Visiting Professor John M. Kohlmeier IB&M 201-01: Introduction to Business
Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30-10:45 a.m. Fall Semester 2000 Office: Biddle House, Third Floor Office Hours: M&W - 9:00-10:00 a.m., T&Th - 11:00-11:45 a.m. And by appointment Office Phone: 245-1882 Home Phone: 245-1071 E-mail: kohlmeij@dickinson.edu
Required
1. Michael Mescon, Courtland L. Bovee, and John V. Thill, (MBT), Business Today, 9th Edition, 1999, Prentice Hall, Saddlewood NJ.
2. Supplementary Materials (case studies, etc.) sold in the bookstore
3. In-class handouts
Strongly Recommended The Wall Street Journal, and/or Business Week. You should read business periodicals on a regular basis to keep up with developments in the fields of global business, management, and economics. You may use either print or electronic editions.
Course Description The course will provide an overview of those topics associated with the study of business and of Dickinson's International Business and Management major. Those topics include:
· Doing business in a global environment · Business ethics · Forms of business ownership and starting the business · Fundamentals of management · Marketing · Accounting · Management Information Systems · Human Resources · Finance
Class Preparation and Participation
Thorough preparation for each class is essential to effective learning. For most sessions, I will ask you to read the theoretical material from a chapter of the text and some related web-based articles. I will also ask you to browse web-sites that are relevant to the theoretical material. Finally, I ask you to do preliminary preparation for a small case analysis that is included in the chapter. For a few sessions, we will spend the entire period with one larger case. In most cases a written assignment will be due.
Written homework is limited to a single 8-1/2 x 11 page printed on paper. You may adjust the type font and spacing as long as it is readable. Homework is due during class. I will read, comment on, grade, and return homework by the next class. I do not accept homework submitted by e-mail.
Objectives
For the semester, I have several objectives in mind. Essentially, I would like to help students to:
· Understand important concepts in management · Appreciate the complexity of the contemporary business organization · Understand the way the globalization process impacts the contemporary business organization · Sharpen your critical thinking skills · Improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing · Become more confident with speaking in large groups · Become more eloquent in the way you express yourself · Appreciate the contributions you can make to the learning of others · Become adept with the Internet as an important tool in business · Be challenged and stimulated by the classroom environment · Apply what you learn in class to the world · Become excited and interested in the material so that you can discuss it in social settings
Grades
This semester, the grade you earn will be based upon your performance in several areas.
34% mid-term examination and final examination
The mid-term and final examination will include short answer questions and case analysis. You will be allowed one 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper to summarize your notes and main concepts from class. The sheet should be prepared by each student and will be turned in with the examination answers. The mid-term will count for 16% of your grade and the final examination for 18% of your grade.
20% Company Analysis
I will ask you to write a six page company analysis made up of a one page executive summary followed by five pages of support. The analysis should describe the managerial challenges confronting a particular company or corporation and possible solutions which managers might pursue. The analysis should apply the concepts we encounter in class. You should submit a one paragraph proposal for your analysis on October 31, 2000. I will return with comments. A draft of your analysis is due November 21. I will comment, but not grade your draft. The final draft is due December 5.
24% Comprehensive Harvard Business School case studies
· "Lexon Corporation" (A) · "A Question of Character", Harvard Business Review Case Study (Readings Package) · "Colgate Palmolive: Managing International Careers", (Readings Package) · "McKinsey & Company: Managing Knowledge", (Readings Package) · "Ingvar Kamprad and Idea", (Readings Package) · "Pacific Dunlot China (A): Beijing · "Singapore Tradenet: A Take of One City"
The homework and class participation grade will include several single page analyses of case studies and responses to Internet searches and article assignments. I will assign homework and ask students to do short presentations pertaining to current events. All of these activities will fall within this component. The success of the class and the objectives for the course are contingent on contributions of each person.
6% Class participation
I will award a class preparation and participation grade. Throughout the semester, I will take attendance and expect you to be an active participant in class discussions and exercises.
For each written assignment, I will try to establish clear criteria for grading. Unavoidably, however, I will have to make many subjective judgments about the quality of student work. I tend to keep the following objectives in mind when I assign grades.
· A Truly exceptional · A- Excellent in every respect · B+ Strong, very good · B Solid, somewhat above average · B- Average work · C- Reasonable, but somewhat below average · C Passable, meets minimum standards for staying out of academic trouble · C- Some difficulties or problems, below standard for staying out of academic trouble · D- ,D ,D+ Poor, wrong focus, inappropriate level of effort
Course Outline
1. Thursday, August 31 MBT: Ch 1 Foundations and Challenges of Business
2. Tuesday, September 5 MBT: Ch. 2 Global Business MBT: Component Ch A. Government regulation, taxation and business law
3. Thursday, September 7 MBT: Ch. 3 Ethical and Social Responsibilities of Business
4. Tuesday, September 12 "Lexon Corporation (A)", Harvard Business School Case Study "A Question of Character", Harvard Business School Case Study (readings package)
5. Thursday, September 14 MBT: Ch. 4 Forms of Business Ownership
6. Tuesday, September 19 MBT: Ch. 5 Small Business, New Ventures, and Franchises
7. Thursday, September 21 MBT: Ch 6 Management Fundamentals
8. Tuesday, September 26 MBT: Ch 7 Organization, Teamwork, and Communications
9. Thursday, September 28 "McKinsey & Company: Managing Knowledge", Harvard Business Case Study, (Readings Package)
10. Tuesday, October 3 MBT: Ch 8 Production of Quality Goods and Services
11. Thursday, October 5 MBT: Ch 9 Human Relations, Motivation, and Performance
12. Tuesday, October 10 "Pacific Dunlop China (A): Beijing", Harvard Business School Case Study
13. Tuesday, October 17 Mid-term examination
14. Thursday, October 19 MBT: Ch 10 Human Resource Management
15. Tuesday, October 24 "Colgate Palmolive: Managing International Careers", Harvard Business School Case Study (Readings Package)
16. Thursday, October 26 MBT: Ch 11 Employee-Management Relations MBT: Appendix I Career Guide
17. Tuesday, October 31 "Singapore Tradenet: A Tale of One City", Harvard Business School Case Study (Readings Package)
18. Thursday, November 2 MBT: Ch 12 Marketing and Customer Satisfaction
19. Tuesday, November 7 MBT: Ch 13 Product and Pricing Decisions
20. Thursday, November 9 MBT: Ch 14 Distribution
21. Tuesday, November 14 "Ingvar Kamprad and Idea", Harvard Business School Case Study (Readings Package)
22. Thursday, November 16 MBT: Ch 15 Promotion
23. Tuesday, November 21 MBT: Ch 16 Computers and Information Technology
24. Tuesday, November 28 MBT: Ch 17 Accounting
25. Thursday, November 30 MBT: Ch 18 Banking and Financial Management
26. Tuesday, December 5 MBT: Ch 19 Securities Markets MBT: Component Ch B Insurance & Risk
27. Thursday, December 7 Class Wrap-up Final Examination - December 11, 2000 - 2:00 p.m.