sks4000 comprehensive strategic knowledge studies

SKS4000 Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies

PREREQUISITES:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Learners will identify, recognize, and develop executive level knowledge in eleven concept areas necessary to solve a wide variety of business related situations. This course focuses on demonstrating core proficiencies in the following business areas: Management, Business Ethics, Information Systems, Marketing, Global Dimensions of Business, Accounting Corporate Finance, Economics, Business Law, Business Math and Statistics, and Business Policy. The intent of this course is not to introduce these business concepts, but verify bachelors of business administration threshold competency in these eleven areas of business. SKS4000 includes a capstone case study that will empower the Learner to demonstrate their competency in the eleven core proficiency areas. SKS4000 uses a variety of teaching media such as DVDs; courseware packages designed for Computer Assisted Instruction, and focused Internet research assignments. Successful completion of this course will waive the SKS 5000 requirement for admission to graduate business administration studies at NCU.

NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES: 22

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1.0 - Identify the steps used in the evaluation and control in the strategic management of an organization.2.0 - Define appropriate human resources used in a business organization.3.0 - Identify general global business trends and logistical systems.4.0 - Identify contemporary rules and practices in business ethics and legal compliance to help ensure ethical standards are being followed such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.5.0 - Critique executive management and integrative planning at the strategic level.6.0 - Explain how to take strategic initiatives and break them down into tactical and operational components of the overall strategic plan involving all the key business components.7.0 - Describe business operations planning: design, strategies, and implementation.8.0 - Describe international trade concepts and practices.9.0 - Identify Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for accounting using updated accounting rules.10.0 - Compare financially management capital investment principles.11.0 - Compare financial management methods for the valuation of stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments using economic tools/techniques for maximizing a firm’s return on investment.12.0 - Define legal concepts that impact a firm in an economic environment.13.0 - Describe the financial status of a firm by the use of ratio analysis of the firm’s financial statements.14.0 - Use business math, forecasting, regressive analysis, probability, and decision analysis.15.0 - Analyze information systems (IS) from a business application perspective.16.0 - Create a case study and strategic plan using contemporary SWOT techniques.

17.0 - Describe key elements of a business financial plan.18.0 - Identify the influence business and industry has on society through their choice of products.19.0 - Interpret a business operations and marketing plan outline.20.0 - Define international trade concepts and practices.21.0 - Identify key elements of a firm's legal environment and its effect on operations.

COURSE CONCEPTS:

1. Current management challenges and executive decision-making strategies.2. Contemporary human resource management and practices within an organization.3. General global business trends and logistical systems.4. Contemporary rules and practices in business ethics and legal compliance to help ensure ethical standards are being followed such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.5. Executive management and integrative planning at the strategic level.6. Strategic initiatives with a break down into tactical and operational components of the overall strategic plan involving all the key business components.7. Business operations planning: design, strategies, and implementation.8. International trade concepts and practices.9. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for accounting using updated accounting rules.10. Financially Management of Capital Assets, depreciation, and expenditures.11. Financial Management methods for the valuation of stocks, bonds, andother financial instruments using economic tools/techniques for maximizing a firm’s return on investment.12. Legal concepts that impact the firm in an economic environment.13. Financial status of a firm by using a financial ratio analysis of the firm’s financial statements.14. Business Math, Forecasting, Regressive Analysis, Probability, and Decision Analysis.15. Information Systems from a business application perspective16. Case Study and strategic planning using contemporary SWOT techniques.17. Key elements of a business financial plan.18. The influence business and industry has on society through their choice of products.19. Business operations and marketing plans.20. International trade concepts and practices.21. Key elements of a firm's legal environment and its effect on operations.22. Economic concepts and the Federal Reserve System.

PRIMARY RESOURCES:

These resources are required to complete the course.

Please make sure that you purchase the primary textbook(s) that match the syllabus you are issued. Please let your assigned Mentor know through the NCU messaging system what text(s) you have purchased. NCU cannot be responsible for Learner purchase of books that do not match assigned syllabi.

BookLeuser, D. M., & Washburn, J. (2007) Volume 1: Management, ethics, information systems, and marketing. Richmond, VA: Ivy Software. http://shop.ivysoftware.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=137 ISBN: 0934427437 BookHolt, R. N. (2007) Volume 2: Accounting, finance, and economics. Richmond, VA: Ivy Software. http://shop.ivysoftware.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=137 ISBN: 0934427445 BookHolt, R. N., & Muller, C. (2007) Volume 3: Business math and statistics. Richmond, VA: Ivy Software. http://shop.ivysoftware.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=137 ISBN: 0934427453 BookGuggenheim, D., & David, L. An inconvenient truth. United States: Paramount. ASIN: B000ICL3KG

You may purchase books at EdMap.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

These resources must be used to complete the assignments.

WebsitePre/Post-test website http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.pl WebsiteLegal Definitions website http://definitions.uslegal.com/

MENTOR RESOURCES

There are no Mentor Resources for this course.

SUPPLEMENTAL REFERENCES & READINGS:

There are no Supplemental References and Readings for this course.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

COURSE PARTICIPATION: Learners are ultimately responsible for participating in a course through the following academic activities: uploading assignments, posting to discussion folders and responding to Mentor and Academic Advisor inquiries. Learners are expected to be involved in ongoing instructional activities based on the recommended schedule for course completion as detailed in the syllabus. In order to actively participate in a course, Learners must make contact with their faculty Mentor on a regular basis through one of the following methods:

Posting of an assignment (e.g., a paper or project) in the Course Work area of the course web site.

Posting of an assignment to share with the faculty Mentor and other Learners in the course web site (e.g., a review of a book or article, a proposal for a research study, a

http://definitions.uslegal.com/

http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.pl

http://www.shop-edmap.biz/ncu/

http://shop.ivysoftware.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=137



presentation in the form of a PowerPoint presentation file, reporting on participation in a research study).

Participation in a threaded discussion in the course web site (e.g., commenting on a discussion question posted by the faculty Mentor, providing feedback to another Learner).

Viewing instructional materials (e.g., a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the faculty Mentor, a streaming audio or video presentation).

Learners must use the NCU messaging system on the course web site to contact faculty Mentors. Learners who are unable to regularly participate in their course should contact their faculty Mentor.

PRELIMINARIES/PRE-COURSE SURVEY: Review the Learner Area web site http://learners.ncu.edu. Access and review the Course Catalog, which contains all relevant policies and procedures applicable to Learners, and complete the Pre-Course Survey. Please read the entire course syllabus before beginning course work. The survey goes directly to the Mentor and gives the Mentor information about new Learners entering the course.

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS: When you "create" new assignments, use headers and footers to indicate your name, course, assignment number. For instructions about creating headers and footers, go to the Help file for the word processing program you use. Name the file using this format: DoeJXXX0000-1. The "1" stands for the assignment number. Save the file in RTF (Rich Text Format). Open the Learner Area, click on the course code. Find the Course Work area. Read the Help file by clicking on the "?". When ready, click on the "+" and select your assignment file by browsing. Your file will be uploaded to the server. Your Mentor will receive a message that homework has arrived. When the Mentor grades your work, the Mentor will upload the graded assignment and you will receive a message that course work has arrived. You may then view your graded assignment in the Assignment area. If you have questions, please contact your Learner Advisor at 1-888-327-2877. Bulk assignments are not acceptable. Assignment Cover Sheets are required for all assignments that you upload into the Assignment area. The NCU Assignment cover sheet can be found under University Documents from your Learner site. It is suggested that you download and save a copy of this cover sheet.

Learners may submit assignments early, but may not submit the next assignment until they have received a grade on the previous one. Assignments must not be submitted together. Submitting assignments in the order assigned will insure that you are progressing according to academic standards and following the design of the course.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: All work submitted in each course must be the Learner’s own. This includes all assignments, exams, term papers, and other projects required by the Faculty Mentor. The submission of another person’s work represented as that of the Learner’s without properly citing the source of the work will be considered plagiarism and will result in an unsatisfactory grade for the work submitted or for the entire course, and may result in academic dismissal. To avoid plagiarism, do not "copy and paste" into any assignments without using quotations marks and citing in APA format the source of the material. Your work may be submitted to TurnItIn.com for originality evaluation.

http://learners.ncu.edu/

SUBMITTAL TURN-AROUND SCHEDULE:Course Length Time Allotted for Mentors

to Return Assignments

4 weeks 2 calendar days



Note: Courses in dissertation sequence excluding CMP courses range from 5-14 calendar days; see syllabus for details.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Please contact your Mentor through the university message system found on your Learner site, rather than by personal email.

INTRODUCTION ACTIVITY: Your first assignment in each course is to send a message to your Mentor via the NCU messaging system introducing yourself. Include your name, educational background and at least one expectation you have for this course. You may add other information that will provide insight into your professional and educational goals.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS / COURSE GRADE: Your grade for this course will be based on mastery of course concepts as demonstrated by successfully completing the performance requirements. Following directions in the syllabus provides the best avenue for success. Read directions very carefully and follow all suggestions and requirements.

COURSE LEARNING ASSESSMENT: Learners are expected to complete all performance requirements for the course and to demonstrate mastery of the course concepts and course learning outcomes. This may require Learners to use library resources and to document research with citations, bibliographies, and references as applicable in completing their coursework. Mastery of course concepts may require demonstration of critical thinking and communication skills by a combination of term papers, self-assessments, quantitative reasoning, interviews, and observations, written assignments or other activities.

NCU LIBRARY: The NCU Library website provides access to academic databases, electronic books, dissertations, reference materials, a host of web pages supporting coursework, and much more. In addition, you can obtain library research assistance as well as request articles and books through the NCU Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Accessing the NCU Library is simple, just browse to your Learners page (http://learners.ncu.edu) and click on NCU Library or any of the other library quick links appearing under the NCU Library heading.

RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE FOR COURSE COMPLETION: Following directions in the syllabus, provides the best avenue for success. Read directions very carefully and follow all suggestions and requirements. Learners may submit assignments early, but may not submit the next assignment until they have received a grade on the previous one. Assignments must not be

http://learners.ncu.edu/

submitted together. Submitting assignments in the order assigned will insure that you are progressing according to academic standards and following the design of the course.

GRADING SCALE: If a letter grade is awarded for an NCU course, the following chart shows the percentages of points awarded to the letter grade for Undergraduate and Graduate grades.

Undergraduate Scoring

Graduate Scoring

Numerical Points Letter Grade Numerical Points Letter Grade

100-94 A 100-94 A

93-90 A- 93-90 A-

89-87 B+ 89-87 B+

86-83 B 86-83 B

82-80 B- 82-80 B-

79-77 C+ 79-77 C+

76-73 C 76-73 C

72-70 C- 72-0 F

69-67 D+

If a course is graded using the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory method, specific instructions will be given in the syllabus

Exceptions to the RubricActivities that do not require a written response will be evaluated without use of the rubric. Certain courses/activities do not warrant a written product. Examples include math courses involving solving equations or courses that contain multiple choice exams. In these cases, the writing portion of the rubric does not apply. Scoring for these courses will be based on how many items were answered correctly out of the total number of items possible. RECEIVING YOUR FINAL GRADE: The final grade should be posted by your Mentor within one week following the course end date. The registrar will send you an e-mail notifying you of your grade and the grade will also appear on your Learner site, under the COURSE REVIEW section.

POST COURSE SURVEY: Complete the Post Course Survey after you finish your final assignment. The Post Course Survey goes directly to the University and provides information used in both course and Mentor evaluation and assessment. The Post Course Survey is located in the Course Review section of the Learner Website THE RESPONSES ARE ANONYMOUS.

COURSE SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONDING TO ACTIVITIES: For syllabi with an Effective/Approved Date of 1/1/2007 or later, the following instructions are to be used to respond to Discussion and Course Work Activities. To respond to each activity in a course with a syllabus dated 1/1/2007 or later, go to your course page and click the Activities Tab. For Discussion responses:

1. Click on the corresponding Activity.2. Enter your discussion response under Add a New Entry Message. Do not load a file in

response to a discussion, unless it is a supporting resource for your discussion comments that you would like all participants to view.

3. Click Add New Discussion Entry. This will send an alert to your Mentor that your discussion response is complete.

4. If you want to make a private comment or load a file for your Mentor, please do so at the bottom of the Activity screen in the Course Work posting area.

For Course Work responses:1. Click on the corresponding Activity.2. Go to the bottom of the Activity screen to Course Work posting area, click the + sign. 3. Type in the Assignment name.4. Browse for and load your file.5. Enter any appropriate comments, click the Academic Integrity Agreement, and then click

Send.

For courses with a syllabus Effective/Approved Date prior to 1/1/2007, you will respond to Discussion Activities in the Course Discussion Forum. If you want to send comments or supporting files to your Mentor, do so on the Activities Tab, click on the appropriate discussion Activity, and enter your comments and/or load you file at the bottom in the Course Work area. The Effective/Approved Date for every NCU syllabus appears at the bottom of all web based syllabi, which you can see by clicking on “Display Syllabus on the Screen” on your Learner Course page. If you do not have an Activity listed below to provide an introduction in a discussion format, your first assignment is to send a message to your Mentor via the NCU messaging system introducing yourself. Include your name, educational background and at least one expectation you have for this course. You may add other information that will provide insight into your

professional and educational goals. This activity is not graded but provides valuable information to your Mentor regarding your participation in the course. Please limit your response to 300 characters or less.Overview

Section 1: The Business EnvironmentActivity 1: Pre-test: The Business Environment 2 PointsActivity 2: Marketing and Management 10 PointsActivity 3: Business Ethics and the Global Dimension of Business 10 PointsActivity 4: Post-Test: The Business Environment 8 PointsActivity 5: 0 PointsActivity 6: 0 PointsSection 2: Global Dimensions of BusinessActivity 5: Pre-Test: Business Financial Systems 2 PointsSection 3: IVY Accounting, Finance and EconomicsActivity 8: Pre-Test - Accounting 2 PointsActivity 9: IVY - Accounting Materials-Homework 4 PointsActivity 10: Post-Test Accounting 7 PointsActivity 11: Pre-Test - Finance 2 PointsActivity 12: IVY - Finance Materials-Homework 4 PointsActivity 13: Post-Test - Finance 7 PointsActivity 14: Pre-Test - Business Economics 2 PointsActivity 15: IVY - Business Economics-Homework 4 PointsActivity 16: Post-Test - Business Economics 7 PointsSection 4: Business LawActivity 17: Business Law Assignment-Homework 7 PointsSection 5: Business Math and StatisticsActivity 18: Pre-Test Business Math and Statistics 2 PointsActivity 19: IVY - Business Math and Statistics-Homework 4 PointsActivity 20: Post-Test Business Math and Statistics 7 PointsSection 6: Signature Assignment and Reflective EssayActivity 21: Signature Assignment 7 PointsActivity 22: Reflective Summary 1 PointsSection 1: The Business Environment

This section contains the common professional components of Marketing, Management, Business Ethics, and the Global Dimension of Business. There are 4 activities in this section.

Required Reading:Wiley. (2009) Common Professional Component Level 1. Wiley Publishing. ISBN: TBD

Common Professional Component Level 1, Volume 1: The Business Environment1. Marketing2. Management (production, Operations, Organizational Behavior, and Human resource management)3. Business Ethics

4. Global Dimension of Business

Activity 1: Pre-test: The Business Environment 2 Points The Section Pre-test is a 40-question exam based on the material within this unit, which represents four business-related topical areas.

Each test includes 10 questions randomly selected from a test bank of over 100 questions for each of the four business topical areas associated with this section.

The purpose of the pre-test is to establish a baseline of your competency level associated with these four business topics.

Your grade is based only upon taking the exam, not on the score you receive. Therefore, you do not need to study for the section pre-test or otherwise review the course material prior to taking the exam.

As not to unnecessarily bias or influence you relative to your future performance with this section, you will not receive your pre-test score at this time. You will receive your pre-test score when you take your post-test at the end of this section.

Your course fees for this course include the costs of the on-line exams. Once you have been registered for your course with Peregrine Academic Services by Northcentral, you can obtain the passwords required for the course.

Go to the website, http://www.peregrineacademics.com to obtain your passwords for this course. Click on the Clients link at the top, select Northcentral University, and select Learners. Enter your e-mail address. Once you submit your e-mail address, you will receive an automated e-mail message from [email protected] that includes the six passwords for this course (three pre-tests and three post-tests).

The e-mail you receive includes hyperlinks to each of the tests associated with this SKS course. Copy/paste your password for each test and complete the test registration form. Be sure to select the correct password for this particular test.

Each password is single-use/single-test only, meaning you can only take this test once. If needed, you can resume a test within a 48-hour period, but you cannot re-start a test. The test will take you about an hour to complete.

Follow the on-line instructions to take the pre-test. Enter your name and the password for the test. Select from the menu your course professor’s name. The information you enter from this screen will also appear on your test completion certificate.

At the conclusion of the test, the on-line testing site will provide you with a completion certificate in PDF file format. Save this completion certificate to your computer, renaming the file to correspond to the file naming convention found in the syllabus (e. g., SmithTSKS4000-1). Upload the PDF completion certificate (renamed) to your learner’s site for Activity #1.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.peregrineacademics.com/

You must also upload a completed NCU Assignment Coversheet (found under the course resources tab). Save this file in RFT format and re-name the file using the file naming convention found in the course syllabus (e. g. SmithTSKS4000-1).

Your course mentor will verify that you have taken the Section Pre-test and grade you for this Activity.

This activity is due by the end of Week #1 for the course.

Activity Outcomes

Identify the steps used in the evaluation and control in the strategic management of an organization.

Define appropriate human resources used in a business organization. Identify general global business trends and logistical systems. Identify contemporary rules and practices in business ethics and legal compliance to help

ensure ethical standards are being followed such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Activity 2: Marketing and Management 10 Points

The written assignments for SKS-4000 are based on a continuing business scenario designed to apply all 12 Common Professional Component (CPC) topics within a practical business application environment. Each of the six written assignments for SKS-4000 build upon each other. SKS-4000 culminates with the development of a leadership and business integration plan for the scenario.

The business scenario (fictitious information for this course) that you will use for SKS-4000 is as follows:

ABC Clothing is a locally owned and operated small business store that carries brand name clothing lines for a variety of needs including children, teens, women, and men. The store has been in business for nearly 20 years and the owners are generally well respected within the community. ABC Clothing employees a total of 12 people, including 10 retail sales specialists, an ordering clerk, and a bookkeeper who takes care of the payroll and manages the financial aspects of the business. All employees are supervised on a day-to-day basis by the business owner. When the business owner is gone, day-to-day decision making and supervision is delegated to the senior retail sales specialist.

The owner of ABC Clothing has decided it is time bring in a business manager to run the local store because the owner would like to focus on opening a second store in a nearby community. The owner of ABC Clothing has hired you to be that business manager and has given you the freedom to run the store as you best determine based on your recent completion of a degree in business management. The owner would like you to put your college education to use by growing the business, improving efficiency, and through better management of the employee workforce.

For this first written assignment (Activity #2 for SKS-4000), your requirement is to describe the key business environment considerations for ABC Clothing. Specifically, prepare an overview presentation regarding marketing so that you can grow the business locally and perhaps regionally. If you grow the business, you will need to increase the number of personnel and develop an organizational structure for the store so that you are not necessarily the day-to-day supervisor of every employee.

Develop a PowerPoint presentation for this assignment that describes the key business environment considerations for ABC Clothing. Your PowerPoint presentation should include 10-15 slides.

Within the presentation, you must describe the following key business environment considerations relative to ABC Clothing:

1. Currently, the store uses only local newspaper advertising for promotions and marketing. Discuss what other marketing efforts you should consider and how those efforts might be conducted. Discuss customer-driving marketing strategies along with promotion and pricing strategies.

2. Discuss how you could better manage quality in terms of customer service and overall operation of the store.

3. Discuss how you would recruit, select, train, and retain new employees for the store. 4. Discuss how you would reorganize the structure of the store so that you do not need to

supervise all employees on a day-to-day basis.

The first slide in the presentation should be the NCU assignment coversheet. The last slide(s) in the presentation should be the list of references you used for the assignment in APA format. For this assignment, you do not need to use outside resources and references for the PowerPoint presentation. All the information you need for this assignment is included within the custom-published e-book.

When complete, post your PowerPoint presentation to your learner’s site under Activity #2. This activity is due by end of Week 2 for the course.

Activity Outcomes


Define appropriate human resources used in a business organization.

Activity 3: Business Ethics and the Global Dimension of Business 10 Points As you assume your duties as the business manager for the store, you feel that it is important that you clearly articulate to the employees your expectations with regard to workplace ethics, ethical conduct, and diversity. You also think that it is important to state what you believe is the store’s social responsibility within the context of your local community.

For this second written assignment (SKS-4000 Activity #3), your requirement is to write a memorandum of record for the employees that clearly discusses:

1. Your expectations for ethical conduct in the workplace

2. Your expectations regarding the store’s social responsibility3. How you will manage for ethical conduct4. Your expectations regarding employee diversity

Your paper for this assignment should be between 3-5 pages in length, excluding coversheet, title page, and references. Your paper should be written in the form that you would use for a memorandum of record that you would publish and post for your employees. As such, you do not need to follow strict APA guidelines, but rather write in style that clearly discusses your expectations relative to the aforementioned items.

For this assignment, you do not need to use outside resources and references for the memorandum of record. All the information you need for this assignment is included within the custom-published e-book.


Activity Outcomes

Identify general global business trends and logistical systems. Identify contemporary rules and practices in business ethics and legal compliance to help


Activity 4: Post-Test: The Business Environment 8 Points The Section Post-test is a 40-question exam based on the material within this unit, which represents four business-related topical areas.


The purpose of the post-test is to assess your competency associated with these four business topics.

Your grade for this activity is based on the total score you receive for this post-test. You can use the material found in the book to answer the questions; however, each question has a time limit.

Use the e-mail you received from Peregrine Academic Services in Activity #1 for the password for this test. Click on the link in the e-mail that corresponds to this test and follow the on-line instructions to take the test.

Remember that each password is single-use/single-test only, meaning you can only take this test once. If needed, you can resume a test within a 48-hour period, but you cannot re-start a test. The test will take you about 1-2 hours to complete.

Take this test carefully as the score you receive will be your score for this activity.

Follow the on-line instructions to take the post-test. Enter your name and the password for the test. Select from the menu your course professor’s name. The information you enter from this screen will also appear on your test completion certificate.

At the conclusion of the post-test, the on-line testing site will provide you with a completion certificate in PDF file format. Save this completion certificate to your computer, renaming the file to correspond to the file naming convention found in the syllabus (e. g., SmithTSKS4000-4). Upload the PDF completion certificate (renamed) to your learner’s site for Activity #4.


Your course mentor will verify that you have taken the Section Post-test and grade you accordingly for this Activity.


Activity Outcomes


Define appropriate human resources used in a business organization. Identify general global business trends and logistical systems. Identify contemporary rules and practices in business ethics and legal compliance to help


Activity 5: 0 Points

Activity Outcomes

Critique executive management and integrative planning at the strategic level. Explain how to take strategic initiatives and break them down into tactical and

operational components of the overall strategic plan involving all the key business components.

Describe business operations planning: design, strategies, and implementation. Describe international trade concepts and practices.

Activity 6: 0 Points

Activity Outcomes

Section 2: Global Dimensions of Business

This section contains the common professional components of Business Finance, Accounting, Economics, and the Legal Environment of Business. There are 4 activities in this section.

Required Reading:Wiley. (2009) Common Professional Component Level 1. Wiley Publishing. ISBN: TBD

Common Professional Component Level 1, Volume 2: Business Financial Systems1. Business Finance2. Accounting3. Economics4. Legal Environment of Business

Activity 5: Pre-Test: Business Financial Systems 2 Points

The Section Pre-test is a 40-question exam based on the material within this unit, which represents four business-related topical areas.


The purpose of the pre-test is to establish a baseline of your competency level associated with these four business topics.

Your grade is based only upon taking the exam, not on the score you receive. Therefore, you do not need to study for the section pre-test or otherwise review the course material prior to taking the exam.

As not to unnecessarily bias or influence you relative to your future performance with this section, you will not receive your pre-test score at this time. You will receive your pre-test score when you take your post-test at the end of this section.

Use the e-mail you received from Peregrine Academic Services in Activity #1 for the password for this test. Click on the link in the e-mail that corresponds to this test and follow the on-line instructions to take the test.

Remember that each password is single-use/single-test only, meaning you can only take this test once. If needed, you can resume a test within a 48-hour period, but you cannot re-start a test. The test will take you about 1-2 hours to complete.

Follow the on-line instructions to take the pre-test. Enter your name and the password for the test. Select from the menu your course professor’s name. The information you enter from this screen will also appear on your test completion certificate.

At the conclusion of the pre-test, the on-line testing site will provide you with a completion certificate in PDF file format. Save this completion certificate to your computer, renaming the

file to correspond to the file naming convention found in the syllabus (e. g., SmithTSKS4000-5). Upload the PDF completion certificate (renamed) to your learner’s site for Activity #5.


Your course mentor will verify that you have taken the Section Pre-test and grade you for this Activity.


Activity Outcomes

Critique executive management and integrative planning at the strategic level. Explain how to take strategic initiatives and break them down into tactical and


Describe business operations planning: design, strategies, and implementation. Describe international trade concepts and practices.

Section 3: IVY Accounting, Finance and Economics

Required Reading:Volume 2: Accounting, finance, and economics

Activity 8: Pre-Test - Accounting 2 PointsThis pre-test is a random selection of 40 questions that covers most aspects of this portion of course. This will give you a preliminary view of what this part of the course will cover and also create a baseline to measure the effectiveness of this course.

Note: This Pre-test is different from the Pre-Course Survey so do not confuse the two.

You should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the Accounting Pre-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the Accounting Pre-test. This is a baseline pre-test and does not influence your final grade. Your Mentor will see your score but you will not at this time. Your score will be given to you after the post-test. The grade for the pre-test will be two points upon submission of the cover sheet.

The URL for this pre-test is http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.pl

Please enter your first name, last name, select the Accounting Pre-test and Mentor from the drop down, and enter the unique password.

Once you have completed the pre-test examination for this course, submit a NCU coversheet to your Mentor stating you have completed the Accounting pre-test.


Submit your document in the Course Work area below the Activity screen.

Note: Review the Essentials Tab in your Learner web page with special attention to the Assignment Submission for properly completing the NCU Cover sheet, naming your document, and submitting the assignments in sequence.

Once your Mentor receives the Pre-Test assignment cover sheet, the Mentor will log onto IVY to verify the pre-test, record your score, and return the assignment sheet to you with feedback on this activity. Once you have received this assignment back indicating it as completed, you may proceed to the next assignment.

Learning Outcome: (9)

Activity Outcomes

Identify Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for accounting using updated accounting rules.

Activity 9: IVY - Accounting Materials-Homework 4 PointsFor this activity you will use Volume 2: Accounting, finance, and economics.

Accounting: A Management Perspective begins with a discussion of who, what, why, where, and how of accounting.

Chapter 1, describes the standard-setting process and the roles of the various parties in the development of (GAAP).

Chapter 2, the Basic Financial Statements, introduces the fundamental accounting equation, Assets = Liabilities + Owners' Equity, and uses it to construct, the balance sheet first, then the income statement. The interactive problems in Chapter 2 reinforce the use of T-accounts in developing the financial statements.

In Chapter 3, students are immersed in the accounting cycle. They learn the significance of journal entries, ledger posting, and ultimately, statement creation. A variety of exercises are presented, requiring comprehension of topics such as the operating cycle (Purchase Inventory--> Incur Payables --> Sell Merchandise --> Collect Receivables), accruals, depreciation, and reconciliation of retained earnings.

Chapter 4 tackles Cash Flow, an important topic often ignored in introductory accounting texts. In this chapter, students learn the importance of accurate cash flow analysis and are provided with several tools, particularly the Coleman Cash Flow Model, for determining a firm's sources and uses of cash.

Chapter 5 provides an introduction into financial analysis by teaching a number of ratios frequently encountered in the business community.

You can take the examinations at the end of the five chapters as many times as you like until you have mastered the material.

Once you have completed all five end-of-chapter tests on the CD-ROM and have reviewed the materials in the textbook, produce a document that includes each question number and the corresponding answers for all of the examinations.

Identify the examinations by Chapter number. Attach an NCU cover sheet at the front of the document and submit your examination answers all at one time.



Learning Outcomes: (9, 13)

Activity Outcomes

Describe the financial status of a firm by the use of ratio analysis of the firm’s financial statements.


Activity 10: Post-Test Accounting 7 PointsYou should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the appropriate Post-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the appropriate post-test for the required activity.

The URL for this post-test is http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.pl

Please enter your first, last name, select the appropriate post-test and Mentor from the drop down, and enter the unique password.

This post-test is a random selection of 40 questions that covers most aspects of this course. This will give you a wrap-up view of what this course covered and also measures the overall effectiveness of this course. Please take this post-test carefully as the results of this test will be reflected in the grade for this activity.

Once you have completed the post-test examination for the course, submit a NCU coversheet to your Mentor stating you have completed the appropriate post-test.


The final examination score is reported directly to your Mentor for this course. Your Mentor will report your pre-test and post-test scores to you at the completion of the course.




Activity Outcomes

Describe the financial status of a firm by the use of ratio analysis of the firm’s financial statements.


Activity 11: Pre-Test - Finance 2 PointsThis pre-test is a random selection of 40 questions that covers most aspects of this portion of course. This will give you a preliminary view of what this part of the course will cover and also create a baseline to measure the effectiveness of this course.


You should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the Finance Pre-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the Finance Pre-test. This is a baseline pre-test and does not influence your final grade. Your Mentor will see your score but you will not at this time. Your score will be given to you after the post-test. The grade for the pre-test will be two points upon submission of the cover sheet.

The URL for this pre-test is http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.plPlease enter your first name, last name, select the Finance Pre-test and Mentor from the drop down, and enter the unique password.

Once you have completed the pre-test examination for this course, submit a NCU coversheet to your Mentor stating you have completed the Finance pre-test.






Activity Outcomes

Compare financially management capital investment principles.

Activity 12: IVY - Finance Materials-Homework 4 PointsThe Holt text begins with an extensive discussion of financial statement analysis, initially focusing on the role of accounting and the information presented in corporate financial statements. In the second half of Chapter 1, financial analysis using ratios, vertical and horizontal percentages, and comparative methodologies is investigated.

Chapter 2 discusses those processes vital to corporate and financial planner, and credit analysts- projecting financial statements into the future. The chapter emphasizes both the quantitative and qualitative factors to be considered when making projections

Chapter 3 takes a more theoretical slant by discussing the financial objective of a business entity - the creation of value for its owners. Value can be created through financing decisions, in effect, taking advantage of capital market inefficiencies, and through investments, which yield returns in excess of those required by the suppliers of capital. The concepts of present and future value are introduced in this chapter.

Chapters 4 and 5 consider the measurement of the returns (capital budgeting) and the cost of the associated capital (Weighted Average Cost of Capital, Capital Asset Pricing Model, and other models).

In Chapter 6, the contemporary topic of value creation through mergers and acquisitions is introduced. Students will learn of several methods of determining the value of a firm.

Finally, in Chapter 7, students will be cast into the role of financial manager, using FRICTO analysis (Flexibility, Risk, Income, Control, Timing, and other factors) to determine whether to use debit, equity, or a combination of the two to finance investment plans.

You can take the examinations at the end of the seven chapters as many times as you like until you have mastered the material.

Once you complete all sevem end-of-chapter tests on the CD-ROM and have reviewed the materials in the textbook, produce a document that includes each question number and the corresponding answers for all of the examinations.




Learning Outcomes: (10, 13, 17)

Activity Outcomes

Compare financially management capital investment principles. Describe the financial status of a firm by the use of ratio analysis of the firm’s financial

statements. Describe key elements of a business financial plan.

Activity 13: Post-Test - Finance 7 PointsYou should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the appropriate Post-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the appropriate post-test for the required activity.

The URL for this post-test is http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.plPlease enter your first, last name, select the appropriate post-test and Mentor from the drop down, and enter the unique password.






Learning Outcomes: (10, 13, 17)

Activity Outcomes

Compare financially management capital investment principles. Describe the financial status of a firm by the use of ratio analysis of the firm’s financial

statements. Describe key elements of a business financial plan.

Activity 14: Pre-Test - Business Economics 2 Points


This pre-test is a random selection of 40 questions that covers most aspects of this portion of course. This will give you a preliminary view of what this part of the course will cover and also create a baseline to measure the effectiveness of this course.


You should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the Business Economics Pre-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the Business Economics Pre-test. This is a baseline pre-test and does not influence your final grade. Your Mentor will see your score but you will not at this time. Your score will be given to you after the post-test. The grade for the pre-test will be two points upon submission of the cover sheet.

The URL for this pre-test is http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.plPlease enter your first name, last name, select the Business Economics Pre-test and Mentor from the drop down, and enter the unique password.

Once you have completed the pre-test examination for this course, submit a NCU coversheet to your Mentor stating you have completed the Business Economics pre-test.





Activity Outcomes

Describe international trade concepts and practices.

Activity 15: IVY - Business Economics-Homework 4 PointsFor this activity you use Volume 2: Accounting, finance, and economics.

Chapter 1: The chapter introduces the concepts of opportunity cost and comparative advantage. The chapter offers a discussion of how these concepts are used to prove the mutual advantage of individuals, businesses, or countries specializing in things with which they have a comparative advantage and trading for the rest. The chapter also introduces the factors of production, production possibilities frontiers, increasing opportunity cost, and absolute advantage.

Chapter 2: The chapter provides an introduction to the model of demand and supply.


Economists use the model of demand and supply to analyze how buyers and sellers interact in the marketplace. It shows how market prices are determined and it demonstrates how many units of a good or service will be bought and sold. Elasticity concepts are discusses in detail. In addition, many applications of the model of demand and supply are offered, including price controls and tax analysis.

Chapter 3: The chapter introduces short run and long run economic costs of production concepts. The profit-maximizing rule is applied to both a perfectly competitive business environment and a monopolistic business environment.

Chapter 4: In this chapter, we shift gears from studying the underlying microeconomic foundations of consumers and businesses to studying the elements of macroeconomic behavior. Macroeconomics offers a set of tools and concepts that both economists and policymakers use to try to figure out the overall pulse of the economy. The most important of these tools are introduced in this chapter; they are: real gross domestic product, the national income identity, the consumer price index, the producer price index, the inflation rate, and the unemployment rate.

Chapter 5: The chapter introduces the functions of money, the types of money, the classifications of the money supply, the central bank, the money creation process, and the monetary policy tools used by a central bank.

Chapter 6: This chapter provides an introduction to the model of aggregate demand and aggregate supply. Economists use the model of aggregate demand and aggregate supply to analyze the economy-wide (or macro) effect of economic events. Inflationary gaps and deflationary gaps are discussed. Using the model of aggregate demand and aggregate supply, fiscal policy and monetary policy are introduced as tools to diminish the effect of an inflationary or a deflationary gap.

You can take the examinations at the end of the six chapters as many times as you like until you have mastered the material.

Once you complete all six end-of-chapter tests on the CD-ROM and have reviewed the materials in the textbook, produce a document that includes each question number and the corresponding answers for all of the examinations.




Learning Outcomes: (8, 11, 18, 21)

Activity Outcomes

Compare financial management methods for the valuation of stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments using economic tools/techniques for maximizing a firm’s return on investment.

Identify the influence business and industry has on society through their choice of products.

Describe international trade concepts and practices. Identify key elements of a firm's legal environment and its effect on operations.

Activity 16: Post-Test - Business Economics 7 PointsYou should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the appropriate Post-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the appropriate post-test for the required activity.







Learning Outcomes: (8, 11, 18, 21)

Activity Outcomes

Describe international trade concepts and practices. Compare financial management methods for the valuation of stocks, bonds, and other

financial instruments using economic tools/techniques for maximizing a firm’s return on investment.

Identify the influence business and industry has on society through their choice of products.

Identify key elements of a firm's legal environment and its effect on operations.


Section 4: Business Law

Required Reading:

Activity 17: Business Law Assignment-Homework 7 PointsDefine and discuss the following legal terms within the context of a business example. Each answer should be one paragraph in length. Definitions can be found in most business law textbooks, on the Internet from a scholarly source. Please note Wikipedia is NOT considered a scholarly source and is NOT permitted. It is important to develop Internet research skills for later classes at NCU. Find supporting research to enhance your position, such as http://definitions.uslegal.com/. Be sure to use outside references as you develop your paper using APA guidelines. This requires the use of citations and a reference page to indicate the source of this information. Carefully review your work and upload your paper as your have done previously, and submit using an NCU cover sheet.

Prepare a document listing all the terms below, with your definition and discussion immediately following. Submit your document along with an NCU cover sheet in the Course Work area below the Activity screen.

Common Law and Stare Decisis

Bailment

The Statute of Frauds

Civil Law versus Criminal Law

Federal and State Courts

Personal Jurisdiction, Subject Matter Jurisdiction and Venue

Garnishment and Execution

Mediation, Arbitration and Accord and Satisfaction

Intentional Torts, Negligence, and Strict Liability in Tort

Requirements for an Enforceable Contract

The Purpose of the Uniform Commercial Code and its Application to Contract Law

Click-Wrap Agreements and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act

Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation and Limited Liability Company

Fee Simple and Life Estate

http://definitions.uslegal.com/

Warranty Deed and Quitclaim Deed

Adverse possession

Employment at Will versus Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Purpose of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Purpose of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Common Law Legal System versus the Civil Law Legal System

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act



Activity Outcomes

Define legal concepts that impact a firm in an economic environment. Identify key elements of a firm's legal environment and its effect on operations.

Section 5: Business Math and Statistics

Required Reading:Volume 3: Business math and statistics

Activity 18: Pre-Test Business Math and Statistics 2 PointsThis pre-test is a random selection of 40 questions that covers most aspects of this portion of course. This will give you a preliminary view of what this part of the course will cover and also create a baseline to measure the effectiveness of this course.


You should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the Business Math and Statistics Pre-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the Business Math and Statistics Pre-test. This is a baseline pre-test and does not influence your final grade. Your Mentor will see your score but you will not at this time. Your score will be given to you after the post-test. The grade for the pre-test will be two points upon submission of the cover sheet.

The URL for this pre-test is http://www.ivysoftware.com/cgi-bin/norcen.pl


Please enter your first name, last name, select the Business Math and Statistics Pre-test and Mentor from the drop down, and enter the unique password.

Once you have completed the pre-test examination for this course, submit a NCU coversheet to your Mentor stating you have completed the Business Math and Statistics pre-test.





Activity Outcomes

Use business math, forecasting, regressive analysis, probability, and decision analysis.

Activity 19: IVY - Business Math and Statistics-Homework 4 PointsFor this activity you use Volume 3: Business math and statistics.

Chapter 1 is a review of business math. It starts with fundamentals and works to lead up to functional business math. The chapter concludes with the concept of contribution margin, breakeven point, and graphing.

Chapter 2, begins with forecasting and averages then concludes with trend analysis.

In Chapter3 introduces the basic concepts of regression analysis, correlation analysis, and coefficient of determination. The chapter concludes with multiple regressions, mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of multiple determinations.

Chapter 4 tackles probabilities and distributions. Distributions include cumulative probability distribution, binomial distributions, and the normal distribution.

Chapter 5 provides an introduction into decision analysis using decomposition and decision modeling. Evaluating decision diagrams rounds out the chapter.

You can take the examinations at the end of the five chapters as many times as you like until you have mastered the material.

Once you complete all five end-of-chapter tests on the CD-ROM and have reviewed the

materials in the textbook, produce a document that includes each question number and the corresponding answers for all of the examinations.





Activity Outcomes


Activity 20: Post-Test Business Math and Statistics 7 PointsYou should have received an email with instructions on how to log on to the appropriate Post-test. Plan for an hour, log on, and take the appropriate post-test for the required activity.








Activity Outcomes



Section 6: Signature Assignment and Reflective Essay

Required Reading:Volume 1: Management, ethics, information systems, and marketingVolume 2: Accounting, finance, and economicsVolume 3: Business math and statistics

Activity 21: Signature Assignment 7 PointsIntegrative Business Policy Summary PaperWith your accumulated knowledge of business, you have been hired to do a Case Analysis for Southwest Airlines (SWA). Use the NCU Library, textbooks, and Internet sources for your research.

Research four to eight internal factors that are the strengths and weaknesses of Southwest Airlines at this time. Then analyze four to eight external factors that are the most important opportunities and threats facing the business presently. Generate a strategy for continued growth for the next five years. Develop a plan to implement your strategy and a methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation. Find supporting research to enhance your position. Please note Wikipedia is NOT considered a scholarly source and is NOT permitted. Be sure to use outside references as you develop your paper using APA guidelines. This requires the use of citations and a reference page to indicate the source of this information.

The length of the paper should be 2000-2800 words and demonstrate an integrative understanding. Your writing should show thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Responses should reflect scholarly-level writing and APA standards and have no spelling, grammar, or syntax errors.

Once you have completed this assignment, submit your document along with an NCU cover sheet in the Course Work area below the Activity screen.


Learning Outcomes: (1-21)

Activity Outcomes

Compare financially management capital investment principles. Compare financial management methods for the valuation of stocks, bonds, and other

financial instruments using economic tools/techniques for maximizing a firm’s return on investment.

Define legal concepts that impact a firm in an economic environment.


Define appropriate human resources used in a business organization. Identify general global business trends and logistical systems. Describe the financial status of a firm by the use of ratio analysis of the firm’s financial

statements. Use business math, forecasting, regressive analysis, probability, and decision analysis. Analyze information systems (IS) from a business application perspective. Identify contemporary rules and practices in business ethics and legal compliance to help

ensure ethical standards are being followed such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Critique executive management and integrative planning at the strategic level. Explain how to take strategic initiatives and break them down into tactical and


Create a case study and strategic plan using contemporary SWOT techniques. Describe key elements of a business financial plan. Identify the influence business and industry has on society through their choice of

products. Interpret a business operations and marketing plan outline. Define international trade concepts and practices. Identify key elements of a firm's legal environment and its effect on operations. Describe business operations planning: design, strategies, and implementation. Describe international trade concepts and practices. Identify Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for accounting using

updated accounting rules.

Activity 22: Reflective Summary 1 PointsWrite a reflective essay that explains how this course has changed and expanded your thinking in a professional and academic sense. Share the concepts and issues that were of greatest interest to you and why. How do you plan to apply this new knowledge in your life or profession?

Length: 350-700 words

Your essay should demonstrate your ability to think critically using the terminology, concepts, and relationships presented in the course material, and should be supported by documentation from the text and other resource materials following APA style and format guidelines.

Submit the completed assignment in the Course Work area of the Activity screen.

Learning Outcomes: (1-22)

Activity Outcomes

Compare financially management capital investment principles.

Compare financial management methods for the valuation of stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments using economic tools/techniques for maximizing a firm’s return on investment.

Define legal concepts that impact a firm in an economic environment. Describe the financial status of a firm by the use of ratio analysis of the firm’s financial

statements. Use business math, forecasting, regressive analysis, probability, and decision analysis. Analyze information systems (IS) from a business application perspective. Identify the steps used in the evaluation and control in the strategic management of an

organization. Define appropriate human resources used in a business organization. Identify general global business trends and logistical systems. Identify contemporary rules and practices in business ethics and legal compliance to help

ensure ethical standards are being followed such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Critique executive management and integrative planning at the strategic level. Explain how to take strategic initiatives and break them down into tactical and


Create a case study and strategic plan using contemporary SWOT techniques. Describe key elements of a business financial plan. Identify the influence business and industry has on society through their choice of

products. Interpret a business operations and marketing plan outline. Define international trade concepts and practices. Identify key elements of a firm's legal environment and its effect on operations. Describe business operations planning: design, strategies, and implementation. Describe international trade concepts and practices. Identify Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for accounting using

updated accounting rules.

Effective Date: 7/8/2009

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