Introduces students to retailing and provides an understanding of the types of businesses, strategies, operations, formats and environments through which retailing is carried out. The course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to consider the process and structure of retailing. Retailing topics to be covered will include: planning, research, consumers' behavior, store design, merchandising strategy, management strategy, promotional strategy and pricing strategy. The global dimensions of retailing as well as the relationship between retailing and our society will be stressed throughout the course.
Second course in a two-course sequence. Introduces and applies technical skills around beginning and managing a small business, including spreadsheets and the use of charts and graphs. Includes reflection and discussion of the application of concepts to a real-world example. Requires teamwork and collaboration to be exercised in completing a group project. Covers application of financial, legal, and administrative procedures in running a business.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Represent business models in spreadsheets including preparation of charts and graphs. Apply key business activities and the primary concepts and terms associated with these activities. Manage a business interacting with the external environment (through a simulation) and describe how this interaction impacts both business and the external environment. Implement the financial, legal, and administrative procedures involved in starting new business ventures. Identify ethical issues facing businesses. Effectively collaborate with team members and communicate professionally.
BA 101A is the first in a two-course sequence. Introduces the various fields and activities of both established and entrepreneurial businesses. Develops professional skills needed to be successful in modern business and engages in critical reflection around skill sets and career opportunities.
Beginning Fall 2018, the dept. adopted Lumen Learning's Intro to Business Waymaker module ( https://lumenlearning.com/courses-intro-business/) integrated with Moodle, the campus learning management system.
This course explores the basics of human resource management including selection and hiring, performance appraisal, compensation, staff planning and job analysis. This course also addresses current HR issues such as job search in a difficult economy, discrimination and harassment, workplace violence and on-the-job drug abuse.
Course Outcomes:
1. Upon completion of the course, students will have working knowledge of the role and human resources in the management of a business organization.
2. Students will understand the basic functions of human resource management and how the HR department interacts with the organization and with the individual employee.
The key decision-making role of managers in modern organizations. Includes the study of organizations, management styles, and selected administrative problems. An overview of the processes involved in managing a business, including business planning, organizing, controlling, staffing and leading. Covers various theories of management with emphasis on managing a business in the local, national or international marketplace.
The course helps you identify information-bearing events, assess and improve process efficiency, learn to model and analyze business processes, recognize probabilistic components of business processes, and understand the interactions between human behavior and process design. Hands-on, case-based course work allows you to practice some of the principles addressed. You will demonstrate the ability to utilize business computer applications.
Course Outcomes:
Conceptualize business operations as processes.
1. Model simple business processes in terms of the actors and activity sequences involved, the data flowing through those sequences and the dependencies between data and business activities.
2. Recognize probabilistic components of business processes and assign distributions to these components.
3. Characterize business processes in terms of their key operations characteristics; e.g.,productivity, efficiency, service quality, sustainability, time and costs associated with waiting, material volume and service/product customization.
4. Formulate improvements to observed processes and estimate the effects of these improvements with the help of simulation.
5. Identify the role of information systems in business processes; e.g., recognize and specify where information technology can be applied; recognize the role of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
6. Recognize the interdependence of business processes within and across organizational boundaries.
This course focuses on the entrepreneurial phases associated with start-up and management of small business. This course will teach future entrepreneurs and managers to recognize opportunities and to use effective entrepreneurial and small business management practices.
Course Outcomes:
1. List and discuss the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.
2. Analyze new business opportunities that exist in the marketplace.
3. Evaluate the feasibility of pursuing an opportunity that you’ve recognized.
4. Develop a business plan that includes both conceptual and technical components.
5. Identify and discuss obstacles to entrepreneurial success.
6. Identify the resources and financing necessary to start an entrepreneurial venture.
7. Discuss organizational characteristics and best management practices for start-up companies.