Introduction to Business

Preface

Understanding Economic Systems and Business

• Introduction
• The Nature of Business
• Understanding the Business Environment
• How Business and Economics Work
• Macroeconomics: The Big Picture
• Achieving Macroeconomic Goals
• Microeconomics: Zeroing in on Businesses and Consumers
• Competing in a Free Market
• Trends in the Business Environment and Competition
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Making Ethical Decisions and Managing a Socially Responsible Business

• Introduction
• Understanding Business Ethics
• How Organizations Influence Ethical Conduct
• Managing a Socially Responsible Business
• Responsibilities to Stakeholders
• Trends in Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Competing in the Global Marketplace

• Introduction
• Global Trade in the United States
• Why Nations Trade
• Barriers to Trade
• Fostering Global Trade
• International Economic Communities
• Participating in the Global Marketplace
• Threats and Opportunities in the Global Marketplace
• The Impact of Multinational Corporations
• Trends in Global Competition
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Forms of Business Ownership

• Introduction
• Going It Alone: Sole Proprietorships
• Partnerships: Sharing the Load
• Corporations: Limiting Your Liability
• Specialized Forms of Business Organization
• Franchising: A Popular Trend
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Trends in Business Ownership
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing Your Own Business

• Introduction
• Entrepreneurship Today
• Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
• Small Business: Driving America's Growth
• Ready, Set, Start Your Own Business
• Managing a Small Business
• Small Business, Large Impact
• The Small Business Administration
• Trends in Entrepreneurship and Small-Business Ownership
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Management and Leadership in Today's Organizations

• Introduction
• The Role of Management
• Planning
• Organizing
• Leading, Guiding, and Motivating Others
• Controlling
• Managerial Roles
• Managerial Skills
• Trends in Management and Leadership
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Designing Organizational Structures

• Introduction
• Building Organizational Structures
• Contemporary Structures
• Using Teams to Enhance Motivation and Performance
• Authority—Establishing Organizational Relationships
• Degree of Centralization
• Organizational Design Considerations
• The Informal Organization
• Trends in Organizational Structure
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Managing Human Resources and Labor Relations

• Introduction
• Achieving High Performance through Human Resources Management
• Employee Recruitment
• Employee Selection
• Employee Training and Development
• Performance Planning and Evaluation
• Employee Compensation and Benefits
• The Labor Relations Process
• Managing Grievances and Conflicts
• Legal Environment of Human Resources and Labor Relations
• Trends in Human Resource Management and Labor Relations
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

  Motivating Employees

• Introduction
• Early Theories of Motivation
• The Hawthorne Studies
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• McGregor's Theories X and Y
• Herzberg's Motivator-Hygiene Theory
• Contemporary Views on Motivation
• From Motivation Theory to Application
• Trends in Employee Motivation
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Achieving World-Class Operations Management

• Introduction
• Production and Operations Management—An Overview
• The Production Process: How Do We Make It?
• Location, Location, Location: Where Do We Make It?
• Pulling It Together: Resource Planning
• Production and Operations Control
• Looking for a Better Way: Improving Production and Operations
• Transforming the Factory Floor with Technology
• Trends in Production and Operations Management
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Creating Products and Pricing Strategies to Meet Customers' Needs

• Introduction
• The Marketing Concept
• Creating a Marketing Strategy
• Developing a Marketing Mix
• Buyer Behavior
• Market Segmentation
• What Is a Product?
• Creating Products That Deliver Value
• The Product Life Cycle
• Pricing Strategies and Future Trends
• Trends in Developing Products and Pricing
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Distributing and Promoting Products and Services

• Introduction
• The Nature and Functions of Distribution (Place)
• Wholesaling
• The Competitive World of Retailing
• Using Supply Chain Management to Increase Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction
• Promotion Strategy
• The Huge Impact of Advertising
• The Importance of Personal Selling
• Sales Promotion
• Public Relations Helps Build Goodwill
• Trends in Social Media
• Trends in E-Commerce
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Using Technology to Manage Information

• Introduction
• Transforming Businesses through Information
• Linking Up: Computer Networks
• Management Information Systems
• Technology Management and Planning
• Protecting Computers and Information
• Trends in Information Technology
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Using Financial Information and Accounting

• Introduction
• Accounting: More than Numbers
• The Accounting Profession
• Basic Accounting Procedures
• The Balance Sheet
• The Income Statement
• The Statement of Cash Flows
• Analyzing Financial Statements
• Trends in Accounting
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Understanding Money and Financial Institutions

• Introduction
• Show Me the Money
• The Federal Reserve System
• U.S. Financial Institutions
• Insuring Bank Deposits
• International Banking
• Trends in Financial Institutions
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Understanding Financial Management and Securities Markets

• Introduction
• The Role of Finance and the Financial Manager
• How Organizations Use Funds
• Obtaining Short-Term Financing
• Raising Long-Term Financing
• Equity Financing
• Securities Markets
• Buying and Selling at Securities Exchanges
• Trends in Financial Management and Securities Markets
• Summary of Learning Outcomes
• Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills
• Ethics Activity
• Working the Net
• Critical Thinking Case
• Hot Links Address Book

Your Career in Business

• Introduction
• Learn the Basics of Business
• Developing Interpersonal Skills Is Key to Your Success
• Make Your Future Happen: Learn to Plan
• Going to College Is an Opportunity of a Lifetime—Never Drop Out
• Get Your Career Off on the Right Track
• Self-Test Scoring Guidelines

Appendix A Understanding the Legal and Tax Environment

• Understanding the Legal Environment
• Contract Law
• Understanding the Tax Environment of Business