Johns Hopkins University Introduction to Business (660.105.21) Summer 2016, Term II Date/Time: MTWTh 9-11:45 a.m.
Instructor: Lawrence Aronhime
Contact Information: 104 Whitehead Hall [email protected] Office hours: Mon 1pm – 2pm Wed 1pm – 2pm Thu 1pm – 2pm
Course Description: This course is designed as a broad introduction to the terms, concepts, and values of business and management. Particular emphasis will be placed upon topic specific readings and their implications for managerial decision making.
Required Materials: A Short History of Financial Euphoria by John Kenneth Galbraith (ISBN-10: 0140238565) Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Taleb (ISBN-10: 0812975219) The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (ISBN-10: 0316346624) Supplemental Readings on electronic reserve (Password: ARO105) at: http://reserves.library.jhu.edu/access/reserves/findit/articles/aronhime/aronhime.php
Overhead Slides All slides can be printed from the following web sites: http://blackboard.jhu.edu
Course Objectives: This course seeks to provide the undergraduate business student with a foundation in business and management. A student who successfully completes this course should be able to
analyze basic financial statements, 1* interpret economic and financial information as presented in the Wall Street Journal, 2* understand the workings of the stock and bond markets, 3* understand the language of business, 4* understand basic managerial decision making, 5* understand how businesses are organized, 6* understand how businesses deliver goods and services, 7* understand how business strategy determines structure, 8* place management ideas in a conceptual framework, 9* think about the business world and his/her eventual place in it Johns Hopkins University Introduction to Business (660.105.21) Summer 2016, Term II Student Responsibilities: This is a rigorous course. It is imperative that all assignments and readings are completed prior to class.
Students are expected to take all examinations and to complete all assignments on the required dates. All assignments must be submitted in hard copy on time. No emails will be accepted. Make-up exams may be completed only at the discretion of the instructor and the Department.
It is the responsibility of the student to obtain notes and assignments from colleagues for any classes that were missed.
The instructor reserves the right to change topics, readings, cases, and assignments in order to further appropriate course outcomes.
Evaluations: A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 Plusses and minuses will be used at the discretion of the instructor.
Assignments: Individual Assignments: Midterm Examination 1 10% Midterm Examination 2 10% Final Examination 20% Case Studies 20% Section assignments 20% Reading quizzes 15% Stock market paper and competition 5%
Exams are not cumulative. One 8.5x11 piece of paper is allowed per exam.
Course Assistant: See section syllabus
Date Day Topic Readings 6/27 Mon Introduction to course Howard Means - Money and Power Introduction to Business Molly O’ Neill – The Viking Invasion 6/28 Tue Economic Background Diane Coyle – Sex, Drugs and Economics
2 Johns Hopkins University Introduction to Business (660.105.21) Summer 2016, Term II Date Day Topic Readings Ian Parker – The Poverty Lab Stephen Dubner – Monkey Business
6/29 Wed Securities and Investments A Short History of Financial Euphoria Malcolm Gladwell – Blowing Up 6/30 Thu Accounting Ed Caesar – What is the Value of Stolen Art?
7/4 Mon No Class
7/5 Tue The Corporate Context Fooled by Randomness Sarah Stillman – Get Out of Jail, Inc. 7/7 Wed The Global Context Matthew Brzezinski – Reengineering the Drug Business
7/8 Thu Midterm 1
7/11 Mon Ethics and Business Bartlett and Steele – Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear Stephen Dubner – What the Bagel Man Saw
7/12 Tue Introduction to Mgmt Malcolm Gladwell – The Talent Myth Nathan Heller – Naked Launch
7/13 Wed Organizational Structure James B. Stewart – The Collapse William Poundstone – How to Ace a Google Interview
7/14 Thu Organizational Development Malcolm Gladwell – Personality Plus Barbara Ehrenreich – Nickled and Dimed Lisa Belkin – The Opt-Out Revolution
7/18 Mon Introduction to Marketing The Tipping Point
7/19 Tue Midterm 2
7/20 Wed The Four P’s: Product Malcolm Gladwell – Creation Myth Rebecca Mead – Just Add Sugar
7/21 Thu The Four P’s: Promotion Rob Walker – The Brand Underground Kelefa Sanneh – Skin in the Game Johns Hopkins University Introduction to Business (660.105.21) Summer 2016, Term II Date Day Topic Readings 7/25 Mon The Four P’s: Place and Price Malcolm Gladwell – The Science of Shopping
7/26 Tue Producing Goods and Michael Pollan – Power Steer Services Eric Schlosser - Meat and Potatoes Summary Adam Davidson – Making it in America C. Duhigg and K. Bradsher – How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work
7/27 Wed Study Day
7/28 Thu Final Exam Readings on electronic reserve are marked with a dot.
4 Johns Hopkins University Introduction to Business (660.105.21) Summer 2016, Term II Cases Case studies are to be written in memo form, with a length of approximately 2 pages. Each assignment must state: 1. The problem or issue, including how and why it arose 2. Alternatives for addressing the issue 3. Implications of those alternatives for management and the future of the company 4. Suggested resolution
Stock Market Paper and Game At the start of the game, each student will allocate $1 million to a portfolio comprising any combination of publicly held equity securities. At the conclusion of the game, each student will submit a five-page paper analyzing the performance of the portfolio. Your paper should include: 1. Financial outcomes and trends of the portfolio 2. Summary of your investment strategy 3. Reasons for choosing the particular securities that you chose 4. Variance between actual performance and expected performance 5. Impact of the general economy on investment results 6. Overall stock market performance and impact on the group’s portfolio 7. Planned changes to strategy and your portfolio for the future 8. What would you have done differently in the future?