MANAGEMENT 1104: FOUNDATIONS OF BUSINESS

Fall 2021

SYLLABUS and COURSE CALENDAR 

Instructor:

Steve Matuszak Assistant Professor of Practice VT Zoom Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/6945372238 matuszak@vt.edu Office: Pamplin 1037

Class:

CRNs (Sections): 88418 & 88411 Class Times: 88418 = M, W, F ... 10:10am - 11am 88411 = M, W, F ... 11:15am-12:05pm Locations: PAM 31 (for both CRNs/Sections) Office Hours: Mondays 1:15-2:15pm & Tuesdays 11am-Noon (& by appointment) - for both CRNs/Sections

MGT1104 Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTA)			For BOTH CRNs
FALL 2021
Name	Email	Office Hours	Office Hours Zoom Link
Kennan Murphy	kennanm4@vt.edu	Wednesdays 2-3pm	https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/7749289750
Caroline Dishner	dcaroline@vt.edu	Mondays 4-5pm	https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/82552785440

 

Click here to jump to the COURSE CALENDAR

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Foundations of Business exposes students to the free enterprise system and the various business functions, such as management, human resources, marketing, production and operations, accounting and finance, as well as to the different types of businesses such as manufacturing and service. Analysis of business functions is performed to help improve understanding of career interests and opportunities, as well as to provide a basic understanding of how a company operates. This course is intended to form a foundation for study for all business majors.

Learning Objectives: Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:

• Explain the basics of how business works in a free market economy
• Describe various business functions
• Utilize essential business terminology
• Relate current business events to topics in the course
• Research issues and topics through the ethical and responsible collection, analysis, and use of information (inquiry skills)
• Design, evaluate, and implement a strategy or strategies to answer an open-ended question or to achieve a desired goal (problem-solving skills)
• Make connections between ideas and experiences, and to apply them to new learning situations (integration skills)

Daily learning objectives for the course are published under Modules. For a print version of this syllabus, please copy and paste the content into a blank word document.

Prerequisites: None

Required Materials:

Text: This course utilizes a free, open source book provided in online form. Assigned readings are listed in the appropriate module on this course website. Students who prefer a hard copy without printing it themselves may purchase the book at the link provided below.

Link to Order a Print Copy of the Textbook

News: Morning Brew is a business news digest that is specifically intended for a younger audience. To subscribe, simply click on this link. You will receive a daily email with the top stories from the day before. Morning Brew news items will be included on pop quizzes and covered when the items relate to material being covered in the chapter readings.

The Wall Street Journal is a more comprehensive new source. Although we will not use it directly in the course, students who wish to subscribe can do so at a substantial discount. You can order at the following link: https://r.wsj.com/PROFfmdg.

The business simulation CapSim Core will be used in this course. Each student must register for the simulation individually, at a cost of $25 each. If you anticipate having financial difficulties that would prevent you from registering, please contact the Dean of Students office as early in the semester as possible. There are funds available to assist in these cases, but they may be claimed quickly. This simulation represents the only paid materials for the course. We hope you will agree that $25 for a course is reasonable since there is no fee for the book.

ASSIGNMENTS:

See the Assignments tab for complete details on all assignments.

1. First Year Experience (FYE) Assignments: See Description under individual Assignments 
2. Business Simulation - Team: See Description under Assignments
3. Business Simulation - Individual Training: See Description under Assignments 
4. Quizzes will take place online during class at any point during the semester - they are unannounced. Questions will come from the chapter readings, videos, and from selected articles from the Morning Brew reading. For grading purposes, the quizzes are equally weighted. There will be three "special purpose" quizzes based on (a) the library material; (b) the VT honor system; and (c) the alumni roundtable. The number of quizzes will not be disclosed in advance. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
5. Live Case Assignments: See descriptions in HR Business Case and Marketing Strategies modules (you will only submit one of the two cases but should prepare both for class)
6. Lyft Focus Group: Working in assigned teams, students will conduct in-class focus groups with each team writing a short report to the Director of Small Market Strategy at Lyft. The director will provide the questions to which the student groups will respond.
7. Financial Statement Exercise: Students will create an income statement and balance sheet working from a list of basic accounting transactions.

EXAMS:

There will be three exams that will include primarily short answer questions as well as a small number of essays and/or problems. Exams are cumulative and test your retention of material from previous parts of the course, so the percentage grading weight increases for each successive exam.

ATTENDANCE POLICY 

As college students, you are free to attend or not attend class as you wish. However, you should take into consideration that there are numerous pop quizzes which can occur on any given day, the timing of which can vary from one section of the course to another. Students who miss those class dates will earn a zero on the pop quizzes without the possibility of a make-up. In addition, the lecture concerning the slides will be much more in-depth than the content on the slides themselves. As a result, it is in your best interest to be in class and take notes because quizzes and exams will include lecture material not written on the slides.

Quiz-day absences covered by documentation from the Dean of Students Office, the Schiffert Health Center, or a verifiable outside physician will be excused, with the corresponding percentage value of the quiz added to the weight of the other quizzes.

MAKE-UP WORK:

Make-up work requires verification of illness or personal emergency through a memo from the Dean of Students Office.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS

The college of business has provided undergraduate teaching assistants (UTA's) for this course. These are students who have already successfully completed MGT 1104 and have made themselves available to help their fellow students. The teaching assistants will hold virtual office hours each week to help you with any questions or special help you may need. These are in addition to the office hours held by me, Mr. Matusaak, your instructor - you may use whichever are more convenient or comfortable for you. I ask that if you have questions concerning course logistics and such (i.e. when something is due, course schedule, assignments and similar) please ask these types of questions of the TA's FIRST. Please come to me, Mr. Matuszak, for more in-depth questions. The UTA's for your course section are listed above in the Syllabus with their contact information and office hours.

WELLNESS PRINCIPLES

Virginia Tech is committed to protecting the health and safety of all members of its
community. By participating in this class, all students agree to abide by the
Virginia Tech Wellness principles.
To uphold these principles, in this class you must do the following:
● Wear a face covering during class, including as you enter and exit the classroom
● Maintain the designated distancing guidelines of the classroom
● Enter and exit class according to posted signage
If you are exhibiting even the slightest sign of illness, you must not attend an in-person class. Notify me, Mr. Matuszak, by email and follow the instructions posted at the following
Link.  It is CRITICAL that you follow these instructions when you are sick for SAFETY and for your EXCUSED ABSENCE.

One of the MGT 1104 instructors has developed a list of resources to assist students taking the course online, many of which would also be valuable to those taking the course in hybrid format. Students are encouraged to consult this page for more information.  If you are in an in-person class, you are expected to take the course in-person.

GRADING:

• Business Simulation - Team 15%
• Business Simulation - Individual Training 2.5%
• Quizzes (based on average of all quizzes, lowest dropped) 10%
• Live Case Assignments 5% (one submission only)
• Lyft Focus Group Report 5%
• Financial Statement Exercise 5%
• First Year Experience Assignments 2.5%
• Exam 1 12.5%
• Exam 2 17.5%
• Comprehensive Final Exam 25%

Grading Scale

A = 93 or higher	C = 73 – 76.99
A- = 90 – 92.99	C- = 70 – 72.99
B+ = 87 – 89.99	D+ = 67 – 69.99
B = 83 – 86.99	D = 63 – 66.99
B- = 80 – 82.99	D- = 60 – 62.99
C+ = 77 – 79.99	F = 59.99 or below

Please be aware in advance that averages will not be rounded up.

UNDERGRADUATE HONOR CODE:

The Undergraduate Honor Code pledge that each member of the university community agrees to abide by states: 

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times.  I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”
Students enrolled in this course are responsible for abiding by the Honor Code. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the course instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code.  

Academic integrity expectations are the same for online classes as they are for in person classes.  We strongly encourage all instructors to discuss the use of technology, and specifically discuss areas we know are problematic temptations for students such as Chegg, CourseHero, and GroupMe to discourage students from using them.  When the semester starts is an appropriate time in addition to providing a kind reminder before exams and assignments about expectations related to these sites.  Please make your students aware that we are able to effectively investigate these incidents.  If you have any questions about these sites or discussing them with your students, please do not hesitate to call our office.  All university policies and procedures apply in any Virginia Tech academic environment, and all students are expected to follow them.

For additional information about the Honor Code, please visit: https://www.honorsystem.vt.edu/ 

Honor Code Pledge for Assignments: The Virginia Tech honor code pledge for assignments is as follows:  

“I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this assignment.”

The pledge is to be written out on all graded assignments at the university and signed by the student.  The honor pledge represents both an expression of the student’s support of the honor code and a commitment to uphold the academic standards at Virginia Tech.  

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

If you are in need of accommodations due to a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities office at Virginia Tech (www.ssd.vt.edu) and follow their instructions regarding notification of your professors. Please be aware that testing space at the SSD office will be very limited this semester, so making your requests early will improve your chances of having that space available if you prefer that environment. If you have emergency medical information to share with the instructor or need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please notify the instructor as soon as possible.

Virginia Tech welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. The University promotes efforts to provide equal access and a culture of inclusion without altering the essential elements of coursework. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers that may be due to disability, including but not limited to ADHD, chronic or temporary medical conditions, deaf or hard of hearing, learning disability, mental health, or vision impairment, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office (540-231-3788, ssd@vt.edu, or visit www.ssd.vt.edu). If you have an SSD accommodation letter, please meet with me privately during office hours as early in the semester as possible to deliver your letter and discuss your accommodations. You must give me reasonable notice to implement your accommodations, which is generally 5 business days and 10 business days for final exams.

Mental Health and Wellness

Supporting the mental health and well-being of students in my class is of high priority to me and Virginia Tech. If you are feeling overwhelmed academically, having trouble functioning, or are worried about a friend, please reach out to any of the following offices:

Cook Counseling
540-231-6557 to schedule an appointment and/or 24/7 crisis support o ucc.vt.edu for more information

Dean of Students Office
540 231-3787 for general advice
540-231-6411 for after-hours crisis
 dos.vt.edu for more information

Hokie Wellness
hokiewellness.vt.edu for more information about health and wellness workshops and consultations

Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
540-231-3788 or ssd.vt.edu  
for more information about accommodations and other disability-related supports. For a full listing of campus resources check out well-being.vt.edu.  

A NOTE ABOUT FYE COURSES

Foundations of Business is a university-approved First Year Experience (FYE) course. The FYE program is designed to equip first-year students at VT with the tools necessary to engage in substantive exploration and discovery of themselves and the world around them. We will pursue this objective through curricular and co-curricular opportunities, in order to help students develop into reflective and responsible learners and citizens. The program is focused on the development of lifelong learning skills - problem solving, inquiry, and the integration of knowledge.

Please click on this link for a full COURSE CALENDAR   

What is listed below is generated automatically by Canvas but only reflects key due dates. Times may be incorrect because of limitations in Canvas.