Dickinson College

IB&M 100, Fundamentals of Business

Spring 2002 Course Syllabus

Section 02 T 8:00 AM-9:15AM; TH 8:00 AM-9:15 AM

 

 

Instructor:

 

 Professor David Sarcone

 Home Telephone: 245-2572  Office Telephone: 245-1261

 E-Mail: sarconed@ dickinson.edu

 Office Location: 004 Stern Center 

 Office Hours: Tuesday 2:00PM-5:00PM; Wednesday and Friday 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon  

 or by Appointment

 

 

Course Description:

 Through the use of case studies, discussion, lecture, and review of current periodicals, this course introduces students to the vocabulary and principles of business as an applied science and art.

The course objectives are as follows:

a.       Help students understand the integrative nature of business from sourcing through post sales service;

b.      Introduce conceptual tools to analyze and understand business decision making, the various business environments, and a company’s potential for reaching goals;

c.       Sensitize students to the value of an organizational wide approach to business;

d.      Provide experience developing realistic business strategies and plans for their implementation;

e.       Expose students to ethical considerations in the business environment.

 

 

Required Reading and Internet Site:

Fry, Fred; Stoner, Charles; Hattwick, Richard (2001). Business: An Integrative Approach, New York, NY: Irwin/McGraw Hill.Business:

An Integrative Approach (text website) www.mhhe.com/fry2e

Within this site in the “Student Center” there is a newsroom link which provides  access to a host of periodicals. Through classroom discussion we will review current events, and it is expected that students will contribute to these discussions by referring to articles from major national and international sources. 

 

 

Recommended Reading and Internet Sites:

Champy, James and Nohria Nitin(1998). Fast Forward: The Best Ideas on Managing Business Change, Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Book.

Ziegenfuss, James (1996).Relearning Strategic Planning: Lessons of Philosophy and Procedure, New York, NY: Allen Press.

Thompson, James D. (1967). Organizations in Action, New York, NY: McGraw Hill Book Company.

 

Attendance:

 

Your presence in class is required and will be included in your grade in the event there is a question concerning your final grade. (Please see course evaluation).

 

Academic Honesty:

 

Plagiarism as defined by Student Handbook (p. 123) and/or cheating on an exam or test is not tolerated in this class and will lead at a minimum to a failed grade on the assignment.

 

Course Evaluation:

Test One …………………….……………………....10%

Test Two…………………………………………….10%

Test Three…………………………………………...10%

Final Examination…………………………………...15%

Individual Written Assignments………………….…25%

Team Work Assignment………………………….…25%

Attendance and Participation………………………..05%

 

A               (93 or higher)       Exceptional

A minus    (90-92)                 Excellent

B plus       (87-89)                 Very Strong

B               (83-86)                 Strong

B minus    (80-82)                 Solid

C plus       (77-79)                Above Average

C               (73-76)                Average

C minus    (70-72)                Below Average

Below 70                              Not Acceptable

 

Individual or team written assignments are to be typed on 8 ½ x 11 paper. These assignments are to be double spaced  with enough margin for instructor comments. Papers must not be longer than two pages. Please use a spell checker and proof read your work.

 

Course Evaluation Notes

 

     Homework assignments will be corrected and graded. A student will receive credit for completing the homework assignment when the assignment is completely done and turned in on the due date. Homework assignments turned in after the due date will not receive credit.

     Three exams will be given during the term. The student may drop the lowest grade of the three exams. In the event the student’s average for the first two exams is 93% or greater, the student may elect not to take the third in-term exam. All students are required to take the final exam.

 

Extra Credit

 

    A student may earn up to ten additional points to add to the score of the final exam by providing in-class one minute presentations of an application of a management principle to a real world event. Each one minute presentation is worth 2.5 points. ( The student must provide the instructor with a copy of the article cited.)

Course Outline:

 

Course Material

Period

 Assignments

Due Date

Chapter One

1/24

Internet Exercise 1 (Federal Express)

1/29

Chapter Two

1/29

Exercise 1

1/29

Chapter Three

1/31

Exercises3;Internet Exercise 1(SBA)

1/31

Chapter Four

2/5

Case Study (Challenger)

2/5

Chapter Five

2/7-2/12

Case Study  (Ben and Jerry’s)

2/12

Test One

2/14

 

 

Chapter Six

2/19

Internet Exercise 2 (Denny’s)

2/19

Chapter Seven

2/21

Case Study ( Alcoa Corporation)

2/21

Chapter Eight

2/26

Article Review (Globalization)

2/26

Chapter Nine

2/28

Case Study ( Apple Computer)

2/28

Chapter Ten

3/5

Case Study ( Napster )

3/5

Chapter Eleven

3/7-3/12

No Assignment

 

Test Two

3/14

 

 

Chapter Twelve

3/26

Case Study (Quanta Corporation)

3/26

Chapter Thirteen

3/28

Case Study( Quality in Health Care)

3/28

Chapter Fourteen

4/2

No Assignment

 

Chapter Fifteen

4/4

Critical Thinking

Ques.1,2,3 – p.413

4/4

Chapter Sixteen

4/9

Case Study (Employee Commitment)

4/9

Chapter Seventeen

4/11

Case Study (Internet Application)

4/11

Test Three

4/16

 

 

Chapter Eighteen

4/18

Critical Thinking

Ques.1,2,3 – P.500

4/18

Chapter Nineteen

4/19

No Assignment

 

Presentation

4/25

Groups 1,2,3

 

Presentation

4/30

Groups 4,5,6

 

Presentation

5/2

Groups 7,8

 

Final Exam

 

Refer to Final Week Schedule