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 Applied Business Decisions
Spring 2006

COURSE:

COURSE MATERIAL:

INTRODUCTION:

The successful business professional of today and the future is likely to be a better listener than a talker, an effective team player, a critical thinker, and has the ability to make winning decisions in an increasingly unpredictable and less forgiving environment. Are you prepared to compete in a global economy?

Applied Business Decisions is a required core business course in the business administration major. The course provides opportunity to reinforce and integrate fundamental business knowledge including accounting, economics, quantitative and technological skills in applied business decision-making. The major emphasis is using common business decision-making practices including financial statement analysis, market analysis using descriptive statistics, and risk analysis. Students are given the opportunity to practice the requisite skills through participation on teams in an integrated business simulation using the Internet and other technology to reach predetermined goals.

The class is hands-on allowing each student to contribute to the team activities and goals. Students participate in the learning process using spreadsheet analysis, research, and collaborating with team members including providing critical feedback. The instructor’s role is to facilitate the learning process in an interactive class. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss and to do activities related to assignments. The integrated business simulation is the semester project. In addition, case studies, exercises, and related activities are used to develop and reinforce basic business decision concepts and skills.

OBJECTIVES:

The primary objective is to develop the student’s ability to make functional business decisions. The associated course content objectives identify the topics students are expected to understand and apply. The performance objectives identify the skills students are expected to demonstrate. The mission mandated student competencies/skills address the expected outcomes relative to the mission of the College of Business.

Course Content Objectives

The course will integrate a basic body of knowledge gained from accounting, mathematics, statistics, economics, and information systems. At semester’s end, the "A" student will have demonstrated an ability to integrate accounting, economics, statistics, and use basic business tools and technology to make business decisions leading to demonstrated success in:

Performance Objectives

In addition, by the end of the semester, the "A" student will have demonstrated the following skills:
 

COB Mission Mandated Student Competencies/Skills

BUS 315 Applied Business Decisions will contribute to development of COB student competencies through placement of the following relative emphasis on each of the competencies:
(Scale - 10 [low emphasis] to 50 [high emphasis])

STUDENT PARTICIPATION:

Successful students come to every class and participate in the learning process. Experience indicates student success requires keeping current by completing all assignments when due, achieving excellent technology skills, studying for exams, participating in class activities, and being a productive team member.

 

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND GRADING POLICIES:                                            Evaluation

Peer Evaluations will affect your final grade! The three peer evaluations are averaged with the final evaluation given a weight of two (i.e. evaluation #1 = 25%, #2 = 25%, #3 = 50%.) The individual grades on ALL team submissions are adjusted by the weighted average of the peer evaluation. For example if the team earns a 90% on the presentation and the individual earns an 80% weighted average on the peer evaluation, the final individual grade on the presentation will be weighted (e.g. 80% X 90% = 72%.)

NO MAKE-UP OF IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES
HOMEWORK IS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS
LATE HOMEWORK OR SIMULATION SUBMISSIONS WILL RECEIVE A 25% PENALTY

Written Assignments

All written assignments are evaluated on content and quality of writing. Word-process all papers and staple multiple pages. Proofreading, writing in active voice, using correct sentence structure and clear communication of ideas are important business skills. Writing skills develop with practice and responding to feedback. Plan to use the appropriate tools (Spellchecker set option to "Formal", Grammar Check, etc.) to enhance the ability to communicate in writing. The writing lab, located in the building formerly known as the Computer Annex, is available to help students improve writing skills. Frequently, submission of homework requiring analysis is an electronic file on the campus network and in hard copy.

Grades

Your final grade in the course is determined on a standard academic scale and recorded as follows:

A - 90% +
B – 80% - 89%
C - 70% - 79%
D - 60% - 69%
F - Less than 60%

TEAMWORK:

Applied Business Decisions is a team-based course. Fifty percent of your final grade is based on team competition in the integrated business simulation. Teams increasingly are the norm in business and other organizational activities, and there is no reason to expect that will change anytime soon. Teams, on average, make better decisions than individuals. Synergy results when each individual contributes his or her best effort to the team. This course is designed to help you learn how to be an effective team member, through improved communication, quality contributions, and focusing on team skills. You can expect the following:

  • Time commitment – expect to spend 2.5 – 3.0 hours per week in initial team meetings to finalize business simulation decisions. Using technology effectively through email, chats, and shared files will reduce the time required in team meetings.

  • Deadlines – these must be met without excuse or exception. Your team members will expect you to do your work on time, every time.

  • Conflict – there will be divergent views on most issues. Conflict is healthy when it occurs in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. Relationship conflict is destructive and must be avoided, or at least resolved outside the team. Task conflict (i.e., different opinions on how to complete the current task) is essential to avoid groupthink.

  • Process Management – set each team member up to succeed! It is not who makes the decision, but how. Each team needs to have processes in place to expedite decision-making. Remember the goal is to WIN! Winning is meeting goals, learning, succeeding in every task…. and in the end you will say, This Was the Best Team Ever!

GENERAL POLICIES:

Each class period is a business meeting. The manners and performance expectation of each individual reflect a highly valued, upwardly mobile executive qualified for rapid advancement. The following requests will prepare you to succeed in a competitive business culture.

  • Students are expected to come to class on time and remain at the computer through the entire class period.

  • Do not plan to leave early or move in and out of the class during the class period! The restricted space and potential for computer failure if the wiring is touched lead to the requirement that all students stay seated during the entire class.

  • Cellular phones are to be turned off during the class period including text messaging.

  • Out of respect for others, students are asked not to eat during the class period. Drinks are not allowed in the computer lab.

  • There is no formal textbook. Your notes and participation at the time of instruction are all you have to prepare for exams. Success in this environment means paying attention during demonstrations and explanations (i.e. not being distracted by or distracting others, or working on the computer when it is time to listen.)

  • All students are expected to take all exams at the scheduled time. In rare instances, a unit exam may be re-scheduled to accommodate a special need. The circumstances must be documented. Assignments are due on the scheduled dates at the beginning of the class period. Decisions for each round must be completed at the assigned time to facilitate processing.

  • Incompletes in the course will follow the university policy as published in the general catalog:

        Incomplete "I" Grade: An Incomplete is given only when a student has been in attendance for at least three-fourths of the semester but has been prevented by circumstances beyond his/her control from completing all of the requirements of the course. A student must provide adequate evidence to the instructor as to the reason why he/she was unable to complete the requirements for the course. If a grade of "I" Incomplete has been given, the instructor shall advise the Office of Admissions and Records in writing what the student must do to remove the deficiency.

        An Incomplete must be made up within one calendar year. An "I" grade is not included in the computation of the GPA. An Incomplete grade not made up in the prescribed length of time automatically becomes an "F" grade. Once the grade of Incomplete has been converted to an "F" grade, the course must be repeated in order for the grade to be changed.

  • Academic and behavioral misconduct will be handled according to Student Affairs Policies and Procedures, Part IX B.1. (Student Handbook, page 81.)

Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student commit an act of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, each of the following acts when performed in any type of academic or academically-related matter, exercise, or activity.

    • Cheating- using or attempting to use unauthorized materials information, study aids, or computer-related information.
    • Plagiarism- representing the words, data, works, ideas, computer program or output, or anything not generated in an authorized fashion as one’s own.
    • Fabrication- presenting as genuine any invented or falsified citation or material.
    • Misrepresentation- falsifying, altering, or misstating the contents of documents or other materials related to academic matters, including schedules, prerequisites, and transcripts.

When academic dishonesty occurs or is alleged to have occurred, the instructor has the right and obligation to take appropriate action that may include a verbal or written reprimand or warning, a grade of "F" (failure) for the assignment or test involved or a grade of "F" for the course. The instructor is to refer the incident for possible institutional adjudication, as outlined in Part IX, B.4.

When misconduct of a behavioral nature occurs in the classroom, the instructor has the right and obligation to take appropriate action which may include a verbal or written reprimand or warning that the behavior may be in violation of the Code of Student Conduct Part IX, B.

Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact Disability Support Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Please meet with [DSS] staff to verify your eligibility for any classroom accommodations and for academic assistance related to your disability. Disability Support Services is located in the Academic Support Center. If you have any questions or concerns, please call DSS at 657-2283. In addition, students with documented disabilities, who need academic accommodations, should make an appointment with the instructor as soon as possible.

Please contact the instructor to discuss any other issues of concern. Appointments may be scheduled outside of regular office hours.