Introduction to business

✍ Scribed by Lawrence J. Gitman, Carl McDaniel, Amit J. Shah, Monique Reece, Linda Koffel, Bethann Talsma, James C. Hyatt

• Publisher: OpenStax
• Year: 2018
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 744
• Edition: Rev. IB-2018-000(09/18)-BKB
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Introduction to Business covers the scope and sequence of most introductory business courses. The book 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.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface
1. About OpenStax
2. About OpenStax resources
3. About Introduction to Business
4. Additional resources
5. About the authors
Chapter 1. Understanding Economic Systems and Business
Introduction
1.1. The Nature of Business
1.2. Understanding the Business Environment
1.3. How Business and Economics Work
1.4. Macroeconomics: The Big Picture
1.5. Achieving Macroeconomic Goals
1.6. Microeconomics: Zeroing in on Businesses and Consumers
1.7. Competing in a Free Market
1.8. Trends in the Business Environment and Competition
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 2. Making Ethical Decisions and Managing a Socially Responsible Business
Introduction
2.1. Understanding Business Ethics
2.2. How Organizations Influence Ethical Conduct
2.3. Managing a Socially Responsible Business
2.4. Responsibilities to Stakeholders
2.5. Trends in Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 3. Competing in the Global Marketplace
Introduction
3.1. Global Trade in the United States
3.2. Why Nations Trade
3.3. Barriers to Trade
3.4. Fostering Global Trade
3.5. International Economic Communities
3.6. Participating in the Global Marketplace
3.7. Threats and Opportunities in the Global Marketplace
3.8. The Impact of Multinational Corporations
3.9. Trends in Global Competition
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 4. Forms of Business Ownership
Introduction
4.1. Going It Alone: Sole Proprietorships
4.2. Partnerships: Sharing the Load
4.3. Corporations: Limiting Your Liability
4.4. Specialized Forms of Business Organization
4.5. Franchising: A Popular Trend
4.6. Mergers and Acquisitions
4.7. Trends in Business Ownership
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 5. Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing Your Own Business
Introduction
5.1. Entrepreneurship Today
5.2. Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
5.3. Small Business: Driving America's Growth
5.4. Ready, Set, Start Your Own Business
5.5. Managing a Small Business
5.6. Small Business, Large Impact
5.7. The Small Business Administration
5.8. Trends in Entrepreneurship and Small-Business Ownership
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 6. Management and Leadership in Today's Organizations
Introduction
6.1. The Role of Management
6.2. Planning
6.3. Organizing
6.4. Leading, Guiding, and Motivating Others
6.5. Controlling
6.6. Managerial Roles
6.7. Managerial Skills
6.8. Trends in Management and Leadership
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 7. Designing Organizational Structures
Introduction
7.1. Building Organizational Structures
7.2. Contemporary Structures
7.3. Using Teams to Enhance Motivation and Performance
7.4. Authority—Establishing Organizational Relationships
7.5. Degree of Centralization
7.6. Organizational Design Considerations
7.7. The Informal Organization
7.8. Trends in Organizational Structure
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 8. Managing Human Resources and Labor Relations
Introduction
8.1. Achieving High Performance through Human Resources Management
8.2. Employee Recruitment
8.3. Employee Selection
8.4. Employee Training and Development
8.5. Performance Planning and Evaluation
8.6. Employee Compensation and Benefits
8.7. The Labor Relations Process
8.8. Managing Grievances and Conflicts
8.9. Legal Environment of Human Resources and Labor Relations
8.10. Trends in Human Resource Management and Labor Relations
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 9. Motivating Employees
Introduction
9.1. Early Theories of Motivation
9.2. The Hawthorne Studies
9.3. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
9.4. McGregor's Theories X and Y
9.5. Herzberg's Motivator-Hygiene Theory
9.6. Contemporary Views on Motivation
9.7. From Motivation Theory to Application
9.8. Trends in Employee Motivation
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 10. Achieving World-Class Operations Management
Introduction
10.1. Production and Operations Management—An Overview
10.2. The Production Process: How Do We Make It?
10.3. Location, Location, Location: Where Do We Make It?
10.4. Pulling It Together: Resource Planning
10.5. Production and Operations Control
10.6. Looking for a Better Way: Improving Production and Operations
10.7. Transforming the Factory Floor with Technology
10.8. Trends in Production and Operations Management
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 11. Creating Products and Pricing Strategies to Meet Customers' Needs
Introduction
11.1. The Marketing Concept
11.2. Creating a Marketing Strategy
11.3. Developing a Marketing Mix
11.4. Buyer Behavior
11.5. Market Segmentation
11.6. What Is a Product?
11.7. Creating Products That Deliver Value
11.8. The Product Life Cycle
11.9. Pricing Strategies and Future Trends
11.10. Trends in Developing Products and Pricing
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 12. Distributing and Promoting Products and Services
Introduction
12.1. The Nature and Functions of Distribution (Place)
12.2. Wholesaling
12.3. The Competitive World of Retailing
12.4. Using Supply Chain Management to Increase Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction
12.5. Promotion Strategy
12.6. The Huge Impact of Advertising
12.7. The Importance of Personal Selling
12.8. Sales Promotion
12.9. Public Relations Helps Build Goodwill
12.10. Trends in Social Media
12.11. Trends in E-Commerce
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 13. Using Technology to Manage Information
Introduction
13.1. Transforming Businesses through Information
13.2. Linking Up: Computer Networks
13.3. Management Information Systems
13.4. Technology Management and Planning
13.5. Protecting Computers and Information
13.6. Trends in Information Technology
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 14. Using Financial Information and Accounting
Introduction
14.1. Accounting: More than Numbers
14.2. The Accounting Profession
14.3. Basic Accounting Procedures
14.4. The Balance Sheet
14.5. The Income Statement
14.6. The Statement of Cash Flows
14.7. Analyzing Financial Statements
14.8. Trends in Accounting
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 15. Understanding Money and Financial Institutions
Introduction
15.1. Show Me the Money
15.2. The Federal Reserve System
15.3. U.S. Financial Institutions
15.4. Insuring Bank Deposits
15.5. International Banking
15.6. Trends in Financial Institutions
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 16. Understanding Financial Management and Securities Markets
Introduction
16.1. The Role of Finance and the Financial Manager
16.2. How Organizations Use Funds
16.3. Obtaining Short-Term Financing
16.4. Raising Long-Term Financing
16.5. Equity Financing
16.6. Securities Markets
16.7. Buying and Selling at Securities Exchanges
16.8. Trends in Financial Management and Securities Markets
Glossary
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Summary of Learning Outcomes
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
Ethics Activity
Ethics Activity
Working the Net
Working the Net
Critical Thinking Case
Critical Thinking Case
Hot Links Address Book
Hot Links Address Book
Chapter 17. Your Career in Business
Introduction
17.1. Learn the Basics of Business
17.2. Developing Interpersonal Skills Is Key to Your Success
17.3. Make Your Future Happen: Learn to Plan
17.4. Going to College Is an Opportunity of a Lifetime—Never Drop Out
17.5. Get Your Career Off on the Right Track
17.6. Self-Test Scoring Guidelines
Appendix A. Understanding the Legal and Tax Environment
A.1. Learning Outcomes
A.2. Understanding the Legal Environment
A.3. Contract Law
A.4. Understanding the Tax Environment of Business
References
Index
Index
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