GEB-1011 Introduction to Business

SYLLABUS
Reference #10749
Updated: 07/02/07
 
 

The course web site will be available at the start of the semester. Your password will not work until that time. 
Orientation is online and mandatory.
You must login, read the entire Orientation, take the Orientation quiz, and introduce yourself to the class no later than midnight 08/24/07.
Students who do not complete the mandatory online orientation may be dropped from the class.
There are no face-to-face class meetings.
All assignments and tests are online.
Print the syllabus and keep track of the course policies and due dates for assignments.
 
 
Course No. & Name: GEB-1011 Introduction to Business 
Term: Fall 2007
Instructor: Ms. Eiser
 
E-Mail: kathryneiser@sjrcc.edu
Phone: (954) 461-7746
Dean of Business: Michelle Wilcox
Location: Palatka Campus		 E-Mail: MichelleWilcox@sjrcc.edu
 Phone: (386) 312-4063
 
 

Table of Contents
Overview
Course Policies
Computer Requirements
Course Web Site
Course Materials
How to Get Started
Grading/Evaluation
Schedule of Assignments
 
 

Overview
The Internet section of Introduction to Business provides an alternative for students who are self-directed learners and want the convenience of scheduling their own time. This course is taken in whole via the Internet without attending a classroom on campus. Before you decide to take the course under these conditions, it is recommended that you:
Prerequisites: None
 
Catalog Description: Introduction to Business is a study of business organization, management and ownership, wholesaling, retailing, advertising, international trade, employee training, compensation and labor relations, financing, risk and security markets, accounting and controls, business regulations, and taxes.
 
Course Objectives:
  • understand and discuss basic economic and commerce principals and their impact on particular businesses and industries
  • discuss ethical and social responsibilities of businesses in the local, national, and global marketplaces
  • compare and contrast the various forms of business ownership and their advantages and disadvantages
  • discuss various ways a business can be created
  • discuss strategic and tactical functions performed by the management team within a business
  • compare and contrast different management structures and styles
  • understand basic human resource functions that a business must provide
  • articulate several prominent employee motivation theories
  • understand the fundamental need for the marketing function with a business
  • discuss pricing, promotion, and distribution strategies
  • understand the need for managing financial resources and describe the roles of accounting and finance
  • identify career opportunities.
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Computer Requirements
You do not have to own a computer in order to take a course on the Internet, but you must have the following:
  • Regular access to a computer that meets the minimum requirements. Confirm that your configuration is compatible with recommended SJRCC standards.
  • Alternative source of computer access in case your computer encounters problems. You may use campus labs to complete the course. Note: If you are accessing the course from a business office, you may run into problems with your company's network. If you have difficulty logging into your course from your place of business, contact your IS office at work and discuss the issue with them. The college has no control over the way your company network is configured; it's important to deal directly with the IS staff at your office to resolve problems
  • Internet access. Be sure to check your browser (we use WebCT CE 4.1) to ensure it is WebCT compatible. Make sure pop-up stoppers or killers are disabled. AOL browsers are not recommended.
  • Access to the following software for a personal computer (IBM-compatible):
    • Windows 98, 2000, ME, or XP
    • MS Word 2003 or 2007 (NOT Microsoft Works)
    • Updated antivirus program
Note: It is recommended that the student taking this Internet option not be a novice computer user. The student should know how to use a mouse, navigate the Internet, and send/receive e-mail.

Technical and Access Problems
  • If you attempt to use hardware or software that does not meet SJRCC standards, it is possible that you will encounter technical difficulties when accessing the online course that could interfere with your ability to view content or complete assignments.
  • If you encounter difficulties accessing content in WebCT or in logging in, please check with the help desk (386-312-4211).
  • To avoid unforeseen technical complications that can occur, even when you think everything is working well, it is strongly recommended that you complete and submit your assignments well ahead of schedule.
  • If you do not have access to a computer that meets or exceeds SJRCC's minimum hardware and software standards, you can use an "open lab" computer at any SJRCC Learning Resource Center.
  • Lack of access to a computer that meets SJRCC's hardware and software standards or difficulty connecting to the Internet are not a valid excuse for failure to complete the online portion of course requirements on time.
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Course Materials
Text: Excellence in Business, 3th edition, by Bovee, Thill, & Mescon, published by Prentice Hall. Be sure to check title and edition.
Companion web site: http://wps.prenhall.com/bp_bovee_eib_3. 

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Grading/Evaluation
At the course web site you will be able to keep track of your progress. Exams and Assignments may be completed early, but answers will not be released until the day after the due date.
 
Grading Scale and Grading Criteria:
 
895 to 1000 points = A
Assignments (6 total 300 points) 
  30%
795 to 894 points = B
Exams (6 total 600 points)
  60%
695 to 794 points = C
Participation (150 points)
  15%
595 to 694 points = D
Total (1000 points)
 105%

Yes! I know this add up to more than 100%. Here's the deal. There are extra credit points built into the course. That's a good thing. Total points is what counts. If you prefer working in percents, just place a decimal to the left of the last number; for example, 895 points would convert to 89.5%.


Assignments: Each part has a graded assignment. These are assignments in which the student demonstrates that he or she can use the concepts learned from the textbook. Assignments are to be submitted to instructor prior to or on the specific due date. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON.
 
 
Exams: There will be three (6) exams (true/false, multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, and essay) during the semester: Exam #1 chapters 1-4, Exam #2 chapters 5 & 6, Exam #3 chapters 7-9, Exam #4 chapters 10 & 11, Exam #5 chapters 12-15, and Exam #6 chapters 16-18. NO LATE OR MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN FOR ANY REASON.
 
Participation: This may seem like a funny requirement considering that the course is online. But, what it means is that the student take the 1) Orientation Quiz, 2) introduce yourself on the discussion board, 3) answer instructor discussion questions and respond to another student's response to discussion question, 4) use the course web site discussion board and e-mail, and 5) stay in communication with the instructor as needed. More about this in course web site. Because this is a business class, proper use of grammar and sentence structure is required. Use proper upper and lower case lettering, as well as, proper punctuation. Postings and e-mails will be graded accordingly.

Final Grade: Your final grade is posted on the course web site at the end of the term. Final grade is the total number of points accumulated throughout the semester.

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Course Policies

Read these policies carefully and be sure that you are full agreement with them prior to enrolling in the course.  The instructor does not deviate from these policies for any reason.
Attendance: Even though you are not in a classroom attendance is very important. What does this mean? You must check the discussion board and the course e-mail regularly for important messages. The student must login within the first week of class and introduce themselves on the discussion board in the Introduction topic. Students are expected to schedule their own computer and study time and submit all assignments via the course web site by the assigned due dates. Missing two due dates will result in the instructor denying the student access to the course web site. Exams will be taken online at home or in a campus lab by the assigned date. WebCT sign-on is only for student who is officially registered. Do not allow anyone else to submit assignments for you. Contact instructor for instructions on handling emergency situations.

Online students must log on and begin their online class prior to the conclusion of the first week of the semester. If you do not begin your distance learning course by the end of the first week of the semester by making contact with your instructor and completing the specified activity, you will be dropped as a "No Show."

Withdrawal: If you find you cannot complete the class or are not earning the grade you want, be sure to withdraw by the final drop date (11/02/07). NO W, I, or Audit WILL BE GIVEN TO ANY STUDENT FOR ANY REASON, except under extreme circumstances, and at the discretion of the instructor.
 

Makeup or Late Assignments: While distance learning offers flexibility as to when you are on the Internet, there is no flexibility in the due dates. There will be no make-ups for assignments or exams. Any assignment or exam missed will be assigned a zero (0). If an assignment or exam date must be missed due to an emergency situation, call or e-mail the instructor to make arrangements. If an assignment or exam is missed it must be taken prior to the release of the answers to the entire class. All due dates must be met for all assignments and exams unless expressly prearranged with instructor. Any assignment or exam that is missed and arrangements have not been made for work to be completed will result in a zero (0) for the grade for that assignment or exam. There is no extra credit work.

Classroom Conduct: The course web site is our classroom. Appropriate conduct is required there the same as it is in a classroom environment.  You may not post messages on the discussion board that use foul or abusive language.  Postings of this nature will result in immediately being denied access to the course. Any issues you need to discuss that are personal or concerning grades, missed assignments or exams, feelings toward another student or the instructor are to be addressed either via the course web site e-mail or call the instructor or department chair at the above numbers. Rules of Netiquette must followed.

Because this is a business class, proper use of grammar and sentence structure is required. Use proper upper and lower case lettering, as well as, proper punctuation. Like it or not, in business, you are judged by your written correspondence -- yes, even via e-mail. Check out Get it Write and see for yourself.

Academic Integrity: Students in this class must know, observe, and not compromise the principles of academic integrity.  It is not permissible to cheat, to fabricate, or falsify information, to submit the same academic work in more than one course without  prior  permission, to plagiarize, to receive unfair advantage, or to otherwise abuse accepted practices for handling and documenting information.  The grade for this course includes the judgment that the student’s work is free from academic dishonesty of any type. Violations or infractions will be reported to the Vice President for Student Affairs and may lead to failure of the course and other sanctions imposed by the College.

Students are encouraged to work together and to discuss the material assigned. However, it is also expected that each student do his/her own work. If it appears that two or more students have collaborated on an assignment or exam, each student involved will receive an F for that assignment or exam. If this happens for a second time, both students will be receive an F for the course. Students MUST submit their own assignments and exams. WebCT sign-on is only for student who is officially registered. Do not allow anyone else to submit assignments or exams for you. Contact instructor for instructions on handling emergency situations.

Disability Support Services:  If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, please see the Disability Services page as get assistance as early as possible in the term.

Student Responsibilities: When taking an online course the student needs to be an independent and self-paced learner and possess time-management skills. The student is expected to:

  • login to course web site first week of class (if you do not login before the first assignment due date, the assignment will not be accepted)
  • remain in contact with the instructor by e-mail as necessary (instructor does not know that you are sick or traveling if you do not tell her)
  • check course web site discussion board and e-mail at least twice a week (once a day is preferred; once a week is not sufficient)
  • be aware of all course announcements and due dates
  • read the assigned textbook
  • read the course notes posted on the course web site
  • complete all assignments on time
  • complete exams at home or any computer with a reliable Internet connection by the specified dates
  • use appropriate communication tools (course web site e-mail and discussion board)
  • observe rules of Netiquette (do not type in all caps; that is considered shouting on the Internet)

In addition to the above, to insure comprehension of the material the student should do the following whether assigned or not or turned in for a grade or not:
  • complete all exercises in textbook
  • complete questions at the back of each chapter
  • complete the practice quizzes

The amount of time spent on the course depends on the type of learner you are, the level of proficiency you are at, and your desire to learn. Only you can determine how much time to spend, but the student should expect to spend about 6-9 hours a week on this course. Before you continue with the course, be sure you can devote the correct amount of time to the subject. Be sure to take into account other course work, your work schedule (including travel), your family life, and any other factors that may influence your study time. You are the most important factor in the formula for your success. To succeed you must put in maximum effort and communicate with your fellow students and me.

When using a computer for any kind of work you must always be prepared for an emergency. It is up to the student to find alternate ways to get to a computer when theirs goes down. Also, the student should print whatever he or she feels they may need from the course web site in case it goes down. "Computer broken" or "can't login to ISP" are not acceptable excuses. Instructor will help with understanding the course material but will not diagnose computer problems.

Instructor Responsibilities: The instructor is a facilitator or team leader and grader of the learning experience. I am here to assist you in learning the particular topics introduced in this course. I will answer discussion board and e-mail inquiries within 24 hours of posting during the week (Monday through Thursday). Please acknowledge that the instructor is not online 24 hours a day. Allow time for an answer. The instructor cannot respond to messages within less than a 24-hour period.

You may complete assignments prior to the due date. But, no answers will be released until the day after the due date. No assignments will be accepted after due date for any reason.

Consultation: The instructor may be contacted at the above number. If there is no answer be sure to leave a complete name and telephone number with area code. Also indicate college, course name, and reference #. Please note that the instructor teaches several courses at several colleges. The student will be called back as soon as possible.

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Course Web Site
The course web site is the classroom. The course web site is constructed in a program called WebCT, which is an easy-to-use environment. Students can access course materials using a web browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer) from any computer connected to the Internet anywhere in the world. The course web site address is: http://webct.sjrcc.edu. Here you will be able to:
  • login to classroom homepage
  • obtain lectures for each chapter
  • complete all assignments (read case study/take quiz)
  • link to the textbook web site
  • communicate with instructor and other students in the course by posting questions regarding the course (Discussions) and sending personal questions to instructor (Mail)
  • take practice quizzes
  • complete exams
  • view your Grades and Track Your Progress
 
Login: Once you login you may want to bookmark the course web site address so that you don't have to type it in or use the syllabus to find it again.  To logout just close the browser or click the Log Out link at the top of the course web site. If you are working on a computer used by others, it is critical that you exit the browser or log out each time you finish using the course web site. If you don't exit, a person using that machine after you will have access to your course materials, could send e-mail in your name, and view your confidential student record. WebCT sign-on is only for student who is officially registered. Do not allow anyone else to submit assignments for you. Contact instructor for instructions on handling emergency situations.
 
Note: Once at the course web site, use the navigation buttons within the course to move throughout the course pages. Do not use the browser navigation buttons on the browser toolbar.

Online Orientation: Provides you with tons of useful information about the course web site and how to use it. This is a MUST read. The Orientation Quiz counts toward the participation grade.
 

Lectures: Here you will find supplement material for each chapter in the textbook Follow the chapters in the order that they are presented in the textbook.

Assignments: There is an assignment for each part of the textbook. Assignment instructions will be at the course web site and are to be submitted by the date specified in the Schedule of Assignments.

Textbook Web Site: A link has also been provided to the textbook site.  You will find a ton of useful information at this site. Just use the Course-wide Content and chapters on the left. We aren't going to purchase an access code for the site, so don't try to login to this site.

Quizzes/Exams/Survey: Under this icon you will find:

  • A practice quiz for each chapter. These are for you to take as you wish and are NOT part of your grade.
  • Exams due by the specified dates in the Schedule of Assignments.
  • A Course Evaluation Survey will be available at the end of the term for you to express your opinions and comments regarding the course.

Discussion Board: Once logged into the course, all communication will take place at the course web site through the discussion board and e-mail. The discussion board is public. The students are to post any questions regarding course material or assignments on the discussion board. This way anyone (instructor or student) may answer the question. Also, the question will be answered for all students at one time. Use an appropriate subject title for the posting. There will be more instructions on how to use the discussion board once you login to the course web site.

Note: It is important to read the discussion board frequently, and to read all messages posted.

E-mail: The e-mail feature in the course web site is private and only for the students and instructor of the course. Therefore, you may only e-mail other students in the course or the instructor. E-mail is to be used for personal questions. The instructor will not accept assignments e-mailed to her personal e-mail address for any reason. If the course web site is down, instructor will make arrangements for quizzes or exams. There will be more instructions on how to use e-mail once you login to the course web site.

Note: It is important to check your e-mail frequently.

Track Your Progress: The student can view his or her own grades. You will also be able to see how you are doing compared to the others in the course, but will not be able to view anyone else's grades.

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How to Get Started
  • Read this syllabus very carefully and be sure you are in agreement with all the policies. The syllabus is a contract. Once you continue with the course, you have agreed to abide by all of the rules.
  • Obtain the course materials.
  • Login to the course web site. (Click here for login instructions.)
  • Read the "Online Orientation" and take the Orientation Quiz.
  • Introduce yourself on the discussion board.
  • Look around course web site and get a feel for how it works. If you are new to taking courses on the Internet, you will want to spend time getting to know the course web site.
  • Begin course work by reading the chapters in the textbook and completing the assignments as assigned in the Schedule of Assignments.

I look forward to a very rewarding and successful semester with you.
Login Problems: 
  1. After registering for an online course with SJRCC, you must check your SJRCC e-mail account (see below) after 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the term to obtain your orientation information. You will not have access to your online course until after 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the semester.
  2. To begin an online course, go to the entry portal at webct.sjrcc.edu and click "Log In." Your WebCT ID follows the same formula as your SJRCC student email account, typically: yourfirstnameyourlastname001. Each semester, your one-time password to activate your account is the last four digits of your social security number. Once you log in, WebCT will require you to change your password. Make a note of your user ID and password and be sure to keep this important information secure.
  3. If you encounter login problems, contact me at the number listed at the top of this syllabus and I will verify that you are in the course.
  4. If you have other difficulties, contact the help desk at 386-312-4211.
  5. If you encounter problems, contact the instructor or help desk immediately. DO NOT WAIT THINKING THE PROBLEM WILL RESOLVE ITSELF.
 
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Schedule of Assignments
Fall 2007 Schedule
Note all due dates. Print this page to ensure you meet all due dates. We will be covering the chapters in order. Assignments and exams will be completed at home or at any computer with a reliable Internet connection (library, campus lab, etc.) by the specified dates. Assignments and exams are due by 11:55 p.m. of the last day available. If you are in an assignment or exam at that time, it will close and you will be graded only on the questions that were answered.
August 24 (this is the only Friday due date -- all others are Tuesdays) Due: Read ENTIRE Orientation, take Orientation Quiz, introduce yourself on discussion board
August 28
Read: Chapters 1 and 2
September 4 Read: Chapters 3 and 4 Due: Assignment #1
September 11
Due: Exam #1 (chapters 1 through 4)
September 18
Read: Chapters 5 & 6 -- Due: Assignment #2
September 25 Exam #2 (Chapters 5 - 6)
October 2
Read: Chapters 7, 8, & 9 -- Due: Assignment #3
October 9
Exam #3 (Chapters 7 - 9)
October 16 Read: Chapters 10 & 11 -- Due: Assignment #4
October 23
Exam #4 (Chapters 10 & 11)
October 30
Read: Chapters 12 & 13
November 2 Last day to withdraw
November 6
Read: Chapters 14 & 15 Due: Assignment #5
November 13 Exam #5 (Chapters 12 - 15)
November 20 Read: Chapter 16
November 27 Read: Chapters 17 & 18 -- Due: Assignment #6
December 4 Exam #6 (Chapters 16 - 18)

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