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📚 Table of Contents: Introduction to Business

Navigate through all 17 chapters and the appendix of "Introduction to Business: Understanding the Foundations." Each chapter includes learning objectives, real-world case studies, key terms, and knowledge checks.

Part 1: Foundations of Business

Chapter 1

Understanding Economic Systems and Business

The nature of business, economic systems, macroeconomics, microeconomics, supply and demand, and market structures.

Chapter 2

Making Ethical Decisions and Managing a Socially Responsible Business

Business ethics, ethical conduct, corporate social responsibility, and stakeholder relationships.

Chapter 3

Competing in the Global Marketplace

Global trade, why nations trade, barriers, trade agreements, and multinational corporations.

Chapter 4

Forms of Business Ownership

Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, franchises, mergers and acquisitions.

Chapter 5

Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing Your Own Business

Entrepreneurship today, characteristics of entrepreneurs, small business management, and the SBA.

Part 2: Management and Organization

Chapter 6

Management and Leadership in Today's Organizations

The role of management, planning, organizing, leading, controlling, and managerial skills.

Chapter 7

Designing Organizational Structures

Building structures, contemporary designs, teams, authority, centralization, and informal organization.

Chapter 8

Managing Human Resources and Labor Relations

HR management, recruitment, selection, training, compensation, and labor relations.

Chapter 9

Motivating Employees

Theories of motivation, Hawthorne Studies, Maslow, McGregor, Herzberg, and contemporary views.

Chapter 10

Achieving World-Class Operations Management

Production and operations, location, resource planning, control, technology, and process improvement.

Part 3: Marketing

Chapter 11

Creating Products and Pricing Strategies to Meet Customers' Needs

The marketing concept, strategy, marketing mix, buyer behavior, segmentation, product life cycle, and pricing.

Chapter 12

Distributing and Promoting Products and Services

Distribution, wholesaling, retailing, supply chain management, promotion, advertising, personal selling, and public relations.

Part 4: Information and Finance

Chapter 13

Using Technology to Manage Information

Information systems, computer networks, MIS, technology management, and data protection.

Chapter 14

Using Financial Information and Accounting

Accounting profession, procedures, balance sheet, income statement, cash flows, and financial analysis.

Chapter 15

Understanding Money and Financial Institutions

The Federal Reserve, financial institutions, deposit insurance, and international banking.

Chapter 16

Understanding Financial Management and Securities Markets

Role of finance, short and long-term financing, equity, securities markets, and trading.

Part 5: Career and Reference

Chapter 17

Your Career in Business

Business basics, interpersonal skills, career planning, and professional development.

Appendix

Understanding the Legal and Tax Environment

Legal structures, regulations, tax considerations, and compliance for businesses.

✍️ About This Adaptation

This educational content is an original adaptation inspired by the foundational concepts presented in OpenStax's "Introduction to Business".

Original OpenStax Citation:
Gitman, L. J., McDaniel, C., Shah, A., Reece, M., Koffel, L., Talsma, B., & Hyatt, J. C. (2018). Introduction to Business. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-business

Senior Contributing Authors: Lawrence J. Gitman (San Diego State University - Emeritus), Carl McDaniel (University of Texas, Arlington), Amit Shah (Frostburg State University), Monique Reece, Linda Koffel (Houston Community College), Bethann Talsma (Davenport University and Grand Rapids Community College), James C. Hyatt (University of The Cumberlands).

Publication Date: September 19, 2018 | Last Updated: December 18, 2024

Attribution and License: The OpenStax textbook is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This adaptation is independently written and does not reproduce the original text verbatim but builds upon the general scope, sequence, and educational concepts common to the discipline. All new content, including explanations, examples, case studies, learning objectives, summaries, and instructional design in this specific adaptation, is the original work of the author.

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OpenStax Attribution Required Notice: This material is based upon original work by OpenStax and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The original OpenStax textbook, "Introduction to Business" by Gitman et al. (2018), is available for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-business. Changes were made to the original material, including adaptation and original content creation. OpenStax's licensing terms do not imply endorsement of this adaptation.

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