Courses

Status

Open

Estimated Completion Time

18 Weeks

Overview

Whether you plan on starting your own business or being in charge of one, it is crucial you understand how to keep the company compliant. Explore what it means to run an ethical business, how to keep intellectual property, technology, and e-commerce safe and protected, understand insurance and taxes, and how to have a healthy workplace environment. Keep the business safe and growing by following the law.

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Major Topics and Concepts

Unit 1 Ethics and Business

Distinguish between ethical and legal behavior as well as unethical and illegal behavior
Describe the tools a company uses to make ethical business decisions
Examine case studies of corporations acting unethically
Appreciate the regulations that govern lawyers’ ethical conduct in their relationship with clients
Understand when public officials and lobbyists may or may not accept gifts or money from a company

Unit 2 Developing and Protecting Your Business

List the different types of patents and the steps to obtain a patent
Distinguish between a trademark and service mark
Describe copyright and the process for obtaining a copyright
Compare the civil and criminal remedies for violations of intellectual property protections
Critique the use of trade secrets and the use of confidentiality agreements

Unit 3 Getting A New Business Started

List the key steps to building a strong strategic business plan
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a sole proprietorship
Analyze the risks and benefits that come with general partnerships and limited partnerships
Argue why starting a corporation may be preferable to entering into a partnership
Identify hybrid business organizations

Unit 4 The Employer/Employee Relationship

Critique various types of employees and employer/employee relationships
Understand what guidelines employers must follow to hire and retain employees
Investigate current trends in employment and how the human resources department fosters a relationship between employees and employers
Analyze characteristics of the changing workforce in today’s society

Unit 5 Workplace Behavior

Critique how successful businesses train employees to facilitate growth and anticipate pitfalls they may encounter
Analyze how an effective boss or manager acts as a role model and leader among their employees
List the expectations that companies, employers, and supervisors have for their employees
Evaluate and explain the important role employers take in creating a safe work environment for their employees

Unit 6 Technology and eCommerce Best Practices

List the key components of a technology plan, along with essential business hardware
Determine the type of software applications that will improve the financial and collaborative well-being of a company
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s online presence
Recognize common cyber-crimes and how they impact a business
Discuss issues involved in government oversight of the internet

Unit 7 Property and Insurance

Differentiate between real and personal property
Understand how property rights are earned, transferred, and relinquished
List the types of insurance coverage a business should purchase to protect its property
Distinguish between insurance that a company must purchase to protect its employees and health insurance coverage, as well as major types of life insurance

Unit 8 Taxes

Identify how tax requirements might differ depending on the organizational structure of a business
Recognize how sales tax rates differ among varying localities and the impact these rates have on online sales
Understand how governments use tax laws to regulate the business industry as well as consumer behavior
Appreciate the obligation employers have to withhold income from employees in order to ensure compliance with federal and state law

Credits .5

Competencies

Business Ethics
Students will demonstrate an understanding of business ethics by explaining the role of ethics in business, comparing case studies in consumer ethics, and explaining the role of ethics in the legal and political arenas.
Business Safeguards
Students will demonstrate an understanding of business safeguards by summarizing intellectual property laws and describing remedies for violations of intellectual property rights.
Starting a New Business
Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to start a new business by summarizing steps in the planning process and explaining types of business structures.
Employees
Students will demonstrate an understanding of employee relations by describing hiring considerations and summarizing laws of ethical hiring.
Workplace Culture
Students will demonstrate an understanding of workplace culture by describing characteristics of a positive workplace culture and explaining criteria for acceptable workplace behavior.
Business Technology
Students will demonstrate an understanding of business technology by describing technology essential for business and explaining principles of successful e-commerce.
Property Management
Students will demonstrate an understanding of property protection by explaining the principles that determine property ownership and explaining the role of insurance as a risk-management practice.
Taxes
Students will demonstrate an understanding of taxes by explaining taxes applied based on business structure, explaining taxes applied based on commercial activity, and explaining payroll taxes.

Pre-Requisites

None

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Business Law 1a