COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
BUS 103	B	1	2	1	0	2.5	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Elda Dollija edollija@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 , Thursday; 09:00-11:30, E-306
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 Business Informatics (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	E-214, Friday: 8:40-11:30, Friday: 11:40-14:30
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:	Minimum 60% for Theory, and 75% for Practice
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:	This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts, terminology, and functions of business. It is designed to familiarize students with the basic principles of management, marketing, finance, operations, and other core areas, while also highlighting the legal, social, and economic environments in which businesses operate. The objective is to equip students with the foundational knowledge necessary to understand how organizations function and prepare them for more advanced study in business and related fields.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Business and Value Creation: A business is an organization that provides goods or services to meet customer needs in exchange for revenue, aiming to create value for its stakeholders.
2	Forms of Business Ownership: The legal structures that define how a business is organized, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives.
3	Management: The processes of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling resources to achieve goals, and the ability to guide and inspire individuals or teams.
4	Marketing: The process of creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that provide value to customers, often structured through the marketing mix.
5	Finance and Accounting: Finance is the management of money and investments to support business operations, while accounting is the measurement and reporting of financial information for decision-making.
6	Human Resource Management: The function of recruiting, developing, motivating, and retaining employees, ensuring effective workforce management within legal and ethical frameworks.
7	Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Entrepreneurship is the process of identifying opportunities, taking risks, and creating new ventures, while innovation is the application of new ideas, processes, or products that enhance value and competitiveness.
8	Operations and Supply Chain Management: The coordination of processes and resources involved in producing and delivering goods and services efficiently to customers.
9	Digital Transformation: The integration of digital technology into all areas of business, fundamentally changing how organizations operate and deliver value to customers.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Course Introduction and Syllabus Overview
2	Chapter 1: Developing a Business Mindset: This chapter introduces the fundamentals of business, covering how value is created, the main business environments and functional areas, key professions, and essential skills. It also highlights professionalism, the transition from consumer to business professional, and the impact of disruptive innovation and digital transformation on modern business.
3	Chapter 2: Economics, Money, and Banking: This chapter provides an overview of fundamental economic concepts, including scarcity, economic systems, and the interaction of supply and demand, while also addressing key macroeconomic issues, the functions of money, the role of banking and the Federal Reserve, and the emergence of fintech and digital innovations in financial institutions. It establishes the foundation for understanding how economic decisions are made and how financial systems operate in a modern economy.
4	Chapter 3: The Global Marketplace: This chapter explores the fundamentals of international business, including why nations trade, how trade is measured, and the role of global organizations and trading blocs. It also examines the challenges of cultural, legal, and strategic differences in international markets, as well as the emerging role of AI-assisted translation in facilitating global business.
5	Chapter 4: Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility: This chapter introduces the principles of business ethics and corporate social responsibility, including the responsibilities of businesses toward the environment, consumers, and employees. It also addresses sustainable development and emerging ethical concerns related to artificial intelligence.
6	Chapter 5: Forms of Ownership: This chapter showcases the main forms of business ownership, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations, along with their advantages and disadvantages. It also examines corporate governance, growth strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, and alliances, and the use of big data and analytics to create value and competitive advantage.
7	Midterm Week
8	Chapter 7 and Chapter 8: Management Roles, Functions, and Skills, and Organization and Teamwork: These chapters examine the core functions, roles, and skills of management, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling, while also exploring organizational design, team dynamics, and the use of automation in decision-making and business processes. They provide a foundation for understanding how effective management and teamwork drive organizational performance.
9	Chapter 9: Production Systems: This chapter explores the principles of systems thinking and their application to management, production, and operations, including supply chain management, value creation, and service delivery. It also addresses quality management, the challenges of complex products, and the role of Industry 4.0 and smart factories in modern operations.
10	Chapter 10 and Chapter 11: Employee Motivation, and Human Resource Management: These chapters examine the principles of employee motivation and contemporary human resource management, including strategies for performance, development, compensation, and workforce diversity. They also explore the evolving role of HR, labor relations, and the use of analytics to support effective people management.
11	Chapter 12, Chapter 13, and Chapter 14: Foundations of Marketing: Product Strategy, Pricing, Promotion, and Distribution: These chapters provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary marketing, covering strategic planning, consumer and organizational behavior, product development, branding, and pricing. They also examine communication strategies, sales, promotion, distribution, and the use of advanced technologies like AI, AR, and the metaverse to enhance customer engagement and marketing outcomes.
12	Chapter 15 and Chapter 16: Finance and Accounting: These chapters cover the fundamentals of accounting and finance, including financial statements, ratio analysis, and the roles of accountants and financial managers. They also explore financing options, financial markets, and emerging technologies like blockchain and smart contracts in business transactions.
13	Final Exam Review
14	Projects Presentations

Prerequisite(s):
Textbook(s):	Bovee, C. L., & Thill, J. V. (2023). Business in Action: Thriving in the Digital Enterprise (10th ed.). Pearson.
Additional Literature:	Ebert, R. J., & Griffin, R. W. (2025). Business essentials (14th ed.). Pearson.
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:	Yes
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Understanding the basic concepts of business
2	Understanding the business as a system
3	Understanding the business types and legal structures
4	Understanding the setting up of a business, and business size
5	Understanding the different business functions
6	Be familiar with contemporary issues in business
7	Demonstrate teamwork and collaboration skills by participating in group projects
8	Apply digital tools to enhance digital readiness and demonstrate effective digital collaboration skills.
9	Develop and present a project management plan that includes defined tasks, milestones, and deadlines.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Business Informatics (3 years) Program
1	Identify activities, tasks, and skills in management, marketing, accounting, finance, and economics.	5
2	Apply key theories to practical problems within the global business context.	4
3	Demonstrate ethical, social, and legal responsibilities in organizations.	4
4	Develop an open minded-attitude through continuous learning and team-work.	5
5	Integrate different skills and approaches to be used in decision making and data management.	4
6	Combine computer skills with managerial skills, in the analysis of large amounts of data.	2
7	Provide solutions to complex information technology problems.	1
8	Recognize, analyze, and suggest various types of information-communication systems/services that are encountered in everyday life and in the business world.	2

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Project	1	40
Final Exam	1	50
Other	1	10
	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	17	17
Final examination	1	18	18
Other			0
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.