This course is offered in the 16-week and 12-week formats. This course will introduce you to the basics of business, including the economic environments in which they operate, how they are organized, how they produce and market their goods and services, and how they manage and finance their operations.  You will put your new knowledge to use by building and developing skills such as creating an online portfolio in Google Apps about a Fortune-500 company of your choosing; discussing current business topics and issues using correct business terminology and vocabulary; and working in a group project similar to the real business environment.  You will have the oppportunity to practice critical-thinking, learn problem-solving skills, and plan business strategies. By the end of this course, you will be well-informed about the basics of business; capable of researching any business for career or investment purposes; and be better prepared to study business in more detail in other courses and pursue a career in business.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

1. Define what a business is.
2. Describe the current business environment in the U.S.
3. Identify potential ethical issues at different levels within a business organization.
4. Make principled decisions on business issues.
5. Describe the globalization of business and assess the impact on individual businesses.
6. Describe possible advantages and barriers to doing business in a global marketplace.
7. Distinguish macro and microeconomics.
8. Describe the decisions and policies that form the macroeconomic environment.
9. Describe the microeconomic decisions and policies that businesses and industries can make.
10. Name the major forms of business ownership and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.
11. Describe the characteristics of entrepreneurs and small businesses.
12. List and describe the basic functions, levels, and styles of management.
13. Explain the role of organization in the achievement of business goals.
14. Describe ways that technology can support communication, production, and management in  a business.
15. Describe the trend toward e-commerce.
16. Identify important issues in operations and production management.
17. Describe the functions of human resource management.
18. Describe legal and regulatory requirements that affect human resource policies.
19. Explain what is included in marketing - the system to plan, price, promote and distribute products and services to satisfy want or need.
20. Explain the role of the control function in business, including becoming familiar with the format and use of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet.
21. Describe elementary factors of business finance.

Your course grade will be determined according to the following points:  

There are 2 proctored online exams in this course.

We are here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact us when they do:

You may also schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or at our campus offices.

Last Updated: September 20, 2010