Business

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify, select, and use appropriate writing aids and references.
• prepare business documents that demonstrate knowledge and correct application of English grammar, word usage, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
• analyze and evaluate business documents for tone, voice, and communication effectiveness, e.g., sentence length and complexity.
• produce business documents that reflect critical thinking, effective writing, and business vocabulary.
• write coherent, well-developed, unified paragraphs.
• examine the content of and proofread written business documents.
• create, revise, and edit sentences, paragraphs, and basic business documents using a computer.
• locate and evaluate relevant information using the Internet and internet resources.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.
• use fractions, decimals, graphs, and statistics to calculate values.
• analyze and solve application problems.
• solve for unknowns by using formulas, variables, and equations.
• evaluate financial alternatives based on mathematical formulas.
• demonstrate accuracy, neatness, thoroughness, promptness, and speed in solving and composing responses to mathematical problems.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess the relationships and interdependencies of economic, social, legal, and global environments in which businesses operate.
• examine the major functional areas of business including management, human relations, marketing, finance, accounting, and international business.
• use the vocabulary of business correctly.
• apply business skills to succeed in the world of business.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze how word selection and word usage affect the efficiency and effectiveness of communication.
• solve business communication problems through planning, problem solving, organizing, writing, listening, and presenting skills and techniques.
• identify and eliminate gender, age, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic bias in communication, thereby demonstrating awareness of and sensitivity to multicultural and diverse audiences and situations.
• plan, write, assess, and revise letters, memorandums, emails, and reports suitable for a variety of business situations, including quantitative and business legal contexts.
• discern the differences between primary and secondary research.
• demonstrate an understanding of the importance of original written work and the role of proper citations and references, avoiding plagiarism of either a deliberate or inadvertent nature.
• compose an analytical formal keyed research report based on research findings using APA style.
• present the findings of a formal analytical research paper using presentation software.
• integrate visuals, e.g., graphics, tables, charts, and illustrations into a formal research paper and oral presentation.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze economic principles and concepts and apply these principles to individual financial planning.
• establish personal financial goals and design a personal financial plan to achieve them.
• explain types of risk and risk management methods and develop a risk management plan.
• calculate the cost of credit, assess types and sources of credit, and develop an appropriate credit card and debt plan.
• research, evaluate, and analyze corporate financial information to make investment decisions.
• explain the parts of a corporate balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
• create an appropriate long-term investment plan for their stage in life.
• explain and apply basic mathematical concepts related to personal finance and solve problems through quantitative reasoning.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• evaluate investment objectives, economic needs, and financial goals, and design financial models to achieve them.
• analyze the changing economic and financial environment and formulate strategies to attempt to adapt to this evolution.
• apply ethical and economic principles, concepts, and theories to individual economic and investment planning.
• assess the conceptual basis of various economic tools and models (and the terminology) available to the individual to deal with decision-making in financial markets.
• develop a theory of money, interest rate determination, and the term structure of interest rates.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• define culture within the context of the United States workplace.
• analyze demographic trends in order to determine possible future directions in the United States workforce.
• analyze how language, gender, race, ethnicity, and organizational culture interact to produce an organizational climate.
• demonstrate leadership, negotiation, and communication skills that are effective in managing a multicultural workforce.
• analyze the impact of cultural, historical, and stereotypical perspectives on the workplace.
• examine ethnicity and the concept of ethnocentrism as it applies to a workplace culture and compare the experiences of various underrepresented minority groups in the workplace in the United States.
• promote workplace equity by developing strategies to identity and remove barriers that are based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
• examine civil rights legislation in the United States and California and critique the impact on the American workplace.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• appraise the relationship between law and ethics.
• explain the social, political, and ethical implications of the law and their application to actual and hypothetical business transactions, as well as operation of the court system and sources of commercial law.
• analyze cases to identify issues and apply the appropriate legal rules to the fact patterns.
• explain a corporation's legal structure, differentiate it from other forms of business organization, and explain the meaning of limited liability.
• distinguish between torts and crimes and describe the purpose of criminal and tort law.
• evaluate when a promise is enforceable, the elements of a contract, performance, and the remedies available in the event of a breach.
• distinguish between contracts governed by the Uniform Commercial Code and those governed by the common law of contracts.
• describe the relationship between state and federal systems, jurisdiction, and the importance of alternate dispute resolution methods.
• describe the various agency relationships and the duties and liabilities of agents and principals.
• describe the Constitutional basis for federal government regulation of business, including limits of government power.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe understanding of the origins and development of the U.S. legal system.
• recognize the organization of our courts and its procedures.
• explain the importance of law as a legitimate instrument of social change.
• demonstrate an understanding of critical thinking skills and analysis techniques.
• analyze cases and identify issues and apply the appropriate legal rules to the fact patterns to reach defensible legal conclusions.
• think logically, critically review information, and separate fact from opinion.
• assess competing legal arguments on important societal issues.
• appraise the relationship between law and ethics.
• distinguish between torts and crimes and describe the purpose of criminal and tort law.
• enumerate various major legal theories for societal problem solving.
• explain a corporation’s legal structure and differentiate it from other forms of business organization, understand the meaning of limited liability for the owners; describe the relationship of the various stakeholders in the corporation.
• differentiate the major differences between the U.S.'s adversarial legal system versus the inquisitorial system of justice found in many other countries.
• explain understanding of contracts, classification, contract terms and elements, performance, enforcement, breach, and remedies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• design and discuss a proposal of study with a supervising business instructor.
• demonstrate the ability to independently pursue a course of study or project in business.
• prepare a final report or project incorporating results of study or activities.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the nature and purpose of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• apply the components of financial accounting and reporting, including qualitative characteristics of accounting information, the assumptions underlying accounting, the basic principles of financial accounting, and the constraints and limitations on accounting information.
• explain how an accounting system can be designed to satisfy the needs of a startup business and their users.
• prepare and interpret the purpose of the basic financial statements and the annual report and how they satisfy the information needs of investors, creditors, and other users.
• identify how the principles of internal control are used to manage and control the firm's resources and minimize risk.
• assess the hiring needs of a start-up and have the ability to understand and evaluate whether permanent, temporary, or consultants are the best option.
• understand and evaluate what different funding alternatives are available and what is best for the start-up.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• evaluate the role of entrepreneurship and small business in the U.S. economy.
• research and write an opportunity analysis for a business idea.
• create a vision, mission, core values, and business strategy for an entrepreneurial venture.
• explain how structure, strategy, and culture develop in a growing business.
• assess the legal ownership options for small business.
• prioritize the human resource management needs of a small business.
• develop a human resource plan for a small business.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• evaluate risks and learn from mistakes in order to improve a product, service, or process.
• discern changes that have the potential to disrupt industries and workplace norms and expectations, like new technology.
• use feedback in a positive way, and learn from efforts that go wrong.
• assess their personality, strengths, and areas of knowledge, skills, and habits.
• look for work opportunities that would be a compatible match for personal skills and strengths.
• demonstrate a basic understanding of computer, tablet, and smartphone hardware and software and how they work.
• speak in a professional, credible manner, using appropriate content and technology tools.
• work effectively with a diverse team, in person or remotely.
• set priorities and goals, anticipate possible consequences, and develop contingency plans.
• examine information and data using critical thinking skills.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify and evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities from emerging trends in marketing.
• apply entrepreneurial thinking to market segmentation and target market decisions.
• apply the marketing mix in entrepreneurial settings.
• develop a marketing research strategy for a new product or service.
• explain the steps in defining and developing a brand.
• describe effective entrepreneurial digital marketing techniques.
• write a marketing plan for an entrepreneurial venture.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• build and submit a well-crafted business plan that includes mission statement, company description, external market analysis, and marketing plan.
• build and submit financial statements that include pro-forma income statement and balance sheet.
• design a business card.
• activate a home page for the business website.
• build and implement a marketing plan that includes a clear description of pricing, promotion and placement strategies.
• launch a business that will generate sales revenue, and monitor the business’ progress through end of semester.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to select a suitable management topic for investigation and assess its relationship to current developments in the discipline of study.
• demonstrate the ability to define clear research objectives and to select and review secondary sources that are relevant to the research questions in a structured and organized manner.
• design appropriate primary research projects that address the defined research objective.
• deduce meaningful conclusions and recommendations from the sources reviewed and research conducted.
• work collaboratively with an instructor or instructors and possibly other students.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• examine the five functions of management and apply the planning, organizing, staffing, controlling, and leadership roles in a variety of real life business situations.
• evaluate the skills required to be an effective manager.
• explain how internal and external environmental forces influence organizations and how organizations can influence their environments.
• apply the strategic, tactical, and operational planning process to a variety of modern management situations.
• assess how organizations improve through the use of effective organizational design.
• examine how effective human resource and team management leads to competitive advantage.
• critique and apply the major theories of motivation and leadership.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• evaluate the role of human resource management in public and private organizations.
• identify and apply the various federal and state laws and regulations to the management of human resources.
• analyze and decide upon the use of personnel recruitment and selection methods for different sets of conditions.
• compare and contrast various performance appraisal techniques, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• analyze and appraise the dynamics and legal foundations of labor and management relations.
• evaluate and apply accepted training methods to various personnel situations.
• explain how careful and astute management of human resources can result in better job performance.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• define and assess a supervisor’s role and responsibilities.
• explain the skills necessary for effective supervision of employees.
• analyze and evaluate group and individual behaviors as they relate to the workplace.
• formulate and employ an effective model of communication with superiors and employees.
• determine, explain, outline, and apply a framework for managing the work performance of employees.
• review and analyze workplace scenarios to synthesize information, recommend a course of action, and justify the recommended action based on careful analysis of the situation.
• use a self-assessment to evaluate interest and skills to determine if a career in management is desirable.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze theories of human behavior at work.
• demonstrate effective human interaction skills in the workplace.
• determine the key ingredients that motivate people.
• assess intrapersonal and interpersonal skills in effective human interaction and negotiation.
• evaluate employee morale and performance in such areas as goal orientation, innovation and creativity, constructive discipline, delegation, and responsibility.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to select a suitable topic for investigation and to appreciate its relationship with current developments in the respective subject areas.
• design appropriate primary research projects that address the defined research objectives.
• deduce meaningful conclusions and recommendations from the sources reviewed and research conducted.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• recognize the functions of the marketing mix and apply those functions to marketing information.
• examine the importance of customer satisfaction and the priorities of the marketing concept.
• illustrate how marketers segment their markets and design target markets.
• evaluate how marketers plan and make marketing decisions regarding the controllable factors of the marketing mix and the uncontrollable factors that influence them.
• develop business relationships both in the consumer and industrial markets.
• research, analyze, and evaluate several companies and write about various concepts of marketing, such as target marketing, social responsibility, and product mix.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the role of selling in the marketing process.
• illustrate a professional attitude toward a sales career.
• demonstrate the qualifications and characteristics for effective selling.
• analyze differences in techniques in direct, industrial, wholesale, and retail sales.
• prepare a professional sales presentation.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• examine the major social and economic impacts of advertising in the United States.
• describe how the advertising industry operates and produces advertising through the work of advertisers, agencies, media, and suppliers.
• evaluate the various advertising media, including television, radio, magazines, newspapers, outdoor, internet, social media, direct mail, and other media.
• create and produce advertising examples for magazine ads, television and radio commercials, social media, and billboards.
• work together in groups to create and present media advertising for an advertising campaign.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• create effective internet marketing strategies that enhance a business' relationship with present and future customers.
• identify and evaluate decisions in the selection of internet marketing strategies to make a business more effective.
• apply complex decision-making techniques to problems involving e-commerce practice and a company's role in this evolving business environment.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• design effective social media content to engage a target audience.
• build a business presence on a social media platform.
• create a social media marketing plan for a business.
• measure key performance indicators (KPIs) for a social media marketing campaign.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to select a suitable topic for investigation and to appreciate its relationship with current developments in the respective subject areas.
• demonstrate the ability to define clear research objectives and to select and review secondary sources that are relevant to the research questions in a structured and organized manner.
• design appropriate primary research projects that address the defined research objectives.
• deduce meaningful conclusions and recommendations from the sources reviewed and research conducted.
• work collaboratively with an instructor or instructors and other students.