Select one political ruler from the locations that are focused on in this unit and explain why you feel that person’s rule was effective or ineffective.

Western History:

Part I: Introduce yourself to your classmates with your name, location, current employment, and future goals.

Part II: Select one political ruler from the locations that are focused on in this unit and explain why you feel that person’s rule was effective or ineffective. Use specific historical examples of strategies and outcomes to support your answer.

If no initial posts exist to allow for a response to be made, you may submit an additional initial post addressing another aspect of the unit topic.

Book: A History of Western Society: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment, 13th Concise Edition, Volume 1

Intro to BUS

Part I: Introduce yourself to your classmates with your name, location, current employment, and future goals.

Part II: Which of the core competencies of business discussed in this unit interests you the most and why?

If no initial posts exist to allow for a response to be made, you may submit an additional initial post addressing another aspect of the unit topic.

I have attached resources for both discussion blow. Please let me know if additional information is required.

Requirements: 150

HIS 1305, Western Civilization I 1 Course Learning Outcomes for Unit I Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 3. Discuss key individuals in Western culture. 3.1 Identify key political actions that were instrumental in the establishment of early civilization. 3.2 Recognize actions and/or events of influential early civilizations. 3.3 Identify how notable events through 510 B.C.E. influenced the modern world. 5. Describe influences that contributed to the development of Western society. 5.1 Discuss notable early civilizations. 5.2 Highlight early leaders who shaped their societies. Required Unit Resources Chapter 1: Origins to 1200 B.C.E. Chapter 2: Small Kingdoms and Mighty Empires in the Near East, 1200–510 B.C.E. Unit Lesson Today, when we refer to the West, its meaning can vary greatly depending on context, location, and familiarity of an individual. Looking at a globe, west may appropriately refer to the left side of any specific point on a map for some people; for others, it can serve as a reminder of a specific time and place, such as the American Western frontier. In the context of world history, the West is a shorthand reference to not just a location but a people, a socioeconomic tradition, and an ancestry that traces its lineage to the earliest examples of life and society. In Unit I, we will focus on these earliest traces of world culture and witness the emergence of the organization of national, cultural, and societal segregation from a time before proven existence. To start, when looking at the earliest evidence of culture, it is necessary to understand why periods of time are labeled. Starting in the 19th century, science and the humanities worked together to distinguish and divide periods for ease of reference. This division is central to geology and archaeology being able to classify millions of years of undocumented history into an understandable form. Historians primarily focus on periods with proven inhabitants, whether the proof is in terms of written, artistic, or artifactual evidence. The terms Old Stone and Paleolithic refer to the period from as early as 3.4 million years ago up to 9000 Before Common Era (B.C.E.), while New Stone and Neolithic refer to the period directly following (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Old and New Stone Eras There is argument concerning how long ago the earliest hominid (erect, two-legged mammal) began to resemble what we today call human. Looking at the Old Stone era, the years it encompasses reflect a period in which there is evidence of use of weapons and simple tools, such as hooks, traps, leather coverings, and flint for fire. For modern researchers, the mention of stone in this context is a reference to the materials primarily found in artifacts from the era. Scientists and archaeologists today suggest that Homo sapiens, or thinking humans, who are considered the direct ancestors of humans today, began to emerge around 300,000 years ago, based on evidence found in UNIT I STUDY GUIDE Pre-Civilization

HIS 1305, Western Civilization I 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title an area we now consider East Africa. By 130,000 years ago, they had migrated into what is now Eurasia (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Later advances would allow for sea travel and migration to more distant land masses, including Australia 50,000 years ago and the Americas 15,000 years ago, when the world warmed enough for such migration to occur. The divide between the Old Stone and New Stone eras is the first evidence of the introduction of agriculture around 9000 B.C.E. (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). While these dates and time spans seem very specific, we must remember that not all civilizations rose at the same rate, and the level and type of technology will vary depending on the region, population, and geographical nature of any set place. As migration was essential for survival, due to factors such as climate and the availability of food, evidence is less concisely located than it would have been if it were limited to the boundaries of an ancient city. What historians do find, however, are symbols of cultural development from artifacts, such as crude carvings, early forms of musical instruments, and even jewelry. With these, we can even see the earliest traces of religion being taught and passed on from generation to generation (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). The earliest evidence of the New Stone era can be found in a region of the current Middle East that is traditionally referred to as the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys, or the Fertile Crescent (which also surrounds the Nile River). With the climate being of a type that allowed for rampant growth of grains and steady migrations of animals, this region was ripe for the earliest forms of permanent settlement, such as Çatal Hüyük, one of the oldest towns ever found by archaeologists. The Fertile Crescent remains a very busy region today, encompassing the nations of Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq. It would not be long, however, before similar population centers would be seen to emerge throughout Eurasia and Africa. With the establishment of permanent buildings also came new evidence of cultural progression. The harvest of grains required not only tools to till soil, but it also required woven goods for collection and pottery for storage and transportation of water. Like early shelters, these innovations became early artistic canvasses that can show historians a lot about cultural priorities, civic processes, and teachings. Pastoralism, or the system of domesticating livestock for food and other beneficial products, was also now possible with permanent structures. The labor, meat, and products from domesticated animals only made farming more productive, which allowed for growing populations. As these institutions grew, so did early divisions in population along socioeconomic hierarchies—the earliest versions of “haves and have-nots.” Those with greater resources—key figures who were often the heads of large families or landowners—could choose how their resources were utilized. In exchange, they could exert dominance over those in need, which would then establish structure and order, leading to complex societies that included political and religious institutions. In many cultures, men would be tasked with the role of provider, including hunter and/or farmer, depending on time and tradition, while women were often relegated to the role of raising children and other home-bound roles. At this time, the heads of families were generally older men, creating a system that is today known as a patriarchy. While not universal, the male-dominated society would become common throughout the landmasses of Eurasia and Africa during this period (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Effects of Trade With the emergence of urbanization throughout varied geographies, trade soon became common. Just as happens today, not every desired item could be cultivated in every region, so the transport of goods and consumables, such as spices, metals, and even slaves, became a major business. With trade, artisans too began to thrive. The rise of trade is apparent when looking at early maps as often it would be central to any permanent location to have access to a major waterway. Even on today’s maps we see major cities still connected to port areas, and, while transportation has changed the nature of trade, this is still an honored quality of any establishment. Trade would also spread knowledge, such as religious ideas, political practices, news of powerful lands, and techniques for societal improvements. One such improvement was the smelting of copper from ore to create

HIS 1305, Western Civilization I 3 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title stronger tools and weapons. As the smelting process improved, and with the addition of other metals, a new period of civilization emerged, called the Bronze Age (ca. 3000–1200 B.C.E.). One of the more frequently spread ideals would be that of religion. Whether to answer questions about the world or to aid in policing a people, religion was a significant factor in every blossoming society. While most regions would have their own variations of stories and traditions, many general beliefs became common, notably the idea of different natural phenomena being intentionally directed by a collection of divine figures or gods. This concept of many gods and goddesses, each with an individual purpose, is called polytheism. One of the earliest true cultural regions would be Mesopotamia. Located within the Fertile Crescent, it included a variety of growing cities as well as some new cultural staples, such as temples (including ziggurats), irrigation networks, and, by 2500 B.C.E., a writing and numbering system known as cuneiform. Computer reconstruction of the great ziggurat built in the city of Ur in what is Iraq today (Wikiwikiyarou, 2006) Due to its location, the Sumerian region especially prospered. It is commonly associated with early use of the wheel, roads, and hydraulic projects to tame its surrounding rivers for expanded use and resources. The Sumerian religion, too, would inspire what is considered the first epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, which focuses on a hero-king and his search for answers to the enduring questions of humanity (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). The growth and prosperity of some cities also brought some notable early leaders. Whether due to the need for more lands or simply the desire to control a new territory, early militaries were common among the growing cities. The Akkadian Empire, north of Sumer, is understood to have had the first permanent army for these purposes. Starting in 2331 B.C.E., the Akkadian king Sargon would greatly expand his holdings, including the takeover of significant parts of Sumer (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Hammurabi of Babylon (r. 1792–1750 B.C.E.) also established his power through military prowess, but he is best remembered historically for an innovative system of laws, known as Hammurabi’s law code. While this law code may be considered harsh or even barbaric by modern standards because it called for punishments that were often literally equal to the crime, the actions covered by individual laws provide modern historians with a good sense of normal life and concerns from the people. These include topics such as the quality of the work done by merchants and artisans; family issues concerning children, marriage, and adultery; and criminal negligence of responsibility. Other examples of Mesopotamian culture include a wide variety of additions to understood mathematics and even celebratory festivals (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020).

HIS 1305, Western Civilization I 4 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title Comparing Cultures How do the striking similarities between the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark and the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh reveal how cultures shaped each other? Why do we always look for similarities and differences when studying the past? Read Syncretism for an example of how to compare cultures when learning and writing about history. Ancient Egypt Perhaps the most recognizable civilization of this period would be that of the Egyptians. While divided between an upper and lower kingdom through much of its history, Egyptian society was built around and dependent upon the Nile River. Symbols and beliefs were strikingly different in many aspects from other cultures around the Fertile Crescent, but the Egyptian culture still relied on some cultural norms, such as the ability to predict and control the Nile, military, law, agriculture, writing (two distinct forms), the importance of family, trading routes, polytheist beliefs, and a strong central political authority—the pharaoh. A pharaoh depended on these traditions and needed to embody integrity, justice, and truth, which were considered the staples of harmony, known as ma’at. A pharaoh’s ability to serve in this role made him considered a literal god-king—a divine presence overlooking and blessing the people. Some of the most iconic symbols of the people’s devotion and worship of these divine rulers would be their ceremonial mummification process, symbolic hieroglyphic writing, and grandiose pyramids constructed to serve as peaceful resting places for the pharaohs throughout eternity. Ancient Egyptian symbols are still common to cultural use today, and many later symbols, like the eye and cross, are derivations of, or borrowed from, this tradition. Historians today are still able to learn much thanks to the careful preservation of divine figures and an Egyptian climate favorable to the preservation of buildings, artifacts, and documents. One such document is the Book of the Dead, which outlines the core beliefs about the afterlife and details that reflect the Egyptians’ direct involvement and association with numerous distinct gods (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020) In 1570 B.C.E., Egypt’s successful defense against the Hyksos—invaders from the North—would usher in a period called the New Kingdom. This would be a prosperous period but one that was often marred by battle with rival societies. There was no shortage of notable leaders, and this period would set the scene for two in particular (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). The first was Akhenaton (r. 1351–1334 B.C.E.), who attempted to change the polytheist tradition to a monotheistic one focused only on a sun god known as Aton; however, any success he had with this would revert after his death (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). The second was his successor and son, who would become arguably the most well-known king in the culture’s history: Tutankhamun (r. 1333–1323 B.C.E.). While his reign and impact at the time were not outrageously notable, the discovery of his tomb in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter would capture the world’s attention and usher in a revival in Ancient Egyptian cultural interest. Buried underground in the largely hidden Valley of the Kings, this tomb was found nearly intact, providing modern historians with knowledge, artifacts, and treasures that were not present in other surrounding tombs because they had been stolen by thieves (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Egyptologists and archaeologists are continuing to make fascinating discoveries, some of which are so grand they capture the world’s attention, even today. One of the more dangerous threats to the Egyptians at the height of their civilization would be the Hittites. They came from the northern areas and were known for aggressive military action and infighting among leadership. In what is perhaps the most notable conflict of this early period, the Battle of Kadesh (1274 B.C.E.) ultimately ended in a stalemate after fierce attacks by both sides (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). In 1258 B.C.E., a peace was established between Egypt’s Ramesses II and the Hittite king Hattusili III, turning enemies into allies against the growing threats in nearby lands. Despite the seemingly monumental alliance between Egypt and the Hittites less than a century later, invaders known as Sea Peoples from what is presumed the Mediterranean would remove all traces of the Hittite empire, aided by expansion from the

HIS 1305, Western Civilization I 5 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title Assyrians. Egypt would retaliate and survive, but its golden age would come to an end as new threats emerged (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). In 727 B.C.E. the Kush kingdom from the South would be pushed into the Nile Valley, and a century later, they too would be pushed out by Assyrian expansion. Further to the north and east, in Canaan (now Lebanon), another power would emerge from the Mediterranean waters, this time through dominant trade. Known as the Phoenicians or Purple People—a reference to their proclivity for coloring fabric—their most influential trade items included wine, animals, precious metals, and even a new form of alphabet that emphasized sounds instead of meanings (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Just as the smelting of copper with other metals replaced stone, so too did the discovery of a strong iron smelting process lead to the end of the Bronze Age in approximately 1100 B.C.E. The Iron Age is understood to have emerged from the Fertile Crescent, but with trade routes now settled throughout the known world, it would not be long before the iron technology, which was both more effective and cheaper than bronze, would become the standard everywhere. Hebrew Culture The Phoenicians were not the only Canaanite society that would come to challenge the established culture. Originally hailing from the states of Israel and Judah, a new religion that was purely monotheistic would begin to spread throughout the diverse region. Unlike the brief Egyptian conversion to monotheism by Akhenaton, in which he still considered himself divine as pharaoh, the Hebrew religion believed in one single divine being: Yahweh. Central to the Hebrew faith is the Covenant, or agreement to worship only Yahweh as His chosen people. The series of texts (originally scrolls that would become sacred to this new religion) would come to be known by a number of names, including the Hebrew Bible and the universal term “Old Testament,” by other cultures who would adopt these writings as foundations for their faith. (We will discuss these “Abrahamic faiths” in later units.) The first five books are commonly known as the Torah, though this term can also be used to describe the entire set of writings depending on context. These writings describe everything from traditions to daily practices to principles of society. Among the strengths of this new religious group would be their success in overcoming the Philistines despite seemingly invincible odds. King Saul’s (ca. 1025) bloodline included other notable leaders: David (r. ca. 1005–965 B.C.E.) and his son Solomon (r. ca. 965–925 B.C.E.), each of whom guided the culture to new heights despite strife, gaining their reputation for wisdom under the guidance of Yahweh (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Figures like these can provide a lot of mystery to historians due to how different traditions identify, describe, or celebrate them. Distinguishing between historical facts and what elements may be a religious allegory can be a challenge, as is how to read religious texts in historical context. Some of the best clues we have come in the form of physical evidence, such as what human remains and relics can be found in notable locations and temples. Despite these heights, the Hebrew culture, like many in that region, would face significant external aggressions and pressures that would sometimes remove them from their established base in what is now Jerusalem. These would include an attack by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.E. and the forcible relocation in 587 B.C.E., known as the Babylonian Captivity. The Hebrew religion remained strong despite these many times of struggle largely due to their faith, which reinforced that their bond and strength as a culture did not depend on a place or a king, as many other cultures did, but only on following the instructions of Yahweh. It would be this sense of strength that would help to expand the culture and give birth to other major faiths in the coming centuries (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Rising Empires For the Assyrians, the Hebrew people were only one of many cultures that came under attack. Emerging in the 9th century B.C.E. in northern Mesopotamia, the Assyrians aggressively expanded their borders to envelop at least parts of Phoenicia, Israel, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Babylon. After a period of relative stability, the rise of the Iron Age would again spark the motivation to expand, particularly under the leadership

HIS 1305, Western Civilization I 6 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title of kings Adad-nirari II (r. 911–892 B.C.E.), Shalmaneser III (r. 858–823 B.C.E.), Sargon II (r. 721–705 B.C.E.), Sennacherib (r. 705–681 B.C.E.), and Hezekiah (r. ca. 715–686 B.C.E.). Known today as the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the northern half of the Arabian Peninsula along with Babylonia, Syria, and Phoenicia would fall (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Perhaps the most notable leader of this period would be Queen Shammuramat, or Semiramis (r. 810–806 B.C.E.), known for a range of attributes from her wisdom and patronage to her legendarily lecherous behavior. While there is evidence of siege machines, the success of the Assyrian military was not based in technology or tactics as much as it was in sheer size, with upwards of 70,000, most marching with spear or bow and fortified armor. Biblical record does emphasize one very important outlier in the Assyrian history—the inability to capture Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C.E., which the Hebrew tradition interprets as a symbol of the influence and power of Yahweh. This mighty empire, however, would fall quicker than it rose, by the hand of an alliance between the Babylonians (now Neo-Babylonians) and Medes, from Northern Iran, in 612 B.C.E. From this fall though, another even more powerful force would soon rise (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 604–562 B.C.E.) led the Neo-Babylonians into Jerusalem, destroying the city, and oversaw the Babylonian captivity of the Hebrew people. With the goal to resurrect and supersede even the great king Hammurabi, this new culture would embrace grandeur, including the Hanging Gardens of legend. However, plague and ill management of trade made them vulnerable to an unlikely enemy—their once-ally the Medes, who now sought support from modern Iran: the Persian Empire. Having defeated the greatest threat, the Persian king Cyrus the Great (r. 559–530 B.C.E.) conquered the Medes but did not enslave and slaughter; instead, he united the populations (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). What set Cyrus apart from many of the figures before him was his desire to secure his border and broaden his empire by means of tolerance and benevolence toward new allies. He did this while keeping a heavily defended core of localized administrators called satraps to ensure Persian influence and culture, though often allowing native cultures to exist as well in these territories. This approach spread his legend throughout the ancient states and allowed him to collect great wealth and influence by controlling and communicating across vast lands, including key ports and trade routes. By assuming the role of liberator rather than conqueror, he oversaw the emergence of the largest empire in history to that point. Among those liberated by Cyrus were the Hebrew people, who were allowed to return to Jerusalem. They were even given resources to rebuild the temple destroyed by the Neo-Babylonians. Emergence Following Cyrus would first be his son, Cambyses (r. 530–522 B.C.E.). Then, after the questionable death of Cambyses, Darius I (r. 521–486 B.C.E.) assumed power. Both Cambyses and Darius continued the expansion of the Persian lands. While Persian force eventually hit an insurmountable wall, most famously with Xerxes’ (r. 486–465 B.C.E.) failed attacks against the Spartans, the empire continued to thrive until a Greek general named Alexander surpassed even Cyrus (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). It could be argued that neither Cyrus nor Darius had the potential to influence the world as much as another Persian figure has—a preacher named Zoroaster. Starting around 600 B.C.E., Zoroaster became the core personality of a religious movement that taught all people that they had the free will to choose between a benevolent life following Ahuramazda, a divine figure exemplifying truth and creation, or a darker path often affiliated with another figure, Angra Mainyu. This religious fervor was dubbed Zoroastrianism (active still today and known as Parsis), a dualist religion unlike any before it but one that grew steadily as the Persian Empire expanded. Symbols and ideas from this teaching were even utilized by the Persian kings (Weisner-Hanks et al., 2020). We will see in the coming units how powerful religion would become, but this was still a time when single leaders would dominate societies, some earning the historical moniker of “the Great.” Aside from the figures of divinity, Zoroastrianism would borrow concepts from multiple previously established religions, including the Egyptian gods and Judaism, while remaining a unique concept. This religion became so popular that it too influenced other religions and traditions. It remains active today despite the emergence of other, larger mainstream religions in communities around the globe.

HIS 1305, Western Civilization I 7 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title At this point, the common elements of civilization—trade, politics, religion, communication, art, military—have emerged in many areas around the globe. However, as of this point, there is not yet a clear distinction of what is meant by Western culture. As we move into the next unit, this line begins to be drawn. Already by this point, core ambitions that still drive modern cultures have started to show themselves. Going forward, it is important to pay attention to how these ambitions begin to divide and separate populations and how influences such as location, geography, and even climate truly begin to affect these common elements. References Colavito, J. (n.d.). The epic of Gilgamesh: Adapted and modernized from the translation of William Muss-Arnolt. http://www.jasoncolavito.com/epic-of-gilgamesh.html [Photograph of the Flood Tablet]. [ca. 700–800 B.C.]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10755114 Weisner-Hanks, M. E., Crowston, C. H., Perry, J., & McKay, J. P. (2020). A history of Western society: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment (13th concise ed., Vol. 1). Bedford/St. Martin’s. https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781319112547 Wikiwikiyarou. (2006). Ziggurat of Ur [Image]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ziggurat_of_ur.jpg

BUS 2301, Introduction to Business 1 Course Learning Outcomes for Unit I Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 1. Identify basic business concepts. 1.1 Identify the core components of business. Required Unit Resources In order to access the following resources, click the links below. Guerras-Martín, L. Á., Madhok, A., & Montoro-Sánchez, Á. (2014, April–June). The evolution of strategic management research: Recent trends and current directions. Business Research Quarterly, 17(2), 69–76. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=98614050&site=ehost-live&scope=site Karlgaard, R. (2012, December 5). The hard and soft stuff of business: Winners excel in both. Forbes, 50. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=84108457&site=ehost-live&scope=site Van Meir, C. (2016, March). Branding benefits: Apply the four Ps of marketing to make benefits more engaging. Benefits Magazine, 53(3), 34–39. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=113183936&site=ehost-live&scope=site Wallstreetmojo. (n.d.). Core competencies. https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/core-competencies/ Unit Lesson Introduction Prior to beginning to understand the basic concepts of business, one must be able to understand exactly what a business is. According to Kelly et al. (2014), a business is any type of firm or organization that provides goods and/or services to others in an attempt to generate a profit. While this definition may make it sound easy, running a business requires a great deal of behind-the-scenes components. These components of business will be the topic of this unit and are described throughout the remainder of this lesson. In no certain order, the basic components of business are strategic management, finance and accounting, human resource management, marketing, sales, and operations management. While most large businesses have separate departments and sections that perform the aforementioned functions and many small businesses may have only one person or a few people performing all of these functions, the fact remains that ALL businesses perform these functions at some level in order to operate effectively. Let us begin our discussion of the basic business components by examining strategic management. Strategic Management Strategic management can be described as both an art and a science that deals with the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of cross-functional decisions and actions that allow a business to reach its goals and objectives (David, 2011). This means that strategic management is the area of the business that concentrates on making sure that all other functions of the business—to include management, marketing, UNIT I STUDY GUIDE The Core Components of a Business

BUS 2301, Introduction to Business 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title finance and accounting, production and operations, research and development, and information systems—are working together as one large body so that an organization can reach its goals and objectives. Sometimes, it is best to think of strategic management in business as the coach of a football team. A successful football team is comprised of many individuals, all of whom possess certain specialties (e.g., kicking, blocking, rushing, and passing). Separately, they are good at their positions and specialties, but they could not win games by working alone. A good coach (i.e., strategic manager) knows how to put all of the individual specialties together, all working in harmony, to achieve the team goal of winning a game. Now, let us examine the next component of business, which is finance and accounting. Finance and Accounting One of the main goals of a business is to make a profit. Before a profit actually occurs, businesses typically spend and earn various amounts of money throughout the year. To maintain some sort of healthy stability with the money that comes and goes, it is vital for a business to include the components of finance and accounting. Van Horne (1974) states that the finance and accounting functions of business deal primarily with the investment, financing, and dividend decisions of a business. Because all aspects of a business are interrelated, and all work together, the functions of finance and accounting can show management which areas of the business are getting the most out of the money that they use. Through these functions, business managers/leaders can see what is being spent in the various areas of the firm, as well as what, if anything, they are getting in return for the money being spent. The information here can then be shared with others (e.g., shareholders, lenders, and investors) to signal the overall strengths and weaknesses of the organization. Human Resource Management The third component of business is human resource management (HRM). According to Dessler (2005), human resource management involves the policies and practices that are used to manage the human resource aspects of an organization. This includes recruiting, screening, training, appraising, and rewarding. Because people are performing the work that helps the firm achieve its goals, HRM plays an extremely vital role in any business. From going out and recruiting people to work for the business to making sure that new employees are properly trained and placed in the right positions within the firm, HRM can really make or break an organization. Sometimes, a business that is large enough will have an entire department devoted solely to performing HRM functions. However, many times, especially in small organizations, HRM functions may be performed by a department manager or the business owners themselves. Marketing Marketing is the fourth basic component of business; it is the process of determining, defining, anticipating, and fulfilling the needs of the customers so that it can help the business provide goods and services that are best suited to meet those needs. David (2011) advises that there are seven functions to marketing: 1. Customer analysis: This is where the customers’ needs and wants are examined and evaluated so the business can offer the best products, at the best prices, to suit the needs of its consumers. 2. Selling products/services: Here, functions such as advertising, sales promotions, and customer and dealer relations are performed. They are all designed with the goal of effectively reaching a particular group of individuals (called a target market or market segment) so they will buy and use the products of the business. 3. Product and service planning: This is where activities such as determining what type of packaging to use for various goods, creating product warranties, determining which types of product options to make available for various markets, and removing or phasing out of old products all take place. 4. Pricing: As the name implies, this is the function of marketing that sets or determines what prices or pricing options to assign to the various goods and services that the business offers. 5. Distribution: Here, decisions regarding product warehousing, distribution channels and coverage, sites of retail locations and retail sales territories or districts, and other functions related to getting products to market are made and carried out. 6. Marketing research: This deals with the collecting and analyzing of information about products on the market to determine what the future needs of customers will be, as well as what products the firm should offer to customers in the future to meet their ever-changing needs.

BUS 2301, Introduction to Business 3 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title 7. Cost/benefit analysis: This is the function of marketing that determines whether or not the risks involved with various marketing decisions are worth the costs of those decisions. Sales The next component of business is sales. Sales generates revenue for the organization. Any business can have the best management, plans, and locations, but if it does not sell any of its goods and services, then it will not be successful. Unlike the marketing component, which is supposed to draw people toward goods and services offered by a business, sales actually receives the money for the organization from its customers (McClintock, n.d.). Sales in business can be achieved in several ways. One way involves having a dedicated group of people or sales force to go out and sell goods and services to other entities or people. Another way involves an associate in a physical location who assists customers with their purchases and then collects money from them once they have made up their mind to buy something from the business. Operations Management The final component of business is operations management. Here is where a person or people administer the practices of the business so they can create the most efficient methods of operation possible. This aspect of a business is most concerned with taking the goods, services, and people of an organization and converting them into profits for the firm while balancing the costs and revenue of the organization. One reason operations management is so concerned with balancing costs is so the business not only saves money (a penny saved is a penny earned), but also keeps product costs low for the customers. Now that we have addressed the basic components of business, we can further understand how businesses operate and why they do what they do. While each component has its own methods and best practices, they are parts of a whole that must all work in conjunction to ensure that the business reaches its goals and objectives, which ultimately best serves its customers. References David, F. (2011). Strategic management: Concepts and cases (13th ed.). Pearson. Dessler, G. (2005). Human resource management (10th ed.). Pearson. Kelly, M., McGowen, J., & Williams, C. (2014). BUSN (6th ed.). Cengage Learning. McClintock, L. (n.d.). The importance of sales in an organization. Chron. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-sales-organization-25038.html Van Horne, J. (1974). Financial management and policy. Pearson. Learning Activities (Nongraded) Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information. Consider completing the following activity: Fortune 500 annually lists the top 500 global companies. You can find this list by navigating to the Fortune homepage and searching for “Fortune 500.” From the list, choose one company that interests you. It could be a company that you could see yourself working for one day or just one that you really admire. For this nongraded activity, consider conducting research on this company and creating a company profile that includes the following information: • full name of the company • corporate office location with address • website and social media information

BUS 2301, Introduction to Business 4 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title • major goals and responsibilities for each of the core components of business that exist within the company • typical job titles and job responsibilities that may exist within the company based on the core components • cost associated with each of the core components (Be sure that you use different costs for each component.)

Collepals.com Plagiarism Free Papers

Are you looking for custom essay writing service or even dissertation writing services? Just request for our write my paper service, and we'll match you with the best essay writer in your subject! With an exceptional team of professional academic experts in a wide range of subjects, we can guarantee you an unrivaled quality of custom-written papers.

Get ZERO PLAGIARISM, HUMAN WRITTEN ESSAYS

Why Hire Collepals.com writers to do your paper?

Quality- We are experienced and have access to ample research materials.

We write plagiarism Free Content

Confidential- We never share or sell your personal information to third parties.

Support-Chat with us today! We are always waiting to answer all your questions.