A New English Course on Contemporary Business

Foreword
Chapter 1 Business and its Environment
Business as an Economic Activity
Customer Satisfaction
Profit
Managerial Efficiency
Business as a Way of Life
The Entrepreneur
The Professional Manager
The Functional Specialist
The Business Environment
The Social Environment
The Economic Environment
The Technological Environment
The Competitive Environment
The Global Business Environment
Chapter 2 Economic Systems and the Role of Government
Economic Systems
Capitalism
Communism
Socialism
The Changing Nature of Economic Systems
Economic Forces Affecting Business
Competition
Supply and Demand
How“Free”is the Free-Market system?
New Trends in the Free-market System
The Role of Government in Business
Enforcing Laws and Regulations
Fostering Competition
Contributing to Social and Econormic Stability
Spending for the Public Good
Chapter 3 Forms of Business Organization
Sole Proprietorship
Advantages of Sole Proprietorship
Disadvantages of Sole Proprietorship
Partnership
How to form a Partnership
Advantages of Partnership
Disadvantages of Partnership
Corporations
How to Incorporate
Advantages of the Corporation
Disadvantages of the Corporation
Other Types of Business Organization
Joint Ventures,Technical Partnerships and Syndicates
Cooperatives
Franchises
Mergers and Acquisitions
How Mergers Occur
Current Trends in Mergers and Acquisitions
The Debate over Mergers and Acquisitions
Merger-and-Acquisition Defenses
Chapter 4 Corporations:Start-ups,Types and Governance
How to Launch a Corporation
Get a Corporate Charter
Distribute the Stock
Select the Board of Directors
Hire Top Management
Manage Stockholder Relations
Types of Corporations
Public Corporations
Private Corporations
Corporate Governance
The Shareholders
The Board of Directors
The 0ffcers
Challenges to Corporate Management
Stockholder Activism
Proxy Fights and Tender Offers
Chapter 5 Entrepreneurship and Starting a Small Business
Entrepreneurial Challenge
Entrepreneurial Teams
Micropreneurs and Home-based Business
Entrepreneurship within Firms
Small Businesses:a Brief Sketch
A Hard Look at Small Businesses
Importance of Small Businesses
Establishing a Small Business
Getting Started in Small Business
Starting a New Busmiess
Taking over an Existing Firm
Franchising
Small Busmiess Operations
Beginning with Planning
Writing a Business Plan
Getting Money to Fund a Small Business
Knowing your Customers
Managing Employees
Keeping Records
Learning from Others
Getting some Expenience
Looking for Help
Small Business:Success and Failure
Going International:Small-business Prospects
Chapter 6 Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Foundations of Social Responsibility and Ethical Behavior
Ethical Dilemmas and Ethical Lapses
Philosophical Bases for Ethical Decisions
Legality is Only the First Ethical Standard
Personal Ethics Begins at Home
Ethics is More than an Individual Concern
Organizational Ethics Begins at the Top
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
Ethical Codes
Ethics and Management
Setting Corporate Ethical Standards
Corporate Social Responsibility
Management of Social Responsibility
Social Auditing
International Ethics and Social Responsibility
Chapter 7 Competing in Global Markets
Reasons for International Trade
Absolute Advantage
Comparative Advantage
Competitive Advantage
Fomis of International Business Activity
Importing
Exporting
Licensing
Franchising
Forrming Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances
Runmng Whholly Owned Facilities
Multinational Corporations
Advantages of Multinationals
Disadvantages of Multiiiationals
The Growing Importance of World Markets
Import-Export Balances
Balance of Trade
Trade Deficits and Surpluses
Balance of Payments
Exchange Rates and Competition
Barriers to International Trade
Tariff
Quota
Subsidies
Restrictive Standards
Exchange Controls
Export Controls and Embargoes
Unfair Trade Practices
The Pros and Cons of Protectionism
Trade Agreements and Trade Fniiance
The General Areement on Tariffi and Trade
The World Trade Organization
The Asia Pacific Econonuic Cooperation Council
Trading Blocs
Hurdles of Trading in Global Markets
Chapter 8 Planning and Decision Making
Management as a Process
Management as People
Management Levels
Functional and General Managers
Managerial Skills
Managerial Roles
Managerial Goals
The Planning Function
Planning Levels
How Managers Plan
Situation Analysis
Horizon Scanning
Objectives Setting
Action Program
How Managers Decide
Chapter 9 Organizing and Business Structure
How to Organize a Busmiess
Vertical Organization
Departmentalization
Horizontal Coordination
Teamwork
Teams Defined
Conflict Resolution
Team Benefits and Costs
Practical Steps
Orgamizational Tips for Managers
Chapter 10 Leading and Employee Morale
The Leading Function
Leadership Styles
Leadership versus Management
Coaching and Mentoring
Budding an Orgamization Culture
Motivating Employees
Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs
Orgwuzational Communication
Bases of Effective Communication
Basic Forms of Communication
Basic Types of Communication
External Communication
Barriers to Effective Communication
Chapter 11 Controlling and Business Objectives
Management by Objectives
Total Quality Management
TQM in Planming
TQM in Organizing
TQM in Controffing
Total Quality in Production Management
Crisis Management
Controlling your own Career
Chapter 12 Managing in a Changing Enviromnent
Management of Change
Attitudes,Values and Beliefs
Barriers to Effective Change
Changing Culturc
Changing Structure
Orgaiuization Purpose
Specialization
Suitable Structures
Changing Staff Management
Patterns of Employment
Performance and Reward
Staff as Stakeholders
IR and Staff Relations
Working with Change
Quality
Quality Circles
Japanese Management
Gambara
Kaizen
Mu
Japanese Approaches to Success
Current Managerial Issues
The Future of Management
Chapter 13 Human Resources Management
Staffing—Preemployment
Job Analysis
Process of Recruiting
Selection and Orientation
Application Blank/Resume
Background Checks
Tests
Interviews
Staffing—Postemployment
Orientation and Socialization
Training
Appraisal
Techniques of Perforinance Appraisl
Improving Performance Appraisal
Compensation
Laying-off and Firing
Management Development
Management Development Methods
Evaluating Development Programs
Chapter 14 Production and Operations Management
Understanding the Evolution of Production
Improving Production through Technology
Stages ni Producing a Product
How the Three Stages are Managed
Product Development
Purchasing
Manufactuting and Distribution
Mass Production in Service Operations
Classifications of Manufacturing Operations
Planruing and Organizing Operations
Capacity Planning
Site Location
Process Planning
Layout Planning
Aggregate Planning
Scheduling
Controlling Operations
Procurement and Inventory
Quality Assurance
Production Forecasting and Control
Basic Steps in Production Control
Chapter 15 Marketing:Background and Concepts
The Marketing Process
Marketing Strategies
Segmentation
The Competitive Environment
The Marketing Mix
Product
Price
Promotion
Image and Identity
Internal Promotion
Place
Varying the Marketing Mix
Marketing Research and Development
Public Relations
Chapter 16 Accounting and Budgeting
Accounting and Accounting Infomation
The Nature of Accounting
The Pules of Accounting
Users of Accounting Inforination
Types of Accountants
Financial versus Managerial Accounting
Accounting Services
Tools of the Accounting Trade
Record Keeping with Journals and Ledgers
The Accounting Equation
Double Entry Accounting
Debits and Credits:the T-Account
Financial Statements
Balance Sheets:Assets,Liabilities and Owners' Equity
Income Statements
Statement of Cash Flows
Analyzing Financial Statements
Short-Term Solvency Ratios
Long-Term Solvency Ratios
Profitability Ratios
Activity Ratios
Budgeting
The Budget Cycle
Uses of Budgets
Budgets in Practice
Chapter 17 Financial Markets:Securities and Inveshnents
Secutities Markets
Primary and Secondary Securities Markets
The Function of Securities Markets
Investment Choices
Stocks
Preferred Stocks
U.S.Stock Exchanges
Bonds
Government Bonds
Corporate Bonds
Other Investments
Mutual Funds
Options and Financial Futures
Derivatives
Commodities
Securities and Long-term Financing
Debt Financing
Equity Financing
Hybrid Financing:Preferred Stock
Buying and Selling Securities
Financial Inforination Service
Placing Orders
Financing Purchases
Securities Market Regulation and China's Securities Markets
SCSC & CSRC
China's Securities Market
Chapter 18 Risk Management and Insurance
Understanding Risks
Types of Risks
Risk-Retum Relationship
Risk Management
Assessing Risk
Controlling Risk
Financing Risk
Types of Business Insurance
Loss of Property
Consequential Loss Exposure
Liability Insurance
Loss of Services of Key Personnel
Types of Employee Insurance
Health Insurance
Worker's Compensation
Life Insurance
Social Insurance Programs and Reform Efforts in the U.S
Challenges Facing the Insurance Industry
Chapter 19 Computers and Information Management
The Role of Information Technology
How Information Technology Changes Business
Moving from Information Technology toward Knowledge Technology
The Road to Knowledge:the Internet,Intranets and Extranets
Managing Information
The kole of Infori-riation in Business
The Role of Computer Systems in Businew
Informatuion Processing Technology
Mainframe Computers
Microcomputers
Workstations
Supercomputers
Computer Components
The Internet and Business Success
What can you do on the Internet
How Businesses are Using the Internet
How Businesses are Using Intranets
How to Connect to the Internet
Searching for Infonnation on the Internet
Search Strategies and Tips
Research Citations