxymoron 4-3 Ethics: Multiple Touchpoints 4-4 Defining Social Responsibility: Making the World A Better Place 4-5 Ethics and Social Responsibility in the Global Arena: A House of Mirrors? 4-6 Monitoring Ethics and Social Responsibility: Who Is Minding the Store? Chapter 5: Business Communication: Creating and Delivering Messages That Matter 5-1 Excellent Communication Skills: Your Invisible Advantage 5-2 Nonverbal Communication: Beyond the Words 5-3 Choose the Right Channel: A Rich Array of Options 5-4 Pick the Right Words: Is that Car Pre-Loved Or Just Plain Used?! 5-5 Write High-Impact Messages: Breaking through the Clutter 5-6 Create and Deliver Successful Verbal Presentations: Hook'Em and Reel 'Em in! Part 2 Creating A Business Chapter 6: Business Formation: Choosing the Form That Fits 6-1 Business Ownership Options: The Big Four 6-2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorships 6-3 Partnerships: Two Heads (and Bankrolls) Can Be Better Than One 6-4 Corporations: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Artificial Person 6-5 The Limited Liability Company: The New Kid on the Block 6-6 Franchising: Proven Methods for a Price Chapter 7: Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Economic Rocket Fuel 7-1 Launching A New Venture: What's in It for Me? 7-2 The Entrepreneur: A Distinctive Profile 7-3 Finding the Money: Funding Options for Small Businesses 7-4 Opportunities and Threats for Small Business: A Two-Sided Coin 7-5 Launch Options: Reviewing the Pros and Cons 7-6 Small Business and the Economy: An Outsized Impact Part 3 Financing a Business Chapter 8: Accounting: Decision Making by the Numbers 8-1 Accounting: Who Needs It-and Who Does It? 8-2 Financial Accounting: Intended for Those on the outside Looking in 8-3 Financial Statements: Read All about Us 8-4 Interpreting Financial Statements: Digging beneath the Surface 8-5 Budgeting: Planning for Accountability 8-6 Inside Intelligence: The Role of Managerial Accounting Chapter 9: Finance: Acquiring and Using Funds to Maximize Value 9-1 What Motivates Financial Decisions? 9-2 Identifying Financial Needs: Evaluation and Planning 9-3 Finding Funds: What are the Options? 9-4 Leverage and Capital Structure: How Much Debt is Too Much Debt? 9-5 Acquiring and Managing Current Assets 9-6 Capital Budgeting: In It for the Long Haul Chapter 10: Financial Markets: Allocating Financial Resources 10-1 The Role of Financial Markets and Their Key Players 10-2 Regulating Financial Markets to Protect Investors and Improve Stability 10-3 Investing in Financial Securities: What are the Options? 10-4 Issuing and Trading Securities: The Primary and Secondary Markets 10-5 Personal Investing 10-6 Keeping Tabs on the Market Part 4 Marketing a Business Chapter 11: Marketing: Building Profitable Customer Connections 11-1 Marketing: Getting Value by Giving Value 11-2 The Customer: Front and Center 11-3 Marketing Strategy: Where are You Going, and How Will You Get There? 11-4 Customer Behavior: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions! 11-5 Marketing Research: So What Do They Really Think? 11-6 Social Responsibility and Technology: A Major Marketing Shift Chapter 12: Product and Promotion: Creating and Communicating Value 12-1 Product: It's Probably More Than You Thought 12-2 Product Differentiation and Planning: A Meaningful Difference 12-3 Innovation and the Product Life Cycle: Nuts, Bolts, and A Spark of Brilliance 12-4 Promotion: Influencing Consumer Decisions 12-5 A Meaningful Message: Finding the Big Idea 12-6 The Promotional Mix: Communicating the Big Idea Chapter 13: Distribution and Pricing: Right Product, Right Person, Right Place, Right Price 13-1 Distribution: Getting Your Product to Your Customer 13-2 Wholesalers: Sorting Out the Options 13-3 Retailers: The Consumer Connection 13-4 Physical Distribution: Planes, Trains, and Much, Much More 13-5 Pricing Objectives and Strategies: A High-Stakes Game 13-6 Pricing in Practice: A Real-World Approach Part 5 Managing a Business Chapter 14: Management, Motivation, and Leadership: Bringing Business to Life 14-1 Bringing Resources to Life 14-2 Motivation: Lighting the Fire 14-3 Planning: Figuring Out Where to Go and How to Get There 14-4 Organizing: Fitting Together the Puzzle Pieces 14-5 Leadership: Directing and Inspiring Chapter 15: Human Resource Management: Building a Top-Quality Workforce 15-1 Human Resource Management: Bringing Business to Life 15-2 Human Resource Management Challenges: Major Hurdles 15-3 Human Resources Managers: Corporate Black Sheep? 15-4 Human Resource Planning: Drawing the Map 15-5 Legal Issues: HR and the Long Arm of the Law Chapter 16: Managing Information and Technology: Finding New Ways to Learn and Link 16-1 Information Technology: Explosive Change 16-2 Cloud Computing: The Sky's the Limit! 16-3 Information Technology and Decision Making: A Crucial Aid 16-4 Information Technology and the World of E-Commerce 16-5 Challenges and Concerns Arising from New Technologies Chapter 17: Operations Management: Putting It All Together 17-1 Operations Management: Producing Value in A Changing Environment 17-2 What Do Operations Managers Do? 17-3 Implications of A Service-Based Economy: Responding to Different Challenges 17-4 The Technology of Operations 17-5 Focus on Quality 17-6 The Move to Be Lean and Green: Cutting Cost and Cutting Waste Personal Finance Appendix Endnotes Glossary Index