SYLLABUS

BSNS 1050

BUSINESS AS A PROFESSION

2 CREDIT HOURS

SEMESTER II       SPRING 2006-2007

 

 

PROFESSOR:         Dr. Cynthia Gibson and Assistant Professor Emmett Dulaney

OFFICE:                    Hardacre Hall – Room 203 and Room 231

PHONE:                    641-4395 and 641-4126

EMAIL:                      cagibson@anderson.edu and eadulaney@anderson.edu 

WEBSITE:                http://facultyweb.anderson.edu/~cagibson and http://facultyweb.anderson.edu/~eadulaney 

CLASS:                     TR 11:00-11:50,  HARD 247 and 246 (Check

 syllabus for dates)

OFFICE HOURS:    MWF 2-5 P.M. and F 9-10 a.m.; TR by appointment only and check Mr. Dulaney’s office hours

 

PURPOSE:

 

Business as a Profession is an introductory course for students considering a major in the Falls School of Business.  In-class discussions, presentations, and writing assignments will provide students an overview of their options in the field of business.  The course provides an overview of the various functions of business, and explores the implications of viewing business as a calling and/or vocation. Some of the aspects of business included are organization, management/leadership, marketing, finance and accounting, operations, ethics, service/volunteerism and economics.

 

The purpose of this course is to provide a high performance-learning environment to develop an understanding of:

 

(1)       The various functions such, as marketing, operations, finance, etc. and how they are part of the "fabric" of the business process and, therefore, must be understood within the greater context of the business enterprise.

 

(2)      A successful career in business need not be incompatible with Biblical teaching. This course will study those who have integrated faith and business and determine the principles that made them successful.

 

TEXT:           

 

Pride, W. K., Hughes, R. J., & Kapoor, J. R.  (2005). Business, 8th ed.   Boston:  Houghton Mifflin.  ISBN:  0-618-37229-6 (You may use ANY form of this book, as long as it says “Business, 8th edition” by Pride, Hughes, & Kapoor

 

READING THE ASSIGNED CHAPTERS OF THE TEXTBOOK IS REQUIRED.  YOU WILL DISCUSS ASSIGNED MATERIALS IN CLASS.

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

During and/or upon completion of the course, the student(s) should have gained the following:

 

1          An understanding of the functions and vocabulary of business in the American social and economic systems and an ability to apply this knowledge to given situations.

 

2.         An ability to examine the way businesses operate in the major functional areas of     

production & operations, sales & marketing, accounting & finance, personnel and information systems and to apply some of these basic practices to given situations.

 

3.         An understanding of basic management philosophy in the context of the principles of service and the importance of servant leadership in the business world.

 

4.         The ability to integrate these principles into a working, viable philosophy that will assist the student in maintaining his/her integrity within a chosen vocation/career.

 

5.         A sense of involvement with the Falls School of Business faculty, clubs,

 and activities.

 

6.         An understanding of the Vision/Mission/Values and Ethos of the Falls School of Business, which focuses on the integration of faith and career.

 

 

GRADE DERIVATION:                             

 

3 Exams   @ 100 points each                                              300                                                                 

Service Project                                                                      100

3 Reaction Papers @ 25 points each                                75           

Quizzes, Homework, Other faculty-assigned work            100        

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS                                                575

 

GRADING SCALE:

 

93%-100%     A                     90%-92          A-

87%-89%       B+                   83%-86%       B

80%-82%       B-                    77%-79%       C+

73%-76          C                     70%-72%       C-                   

60% - 69%     D                     Below 60%    F

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES AND METHODS:

 

1.         Class lecture

2.         Class discussion of case situations, problems, and issues

3.         Self study

4.         Videos

5.         Guest speakers

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

Please be in your seat ready to start class by 11:00 a.m.  Please take care of all personal business before class; leaving the room during class or an exam is not permitted.  No more than two (2) absences will be excused; any absences beyond two will result in a grade penalty.  Please understand that even AU sanctioned events (such as sports) are not excused beyond the two absences because ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED.

 

Please note that some classes will be held in HARD 247, called “joint sessions” of the two sections of BSNS 1050.  Attendance is taken at these classes, and you are required to attend.  Keep this syllabus to know where to go on what date.  Our first joint session is Tuesday, January 23,, at which time Dean Terry Truitt, Dr. Glenn Falls, and Mrs. Carolyn Caldwell will speak.  We will adjourn at 11:45 for a pizza lunch at Hardacre Hall.

 

HOMEWORK:

 

All homework text must be typed, neatly printed and stapled...no exceptions! Homework assignments are to be turned in on the due date.  (It is not acceptable to be late to class because you were in the Computer Lab trying to print your homework).  Any late assignments will lose 10% each day that they are late. Quizzes missed because you are not in class or are late to class may not be made up. 

 

 

SERVICE PROJECT (Required):

 

Service and volunteerism are considered to be important responsibilities of employees and managers in many corporations. People are encouraged to participate in civic and charitable projects in order to give back to the community. In keeping with this philosophy, all students will be required to participate in a service project workday (actually 3 to 4 hours). Your professor will pass around a sign-up sheet in class.  If you miss that day’s signup, you will need to go to Mrs. Carol Whetsel’s office in Hardacre Hall to sign up for your work day.

 

We partner with “Character Counts” to go to a local public school to work with after-school students.  You will be responsible for notifying our Character Counts liaison if you cannot make your assigned date.  You will be given that contact information.  Please be on time to meet for this project.

 

Also, a paper of at least two pages in length will be required from each student that reflects on the experience and the importance of volunteerism and why businesses should be involved. This paper must be typed and proofread and contain details about the visit as well as what you think you got out of the experience AND what you think the students you served got out of the experience.  Since learning how to write properly is part of the college experience, this paper will be graded on proper use of the English language as well as content. THIS PAPER IS REQUIRED AND IS DUE NO LATER THAN ONE WEEK AFTER YOUR VISIT.

 

REACTION PAPERS:

 

Each student must complete and turn in a reaction paper for three different guest speakers, for a total of three reaction papers.  You choose which speakers you would like to write about.  The paper must be at least two pages, must be typed and proofread, and must contain some details of the speaker’s topic as well as the speaker’s correctly-spelled name.  It is recommended that you take notes during the speaker’s presentation.  Your paper should focus on what you have learned about business practices and the business world from this speaker, as well as how this topic affects your ideas of and plans for a business career.  THESE THREE PAPERS ARE REQUIRED AND ARE DUE NO LATER THAN ONE WEEK AFTER THE SPEAKER’S PRESENTATION. 

 

 

NOTE:  Students having special problems that might affect their performance in class should notify the instructor during the first week of school.  Possible arrangements can be made to work closely with the Learning Center, a tutor, or special time provided by the instructor.

 

 

GENERAL OUTLINE OF COURSE:  (Subject to some variation as appropriate)

 

Session         Topic                                                                                                 Chapter

 

1-11-07          Introduction

·        School of Business: Mission/ Core Values

·        Class purpose and outcomes

·        Review of the syllabus

 

1-16                Exploring the World of Business                                                              1            

                       

1-18               Exploring the World of Business                                                                1                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

1-23                Guest Speakers:  In Hardacre 247

                                    Falls School of Business Dean Terry Truitt

Freshman Experience Coordinator Carolyn Caldwell

Founder of the Falls School of Business Dr. Glenn Falls

 (Note:  All freshmen and transfer students considering business as a major must schedule a brief meeting with Mrs. Caldwell for the fall semester.)           

Pizza party

 

1-25                Being Ethical and Socially Responsible                                                    2

 

1-30                Exploring Global Business                                                                           3

                                                                           

2-1                                     Guest Speaker:  Dr. Ken Armstrong – HARD 247                            

 

2-6                  Exploring Global Business                                                                          3

 

2-8                  Navigating the World of e-Business                                                           4

 

2-13                Choosing Form of Business Ownership                                                    5

 

2-15                Choosing a Form of Business Ownership                                                 5

 

2-20                EXAM #1 (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)

 

2-22                Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Franchises                                  6

 

2-27                Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Franchises                                  6

 

3-1                  Guest Speaker:  Chuck Staley, Director of FEC, 

& MaryAnn Coty, HARD 247

           

3-6                  Understanding Management Processes                                                   7

 

3-8                  Producing Quality Goods and Services                                                      9

 

3-12 to 3-16   SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES

 

3-20                Attracting and Retaining the Best Employees                                           10

 

3-22                Motivating and Satisfying Employees                                                        11

 

3-27                Guest Speaker:  Dr. Doyle Lucas, HARD 247

 

3-29                EXAM #2 (Chapters 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11)

 

4-3                  Building Customer Relations Through Effective Mktg                              13

 

4-5                  Guest Speaker:  Dr. Michael Wiese, HARD 247

 

4-10                No Class – travel day back from Easter

 

4-12                Developing Integrated Marketing Communications                                  16

 

4-17                Using Accounting Information                                                                      18

 

4-19                Guest Speaker:  Prof. Cindy Peck, HARD 247                                                          

 

4-24                Understanding Money, Banking, and Credit                                             19

 

4-26                Mastering Financial Management                                                              20

                                                                           

                                   

 

5-3 (THURSDAY)  EXAM #3 (Chapters 13, 16, 18, 19, and 20) 7:40-9:20 a.m.

 

 EXAMS ARE GIVEN IN YOUR ORIGINAL CLASSROOMS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY (CHEATING, COPYING, PLAGIARISM, ETC.) ARE AGAINST AU AND FSB POLICY AND WILL RESULT IN SEVERE SANCTIONS.

 

DRESS CODE:  STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO DRESS MODESTLY AND CONSERVATIVELY IN KEEPING WITH THE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT.  ANY EXCESSIVE EXPOSED SKIN (CLEAVAGE, MIDRIFF, ETC.) IS PROHIBITED, AND STUDENTS MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE OR COVER UP.

 

PORTFOLIO OF WORK:  BEGIN TO COLLECT GOOD EXAMPLES OF YOUR ACADEMIC WORK IN YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR TO BUILD A PORTFOLIO OF WORK THAT YOU MAY USE IN YOUR CAREER PREPARATION PROCESS.