EPOKA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
COURSE SYLLABUS
2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE INFORMATIONCourse Title: INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS |
| Code | Course Type | Regular Semester | Theory | Practice | Lab | Credits | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUS 103 | A | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) | Dr. Besjon Zenelaj bzenelaj@epoka.edu.al |
| Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: | M.Sc. Anisa Isufi aisufi@epoka.edu.al , E306, Tuesday 9:00-11:00 |
| Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: | NA |
| Language: | English |
| Compulsory/Elective: | Compulsory |
| Study program: (the study for which this course is offered) | Bachelor in Software Engineering (3 years) |
| Classroom and Meeting Time: | |
| Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: | NA |
| Code of Ethics: |
Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline" |
| Attendance Requirement: | 75% |
| Course Description: | Introduction to Business is a course that offers essential information related to the business landscape and business functions (Operations & Production, Marketing, Finance & Accounting, Human Resourced Management, IT). The course has been designed in such a way that it provides to the students the updated information on the business reality which changes very rapidly. At the same time, it provides the necessary information for more advanced courses related to the aforementioned business functions. Through real life examples and case studies, both national and international; the content of this course has been aligned with the contemporary developments in the field of business, and aims to provide the basics for the understanding of business organizations and people who operate them. |
| Course Objectives: | Provide basic knowledge about the main business functions such as Operations, Marketing, Human Resources, Accounting, IT, and Finance. Gain an understanding of the global business environment and the context in which a business operates. Learn about the different types of business, such as entrepreneurship, new ventures, and other types of ownership. Identify the four basic functions that constitute the management process and describe the basic roles and skills required of managers. Learn how structure, managing basic frameworks that organizations use to get their work done, is the main part of the management process. Discuss traditional and learn contemporary theories about motivation and leadership. |
|
BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE
|
| 1 | Basic business terminology |
| 2 | Forming a business unit |
| 3 | Basics of Marketing |
| 4 | General Management, and basics of HR |
| 5 | International Business and Economics |
| 6 | Basics of Accounting and Financial Management |
| 7 | Teamworking and Group Dynamics |
| 8 | Case-based and Problem-based Learning |
|
COURSE OUTLINE
|
| Week | Topics |
| 1 | Introduction and Orientation |
| 2 | Lecture 1 - Introduction to Business. Students will be introduced to different types of businesses and their objectives. We will discuss about the art of entrepreneurship and the main actors: entrepreneurs and managers. It will be given insight to management levels and the required skills per each. The chapter subsequently describes the industrial and general environment that a business operates in and how can the mangers adapt to the requirements imposed by environmental factors. Learning Objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Explain the objectives and what a business is • Describe the entrepreneurs who start the business and their principal characteristics • Describe the managers, the people who administer the business operations • Explain the management levels and managers’ required skills • Discuss the businesses’ relationship with its environment and how they match with environmental changes. |
| 3 | Lecture 2 – Forming a business unit. This chapter lists and describes different categories of business according to their sizes, functions and equity ownership. Their respective advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Following, the most important legal structures of private business are reviewed. Lastly, this chapter concludes by describing business alliances and their strategic approaches to achieve competitiveness in the global landscape. Learning Objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Understand the several types of business formations in the economy • Discuss the advantages of Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMSB) and large companies • Explain sole proprietorship, partnerships and corporations • Discuss the ownership and management issues in corporations • Explain why companies are forming strategic alliances • Define the mergers and acquisitions |
| 4 | Lecture 3- Business in a global context In this chapter students are presented with advantage positions of a country: Absolute advantage and comparative advantage. Secondly, there is an outline of different economic systems and their specific characteristics. Next, competition and its categories are discussed. Also, students will learn about basic stages in international/ global business and the levels of risk and control associated to each step. Economic phenomena of import and export are put into focus, followed by the formula of balance of trade. They will be introduced to trade agreements and international organizations that support free trading between nations. Lastly, business cycle will be covered and examples for each will be highlighted. Learning objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Identify absolute and comparative advantage • Categorize different economic systems and provide their characteristics • Describe the two significant forms of foreign trading: Importing and exporting • Explain Balance of trade • Explain how companies develop overseas business • Define the natural and man-made barriers in foreign trading • Define business cycle and explain the stages |
| 5 | Lecture 4- General Management in Business Management and its four important functions in organizations are defined. Then, the management process and all the steps are described in detail. Students will learn about differences between goals and plans. Different types of plans are listed; according to time period, their use in the organization and their place in organizational hierarchy. Decision making process is presented and types of decisions in an organization are compared. The process of organizing and its fundamentals are considered. Also, organization structures and the factors influencing it are highlighted. Lastly, students will learn about different approaches of company departmentalization. Learning objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Define management and its four important functions in organizations • Explain planning as a function of management • Explain how the organizations accomplish planning process • Explain the factors which influence organization structure • Describe traditional, modern and contemporary approaches in departmentalization. |
| 6 | Lecture 5- General Management in Business II This chapter is a continuation of the previous chapter. Management and management process will be revised. We will focus on the leading function and its influence to accomplish organizational goals. Leadership theories and theories of motivation are carefully analyzed. It will be proceeded with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as one of the most important theories of motivation. We will talk about communication and the barriers related to it. Among the functions of management, the controlling function and its techniques will be studied. Learning objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Define the leading function and its three important involvements: leadership,motivation and communication • Explain the various theories of leadership • Understand situational factors that affect leadership • Discuss Maslow’s theory • Explain communication • Define controlling and its forms. |
| 7 | Lecture 6- Human Resource Management This chapter is about Human Resources Management. We will discuss about environmental influences on HRM and main activities. Recruitment and selection processes will be evaluated. Students will learn about internal and external techniques of selecting employees and different training programs. Eventually, there will be discussions on other processes related to employees: compensation, job evaluation, motivation and separation. Learning objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Define Human Resources Management • Explain the external factors affecting HRM • Define Job analysis and its outcomes: Job description and Job Specifications • Discuss managerial and non-managerial training and development programs used in or out of the organizations |
| 8 | Midterm Exam |
| 9 | Lecture 7- Production and Operations Management in Business In this chapter the student will be introduced to production and operations management. We will discuss on different types of processes: projects, batch production, mass production and continuous production. Then, there will be a review of the layout strategies and how they help to achieve the best placement of an organization’s resources. Supply Chain Management, Inventory Management and Project Management are analyzed as sets of activities that must be completed to efficiently achieve the company’s goals. Learning objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Describe some of the primary topics involvement in operation management in business • Define process strategy and its types • Explain the types of layouts • Explain supply chain management and various components • Explain inventory management and project management. |
| 10 | Interim presentations |
| 11 | Lecture 8- Marketing Management in Business This chapter will begin with a definition of marketing and its activities. The students should differentiate between selling and marketing concepts. They will learn to compare different market segmentations. The chapter subsequently describes consumer behavior and factors affecting it. Lastly, marketing mix or the combination of 4Ps (Product, Place, Price, Promotion) is analyzed by each component. Learning objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Understand one of the essential activity in business: The marketing activity • Explain the marketing planning needs and processes • Explain the different customer attitudes in consumer and business markets • Define the marketing mix and its components. |
| 12 | Lecture 9- Accounting and Financial management in Business In this chapter, the concepts of accounting and finance will be explained. Students will learn about functions of accounting, people involved in this process and steps in the accounting process. The accounting terms like: transactions, the account, the journal, the ledger should be absorbed. Students will study the financial statements and their purpose. They will be introduced to financial ratios and how to interpret them. Managerial accounting and financial management will be defined. Learning objectives After studying this chapter the student should be able to: • Understand the accounting transactions and accounting processes in the organizations • Define the two significant forms of accounting; financial accounting and managerial accounting • Understand the three important financial statements: balance sheet, income statement and cash-flow statement • Explain the four important financial ratios: liquidity, leverage, profitability and activity ratios. |
| 13 | Project presentation |
| 14 | Final exam review |
| Prerequisite(s): | NA |
| Textbook(s): | Business Essentials, Global Edition, 12th Edition, by Ronald J. Ebert and Ricky W. Griffin, published by Pearson Education 2020 |
| Additional Literature: | NA |
| Laboratory Work: | NA |
| Computer Usage: | Yes |
| Others: | No |
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COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
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| 1 | Discuss the role of business in society, the primary functions of a business, and the internal and external forces that affect a business and its activities. |
| 2 | Explain fundamental economic principles and describe how they shape the business environment. |
| 3 | Describe the characteristics, opportunities, challenges of the global business environment. |
| 4 | Explain the importance of business ethics and corporate social responsibility. |
| 5 | Distinguish among the forms of business ownership. |
| 6 | Describe the primary functions, responsibilities, and skills of effective management. |
| 7 | Explain the key components of the marketing and human resource functions. |
| 8 | Recognize sound accounting practices, and use financial statements and accounting principles to make informed judgements about an organization's financial health. |
| 9 | Develop various skills such as cognitive, communication, interpersonal, teamwork, and digital skills. |
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COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution) |
| No | Program Competencies | Cont. |
| Bachelor in Software Engineering (3 years) Program | ||
|
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
|
| Method | Quantity | Percentage |
| Project |
1
|
50
|
| Final Exam |
1
|
35
|
| Attendance |
0
|
|
| Other |
1
|
15
|
| Total Percent: | 100% |
|
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
|
| Activities | Quantity | Duration(Hours) | Total Workload(Hours) |
| Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) | 16 | 2 | 32 |
| Mid-terms | 1 | 10 | 10 |
| Assignments | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Final examination | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Other | 1 | 5 | 5 |
|
Total Work Load:
|
125 | ||
|
Total Work Load/25(h):
|
5 | ||
|
ECTS Credit of the Course:
|
5 | ||
|
CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER
|
|
This semester’s Introduction to Business course provided foundational knowledge in management, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship, equipping students to analyze business environments and make informed decisions. The problem-based approach further enhanced these skills by fostering digital readiness, 21st-century competencies, and collaborative abilities, preparing students to address real-world challenges with strategic insight and practical skills. |