Course Syllabus
GEB1011 (CRN 28062) Introduction to Business
Spring 2022
CREDIT HOURS: 3
PREREQUISITES: None
CLASS MEETING ROOM: Online
DAY/TIME: N/A
PROFESSOR: Dr. Matthew G. Kenney
OFFICE: West Campus, Building 11, Office 200B
PHONE: 407-582-1225
EMAIL: mkenney5@valenciacollege.edu
Office Hours: Monday- Friday: 1pm - 3pm. Please email if you would like to schedule a Zoom meeting.
Course Description:
This course teaches students the fundamentals of business organization and procedures to acquaint students with management, business terminology, organization, and control of a large and small business.
Course Objective:
The goal of this course is to provide students with a theoretical framework to examine and form a knowledge base of understanding pertaining to Business Administration. We will examine past and present issues and challenges within the areas of Business Management, Administration and Operations with an emphasis on:
- Understanding economics and how it affects business
- Doing business in global markets
- Understanding ethical and socially responsible
- Management and Leadership
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing concepts
- Understanding accounting and financial information
This course reinforces the Valencia Student competencies.
Major Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to identify, interpret, and understand the concepts of how the supply and demand of products/services affect consumer behavior, manufacturing decisions, and the pricing of goods (The Business Environment).
- Students will be able to identify and explain the differences between the 3 common forms of business ownership (Starting and Growing a Business).
- Students will be able to recognize and explain the principal functions of management (Managing for Quality and Competitiveness).
- Students will be able to explain the process of determining human resource needs and the steps to best match people and the desired business outcomes (Creating the Human Resource Advantage).
- Students will be able to identify and explain the four "Ps" of marketing (Marketing: Developing Relationships).
- Students will be able to identify and explain the functions of basic accounting, banking, and finance (Financing the Enterprise).
Free Textbook: Introduction to Business.
Please Note: This course does not require the purchase of any digital resources.
Assessment
This course will measure learning to ensure major learning outcomes are achieved.
- Multiple-choice demonstrates your ability to recall management concepts drawn from lectures, your notes, and reading the text (and supplementary course materials). This assessment method also demonstrates your ability to think critically when selecting the best answer to a given question.
- Case Study analysis demonstrates your ability to integrate small business management theory into practice. What you should see: When managers follow the best practices discussed in class—they experience success. Problems arise when managers stray from management science and manage primarily by intuition or intimidation. Case study analysis in this course will place you in the position of a small business manager faced with important management decisions.
- Peer-to-Peer communication is vitally important in any managerial career. Look to major conflicts within teams and organizations and you’ll inevitably see communication is somehow related. In this course, weekly discussion board assignments will demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively in writing; and provide valuable feedback to your peers. Emphasis—when formulating discussion board grades—is placed on critical thinking, courtesy, punctuality, and professionalism.
Grading
Submitted content is assessed on a cumulative 1,000 points. Because punctuality is an essential trait of effective managers—and graded assignments are discussed in-depth (both in grade books and discussion threads) once an assessment is complete—late submissions are generally not accepted. Contact Dr. Kenney if you anticipate being unable to complete work by the due date.
Four (4) multiple choice quizzes*. Each exam will consist of 25 questions. Students may use their textbooks, notes, and supplementary materials.
- Total Points Available: 300
- 30% of Final Grade
Case Studies – Two case studies will be analyzed during the course. Students will evaluate real and/or hypothetical scenarios and provide substantive analysis based upon business theories and best practices explored in the readings.
- Total Points Available: 200
- 20% of Final Grade
Final Exam - A fifty (50) question final exam will be based upon the Major Learning Outcomes. This is an open book exam, a multiple-choice exam.
- Total Points Available: 100
- 10% of Total Grade
Analysis and Peer-to-Peer Communication – There will be nine (8) discussions created, which allows you to analyze small business management topics; and provide feedback to your classmates. This learning method is designed to sharpen writing and critical thinking skills; demonstrate an ability to research management issues, and communicate effectively in a virtual setting.
- Total Points Available: 400
- 40% of Final Grade
Your course grade will be determined by the following scale:
90 - 100 A
80 – 89.9 B
70 – 79.9 C
60 – 69.9 D
Weekly Course Assignment Schedule
Course Schedule: Please see the Home tab of Atlas for a list of assignment due dates.
Course and College Policies
College Policies
A full description of all College policies can be found in the College Catalog; Policy Manual; and the Student Handbook.
Attendance Policy
Online courses move swiftly, and it is easy for students to fall behind if not actively engaging in class discussions. Peer-to-Peer communication—facilitated through weekly discussion posts—is the primary method of keeping attendance in online classes. If you miss a discussion board post, your instructor may message you (via your grade book) to ascertain if there are any problems preventing your participation. Students who fail to complete three (3) successive discussion posts may be withdrawn from the course for lack of participation. A grade of “W” will be entered.
Make-Up Policy
Students are adult learners responsible for both their actions and inaction. As such, tardiness with regard to completing assignments is considered unprofessional and is generally not condoned. Weekly discussion board posts are not accepted late for academic credit since feedback is given to the class, which would give the student who submits late an unfair advantage. Case study multiple-choice exams may be submitted late given extenuating circumstances. Such late work will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Academic Honesty
Students will be expected to adhere to the Valencia College Student LifeMap Handbook as it references Valencia College's Policy #6HX28:08-11
Student Code of Conduct
Students will be expected to adhere to the Valencia College Student LifeMap Handbook as it references Valencia College's Policy #6HX28:08-03
Withdrawal Policy
Students who are enrolled, but do not participate during the first week of the course will be classified as “no show” students and withdrawn from the course by Dr. Kenney.
A student is permitted to withdraw from a class on or before the withdrawal deadline as published in the College’s Important Dates Calendar.
A student is not permitted to withdraw from a class after the withdrawal deadline. The professor is permitted to withdraw a student from the class for violation of the professor’s attendance policy with written notification to the student prior to the beginning of the final exam period as published in the faculty member’s syllabus.
A student who withdraws from a class before the withdrawal deadline will receive a grade of "W." A student who is withdrawn by a professor will receive a grade of "W." A student who is withdrawn for administrative reasons at any time will receive a grade of "W" or another grade as determined in consultation with the professor. Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of "F".
Final course grades of "A", "B", "C", "D", or "F" shall be assigned based upon the student's academic achievement upon the completion of all course work. Missed assignments shall receive zero points. A grade of “I” or Incomplete may be posted at the term’s end by the professor only under extenuating circumstances.
CLASS POLICIES:
- Multiple Choice Exams will be made available for a full week. Students will have 120-minutes to complete online exams.
- Students must do their own work; there are no exceptions. Students who plagiarize or cheat in any way, risk dismissal from the class and expulsion from the college.
- Students must have an active Atlas account. Students must check their Atlas e-mails regularly as to not miss any important messages from the professor. Missed messages via Atlas or any other medium (in-class, etc.) may affect your grade and are the responsibility of the student.
- Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office of Students with Disabilities, and accommodations will be based upon said documentation. Contact OSD directly at West Campus SSB 102, ext. 1523.
Student Support Services
Note to International Students (F-1 or J-1 Visa)
Please be advised that withdrawal from this course due to attendance may result in the termination of your visa status if you fall below the full-time enrollment requirement of 12 credit hours. Contact Valencia’s International Student Services office for more information.
Statement of Support for Students with Food/Housing/Financial Needs
Any student who has difficulty accessing sufficient food to eat, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect his or her performance in the course, is urged to meet with a Counselor in the Advising Center for information about resources that may be available from the college or community.
Student Assistance Program
Valencia College is interested in making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience. To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help with issues dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work. BayCare Behavioral Health Student Assistance Program (SAP) services are free to all Valencia students and available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 878-5470. Free face-to-face counseling is also available.
If you are unable to participate in the course due to illness, family emergency, etc., please communicate with your instructor as soon as possible in order to create a plan to complete any missed assignments so that your learning can progress in your course. In the case of a prolonged online absence, please communicate with your instructor as soon as possible in order to create a plan for the best course of action.
Laptop Loaner Program
Due to the COVID-19 situation and shift to virtual/online learning, Valencia is currently loaning laptops to students in need. You can request a laptop by completing the request form. This link will take you to the Atlas log-in screen, and then to the form. Laptops are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis, so if you are in need, request a laptop early.
Learning Support
Distance Tutoring & Technology Support at Valencia: You can easily access Valencia’s free distance tutoring and tech support from a computer, laptop, or mobile device.
Distance tutoring services are provided fully online via Zoom. Through this service, you will receive real-time assistance via a Valencia tutor. Online tutoring is offered in mathematics, sciences, accounting & economics, computer programming, EAP and foreign languages, and writing.
Online Learning Technology Support services are also available. Students can receive assistance with navigating: Canvas, OneDrive, Zoom, YouTube, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint). Support is also provided for video editing (via iMovie and MovieMaker) and converting documents from a Mac to a PC. Tech support is available live (on-demand) via Zoom, by appointment, or via email. Students are encouraged to use the 24/7 Canvas Help located inside Canvas by clicking on the “Help” icon.
To get started using the Distance Tutoring and Learning Technology Support services, please visit www.valenciacollege.edu/tutoring. Through this site, you can view the schedule of tutors/tech support assistants, find available times, learn more about the services, and access a collection of supplemental resources that are available 24/7.
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday: 8 am – 10 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9 am – 7 pm
*DISCLAIMER:
At the discretion of the instructor, the schedule, procedures, and assignments are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. However, any such change will be clearly announced. Such changes are designed to deal with unforeseen circumstances that arise during the course. The changes will be intended to benefit the student and will not significantly add to the rigor of the course.
Course Summary:
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