Business Essentials

Description

This book is for the next generation of leaders in business, industry and society, for whom it is important to know where wealth and jobs come from, how the government generates tax revenue and the principles which help society function best. It assumes no prior business knowledge, starting with foundational principles and plunges into important issues in business. It explores questions such as: What is the nature of leadership? What is entrepreneurship? What can financial analysis reveal? How can big data and analytics be used? What strategies are available? Every chapter lists learning objectives allowing the reader to know what to expect. Emphasis boxes throughout the text summarize concepts and provide additional examples. The book assumes no math beyond algebra, but develops quantitative tools through seventy worked equations. Each chapter has a Terms and Concepts section for reference and review. Chapter appendices provide practical information on networking, negotiation, professional dress, consulting, employment, and challenging statistics. Table of Contents Preface Chapter One Introduction Leadership Character Self-Reliance Execution Conclusion Appendix 1a: Networking Appendix 1b: Literature of Character Terms and Concepts Chapter Two Introduction Entrepreneurs and the Economy Personal Factors Foundations of Business Success Testing Business Ideas Capital Sources of Capital Pitching and Closing the Deal Conclusion Terms and Concepts Chapter Three Introduction Organization of Society Benefits of Capitalism Characteristics of Capitalism Criticisms of Capitalism Navigating Capitalism Conclusion Terms and Concepts Chapter Four Introduction Tax Terms Expenditures Taxes and Capitalism Federal Taxation Theories of Taxation Do Higher Tax Rates Generate More Tax Revenue? Tax Avoidance Fate of a Capitalist Democracy Charity Paying Taxes Conclusion Appendix 4a Speech by President Kennedy on Tax Policy Appendix 4b Analysis of State Taxes Appendix 4c Regulation Terms and Concepts Chapter Five Introduction Ethics Business Ethics Codes of Conduct and Other Ethical Standards Manners Civility Protestant Work Ethic Conclusion Appendix 5a: Military Ethics Appendix 5b: Professional Appearance Appendix 5c: Defusing Anger Terms and Concepts Chapter Six Introduction Financial Statements Income Statement Reformat Making Money Income Statement Analysis Balance Sheet Analysis Cash Conclusion Terms and Concepts Chapter Seven Introduction Architecture of Critical Thinking Scientific Method Critical Thinking in Writing Conclusion Appendix 7a Negotiation Appendix 7b: Challenge Statistics Terms and Concepts Chapter Eight Introduction Sales Demand Supply Market Clearing Price Price Signals Strategy Price Elasticity of Demand Conclusion Terms and Concepts Chapter Nine Introduction Law of Demand Diminishing Marginal Utility Utility Maximizing Rule Conclusion Appendix 9a: Value Added and Employment Terms and Concepts Chapter Ten Introduction Marketing and Sale Probability Classic Marketing Strategy Buying Window Advertising Measurement Making the Sale Conclusion Appendix 10a: Market Research Terms and Concepts Chapter Eleven Introduction Evolution of Business Intelligence and Analytics Big Data Marketing Applications Operations Applications Data Mining Applied to Marketing Conclusion Appendix 11a Consulting Terms and Concepts Chapter Twelve Introduction Development of the Law Legal Theories Contract Offer Termination Types of Contracts Contract Interpretation Contract Defenses Alternative Dispute Resolution Relief Findings Conclusion Terms and Concepts Chapter Thirteen Introduction Future Value Present Value Functional Notation Future Value Interest Factor of an Annuity Present Value Interest Factor of an Annuity Time Value of Money Tables Reasonableness Checking Loan Payments Loan Amortization Conclusion Terms and Concepts Chapter Fourteen Introduction Book Value Market Capitalization Price Earnings Ratio Discounted Cash Flow Multiplier Methods Refinements to Value Estimates When to use Valuation Methods Public Company vs. Private Company Premiums and Discounts Conclusion Appendix 14a Initial Public Offering Price Terms and Concepts Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Index