Understanding the Business Environment

This course introduces the functional concepts of business in terms of economic systems, global markets, corporate social responsibility, and the importance of small businesses to the American business system. Although the functional areas of business will be the core of the course, it is not intended to present those areas in depth. Instead, all functional areas will be addressed using a stakeholder lens allowing students to become familiar with how and why businesses operate the way they do.

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of business.
• Define capitalism and explain the basics of how free markets work
• Discuss the forces that affect trading in global markets.
• Define corporate social responsibility and its impact upon various stakeholders.
• Discuss the importance of small business in the American economy.