COURSE INFORMATION

1. Name of Course INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

2. Course Code BUS1231
3. Name(s) of Academic Staff IMADUDDIN ARIF BIN BURHANUUDIN
4. Semester and Year offered Semester 2, Year 1
5. Prerequisite (if any) Nil
6. Rationale for the inclusion of the course in the The course provides students the basic knowledge of business
programme and introduces them to various types of business that they can
venture in future.

7. Course Description This course presents a broad introduction to the functioning of

the business enterprises through integrative framework. This
course also introduces economics system as well as the
essential elements of the business organization to include,
operation management, marketing and human resource
management.

8. Credit Value 3
9. Course Outcomes At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1) Explain fundamentals of business, ethical practice in
business, and global business environment (C2)
2) Describe different forms of business ownerships and starting
and financing small business. (C2)
3) Explain mechanism involves in producing quality goods and
service as well as managing personnel. (C2)
4) Demonstrate role of marketing and the strategies. (C3, A3,
P4)
5) Explaintheinformationsystemmanagementand
communication technology benefits. (C2)

14. Assessment Methods and Types Methods Percentage

Quizzes (3 Quizzes) 10%

Formative (60%) Tutorial 10%

Group Assignment 20%

Presentation 20%

Summative (40%) Final Examination 40%

Total 100%

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6. Content outline of the course
Topic

TOPIC 1: UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
• Definition of business and why we do business
• Goods producing business vs. service businesses
• Economic systems

TOPIC 2: PRACTICING ETHICAL BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY
• Ethics and social responsibility in contemporary business
• Business’s efforts to increase social responsibility
• Ethics and social responsibility around the world.

TOPIC 3: COMPETING IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

• Measurement of international trade, blocks and restriction
• Foreign exchange rates and currency valuations
• Cultural and legal differences in global business
environment

TOPIC 4: SELECTING THE OPTIMUM FORM OF BUSINESS

OWNERSHIP AND EXPLORING BUSINESS COMBINATION
• Forming Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and
corporations
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Strategic alliances and joint-ventures

TOPIC 5: STARTING AND FINANCING A SMALL BUSINESS

• Economic roles of small businesses
• Characteristics of small businesses and entrepreneurs
• Business plan and financing a new business

TOPIC 6: PRODUCING QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES

• Value chain, conversion process and service delivery
• Mass production, mass customization, customized
production and outsourcing
• Supply chain, forecasting demand capacity and facility
planning

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 TOPIC 7: MANAGING HUMAN RESOURCES
• Forecasting demand and supply and evaluating job
requirements
• Recruiting, hiring and training employees
• Appraising employee performance and linking
compensation and benefit

TOPIC8:DEVELOPINGPRODUCTANDPRICING
STRATEGIES
•Role of marketing and the strategies
•Product and pricing strategies

TOPIC 9: DEVELOPING DISTRIBUTION AND

PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES
•Marketing intermediaries and channels
•Promotional goals, mix and product variables

TOPIC10:MANAGINGINFORMATIONSYSTEM&
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
•Understanding information technology and terms
• Benefits of technologies

17. Main references supporting the course Courtland L. Bove’e , John V. Thill ,(2008) “BUSINESS IN ACTION”
4th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall.

Additional references supporting the course Manual Compilation (for internal circulation only)

18. Other additional information Nil

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