University of New Brunswick

BA1501 How Business Works Winter 2024

We recognize and respectfully acknowledge that all UNB course interactions take place on unsurrendered and unceded traditional lands of
Wolastoqiyik (pronounced wool-las-two-wi-ig).
"We are resolutely committed to our singular objective of eradicating racial prejudice wherever it exists, to bring about a global
society of inclusion, respect and equal opportunities for all.” (No Room for Racism; Premier League, UK)

COURSE SYLLABUS
Assistant Teaching Seun Richards, MBA Class Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Professor:
Email: seun.richards@unb.ca Time: 8:30am – 9:50am

Office: 819-990-1983 Class Location: Hazen Hall 225

Office Location: Oland Hall 230 Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 8:00am –
10:00am
Course Description:
The course provides the student with an accessible, comprehensive, and dynamic introduction to business and
management in today’s globalized world. Through readings, case studies and guest lectures you will explore a wide
range of topics, such as: leadership and motivation, what customers want, financial soundness and ethical
concerns, and how economic realities affect businesses. Students will also understand business from both a profit
and non-profit context.

Course Prerequisites:
Prerequisites: Students who wish to enrol in this course must do so prior to completing 30 credit hours of Business
(BA) courses.

Textbook:

OpenStax Introduction to Business. OpenStax CNX. Dec 20, 2019

https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-business

ISBN-13: 978-1-947172-55-5 (digital) ISBN-13: 978-1-947172-54-8 (print)

Free pdf available with link above.

Additional readings and cases may be provided throughout the term.

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BA1501 How Business Works Winter 2024

Course Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
• Understand the interdisciplinary nature of business and economic ventures
• Describe business and management concepts, theories and themes that are helpful to the variety of
businesses and industries and to business planning
• Apply ethical reasoning and creative problem solving within various business contexts
Students’ competency levels on these outcomes may vary. Outcomes achievement requires the meeting of all course
expectations, including honouring of all course policies, regular class attendance, and completion of all assigned work in good
faith and on time. (See additional details under Course Objectives and Assurance of Learning Goals below)

Course Requirements and Marking Scheme:

The course is graded on four sets of deliverables:
• 35%: textbook readings, assignments, and quizzes (individual)
• 30%: end-of-term report/summary (individual)
• 10%: chapter assignment presentation (group project)
• 25%: business case proposal presentation and report: regular progress on the plan is worth 5%, and the
presentation and report will also be worth 10% each (group project)
• Extra: 5% (-10%): participation/professionalism bonus/forfeit (individual
• Extra: up to 5% bonus Standardized Quiz (individual) AACSB accreditation

Textbook readings, assignments, and quizzes (individual) (35%):

Most weeks we will cover one or more chapters. For most of these weeks, you will have to complete a short-
written assignment from each particular chapter. The assignment can be an:
Ethics Activity
Critical Thinking Case (found at the end of each chapter and/or provided
through a short reading).
Assignments will be due on Sundays before midnight. The schedule in D2L will show the due dates. Additional
assignments may include additional readings and summaries, and a simulation game activity. These will be
determined in the first few weeks of the class, and additional detail provided at that time.
End-of-term report/summary (individual) (30%):
Each student will prepare a 1,000-1,500-word essay on their own individual definition of business. These essays will
demonstrate a personal reflection of all class material (for example, what business is within a chosen context or
location (such as industry, sector, region). You should use both course material and primary research (which can
include personal interviews, newspaper or magazine articles, and government and NGO websites). Citations should
be APA format.
Chapter assignment presentation (group) (10%):
In addition to your individual chapter assignments, your group will be responsible for recording a video
presentation on one of the chapters from our textbook. You should not try to summarize the whole chapter but
focus on some small(er) part of the chapter that is of interest to your group. The videos should be approximately
5 to 7 minutes, and groups can submit their videos in D2L. The presentation will be worth 10%.

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Business case proposal presentation and report (group) (25%):

The second group assignment requires developing and presenting a business case proposal that focuses on an
extensive research plan regarding the question: "How can Port Saint John effectively encourage and motivate its
tenants to embark on a sustainability and decarbonization journey”? To accomplish this project, each group will
construct a visual representation of the entire system, encompassing elements such as variables, relationships,
feedback loops, stakeholder maps, trends, and overall complexities. The objective is to simplify this complex
system for the purpose of collective action and to establish a common vocabulary for all stakeholders.
Once the visual depiction of the system is complete, each group will:
o Define the opportunity and assess the current situation.
o Explore various options and alternatives.
o Analyze associated risks.
o Provide recommendations for action.
o Create an implementation plan.
Groups will present their summarized business case proposal to stakeholders, with each presentation limited to 15
minutes and valued at 10%. Regular progress updates on the proposal carries a 5% weight, and the final business
case proposal a 10% weight.
Participation and professionalism bonus/forfeit (5% to -10%):
Weekly attendance and participation (during the class and online) is the expectation. (If a student is unable to
attend a class for a valid reason, please notify the instructor as soon as possible.)
Consistent attendance and participation can result in an additional bonus of 5% to your overall grade. On the other
hand, missing classes and/or lack of participation can result in a loss of up to 10% of your course grade!
Therefore, everyone is required to participate in class and/or online on a regular basis.
Class participation includes:
• class attendance (throughout the term)
• in-class discussions and/or questions
• on-line discussions and/or questions
• recommendations for relevant news and journal articles (posted in the Shared news and articles channel in
Teams)

UNB’s Learning Communities (up to 5% bonus grades):

UNB’s Learning Communities is program designed to help students in their first and second years connect with the
wider university. Learning Communities are bi-weekly academic success sessions cocreated by student leaders,
faculty members, and staff. If students attend these sessions, which are designed to help them get the most out of
their time at UNB, they can qualify can earn up to 5 bonus points in specific courses. Please note: Bonus points
cannot be used to move from a failing grade to a passing grade and can only be applied to one eligible course (they
cannot be split).
For more information, including session times and locations, visit https://unb.ca/saintjohn/newstudents/ learning
Also see Appendix A: UNB’s Learning Communities

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BA1501 How Business Works Winter 2024

Basadur Profile (individual) (no grade)

This mandatory assignment will be due before 23:59 on Sunday January 21, 2024. This online questionnaire
determines your creative problem-solving profile and will be used to determine group composition. Here is the link
to complete the profile: https://basadurprofile.com/invitation/accept/?key=OAIRTWET
Failure to submit this assignment will result in an F for the course.

Biographical Assignment (individual) (no grade)

This mandatory assignment will be due during the second week of classes. This assignment outlines who you are
and your expectations and plans. An additional handout will specify details. This assignment must be posted to D2L
before 23:59 on Friday January 26, 2024. Failure to submit this assignment will result in an F for the course.

Peer Review (individual) (no grade)

Group norms for this course will be discussed and established during the first month of classes. Many of the
business classes at UNB involve significant group work. (For example, 40% of your grade for this course comes from
your group work.) Therefore, it is important that all students contribute and play their part. To evaluate group
contributions, a Peer Review will be required at the end of the term. A template will be provided to allow you to
assess the contribution of your peers in your group and in the class. These assessments will then be used to
“condition” the grades received for group work. For example, students who are seen by their peers as adding value
to the discussion and the quality of the group will be rewarded, whereas as students who hinder the learning of
teams members or completion of group tasks can be negatively impacted by the assessment.
As with the Biographical Assignment, the Peer Review is a mandatory requirement to pass this course. If you do
not submit the Peer Review, will result in an F for the course.

Any questions about the course assignments and assessments are welcome.

Weekly Schedule
Below is the intended schedule. It is subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual
agreement, and/or to ensure better student learning. Students will be notified if and when changes are made.

9-Jan Introduction & Overview - Syllabus & Course overview

11-Jan Creative problem solving - Basadur profile – Greg Fleet (Guest Lecturer)
16-Jan Ch 2: Making Ethical Decisions + Ch 4: Forms of Business Ownership
18-Jan Sustainability Business Simulation (game)
23-Jan Sustainability Business Simulation (game)
25-Jan Ch 1, 3 and 15 Economics
6-Feb Ch 1, 3 and 15 Economics - guest lecture
8-Feb Ch 5 Entrepreneurship
13-Feb Ch 5 Entrepreneurship + Business Model Canvas
15-Feb Business plans and simulation game
19-Feb Family Day - University Holiday - no classes*
20-Feb Ch 11, 12 Marketing
22-Feb Ch 11, 12 Marketing
27-Feb Ch 10, 13 Operations Management

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BA1501 How Business Works Winter 2024

29-Feb Ch 10, 13 Operations Management

04 - 08 Mar Winter Term Reading Week - no classes or tests/assignments scheduled
12-Mar Ch 6 Management
14-Mar Ch 6 Management
19-Mar Ch 7, 8, 9 HR, OB: Ethics Activity or Critical Thinking Case
21-Mar Ch 7, 8, 9 HR, OB: Ethics Activity or Critical Thinking Case
26-Mar Ch 14, 16 Accounting: Ethics Activity or Critical Thinking Case
28-Mar Ch 14, 16 Accounting
2-Apr Business case presentations preparation
4-Apr Business case presentations
9-Apr Business case presentations

Other Course Resources/Reference Material/ References:

Library information: http://www.lib.unb.ca
UNB Libraries provides access to a vast collection of online and print resources. Use Research by Subject on the
library website to find the best resources for this course. Research help is available by phone, e-mail, chat, and in-
person.
The libraries offer quiet and group study space. Book at Group Study Room online
https://lib.unb.ca/services/bookings/hwk

Grading Scale:
Typically, grades will be assigned as letters. See table below for how letters translate to GPA.
For your convenience, the letter grading system is provided below:

A+ 4.3 Excellent performance

A 4.0 Excellent performance
A- 3.7 Excellent performance
B+ 3.3 Good performance
B 3.0 Good performance
B- 2.7 Good performance
C+ 2.3 Satisfactory performance
C 2.0 Satisfactory performance
D 1.0 Less-Than-Satisfactory performance
F 0.0 Failure
WF 0.0 Failure

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Course Policies:

1. Expectations for participation and attendance (note the UNB policy:

https://www.unb.ca/academics/calendar/undergraduate/current/regulations/universitywideacademicreg
ulations/i-generalcourseregulation/a.classattendance.html

2. Deadlines for assignment submissions are as posted.

3. Assignment submission must be a submitted via D2L.

4. Extensions will only be granted for late work and missed exams in exceptional circumstances.

5. Email response time is 2 business days.

6. Classroom, lab, clinical and field work safety and decorum (note the UNB policy
https://www.unb.ca/academics/calendar/undergraduate/current/regulations/universitywideacademicregulations/i-
generalcourseregulation/b.classroomlabclinicalfieldworkandsafetydecorum.html

Services for Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability of any type (physical, mental, learning, medical, chronic health, sensory; visible or invisible)
you are strongly encouraged to register with the UNBF Student Accessibility Centre (SAC)
https://www.unb.ca/saintjohn/studentservices/accessibility/ so that you may receive appropriate services and
accommodations. Once you are registered with SAC, I will be notified via the UNBF SAC Accommodation Letter of your specific
accommodations. If you would like to discuss your particular needs with me, please book a time for a confidential appointment.

Class Recording and Copyright

Anyone who wishes to video or audio record lecture presentations, or distribute course notes or other similar materials
provided by instructors must obtain the instructor's written consent beforehand. Otherwise all such reproduction is an
infringement of copyright and is absolutely prohibited and subject to academic penalties (see Academic Offences below). In the
case of private use by students with documented disabilities, the instructor's consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

Writing and Study Skills Support:

UNB’s Student Affairs and Services provides many coaching and mentoring services to assist with writing papers, effective study
methods, and other skills development related to student success: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/
studentservices/academics/index.html

Technical Support:
Information Technology Services (ITS) Help Desk: 453-5199, helpdesk@unb.ca, at the Harriet Irving Library Learning Commons.
http://www.unb.ca/its/get-it-help.html

Academic Offences
The University of New Brunswick places a high value on academic integrity and has a policy on plagiarism as well as cheating
and other academic offences. Plagiarism includes:

1. Quoting verbatim or almost verbatim from any source, including all electronic sources, without acknowledgement;

a. all electronic sources include the variety of essay-writing and research/study web services such as
essaytown.com, studymode.com, quesTa.com, and the many other similar services

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BA1501 How Business Works Winter 2024
2. Adopting someone else's line of thought, argument, arrangement, or supporting evidence without acknowledgment;

3. Submitting someone else's work, in whatever form, without acknowledgment;

4. Knowingly representing as one's own work any idea of another.

Examples of other academic offences include:

1. Cheating on exams, tests, assignments or reports;

2. Impersonating somebody at a test or exam;

3. Obtaining an exam, test or other course materials through theft, bribery, collusion, purchase or other improper
manner;

4. Submitting coursework that is identical or substantially similar to work that has been submitted for another course;

5. And more as set out in the academic regulations of the Undergraduate and School of Graduate Studies Calendars.

Penalties for plagiarism and other offences range from a minimum of F (zero) in the assignment, exam or test to suspension or
expulsion from the University, plus a notation of the academic offence on the student's transcript.

For more information, see the UNB plagiarism policy at: http://nocheating.unb.ca

Course Objectives and Assurance of Learning Goals for BA1501:

Introduction to Business (BA1501) is the first of a number of required (core) courses in your business degree. As
part of our AACSB accreditation requirements, we have defined a set of goals and objectives as listed below. We
encourage your thoughts and feedback on these as we strive to deliver quality programming for our students.
Course Objectives:
• Introduce business theory and practices.
• Introduce business information and develop student knowledge and familiarity about business activities.
• Develop written and oral communication skills.
• Develop analytical skills as practiced by managers and entrepreneurs.
• Demonstrate management and team building skills.
• Create a collaborative learning environment that fosters the experiences of fellow students.
• Learn by doing, while preparing and participating in home assignments, a student led learning activity
and a business plan.
• Develop learning skills … learning to learn.
• Develop time management skills and coping with deadlines.
• Develop technical skills using software tools such as MS EXCEL, MS Word, and Desire2Learn.
How these goals can be achieved:
• Through lectures, textual material, class exercises and assignments.
• Through various written assignments; classroom participation, online discussion boards and group
activities.
• Through the use of various videos, case materials, end of chapter activities and questions.
• Through a number of activities which will require group discussion, participation and reporting.

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• Through respect for one another within the class. This includes coming to class on time, well prepared,
being engaged in what is going on in the class, and actively participating in class discussions but also
allowing others to participate.
• For the student to develop time management skills and cope with deadlines.
• To develop their technical skills using software tools such as EXCEL

Assurance of Learning Goals and Objectives

LG 1 Learning Goal 1 Communicate Effectively
Learning Objective 1 -To deliver effective oral presentations in a business context. Learning Objective
2 -To write effective business documents.
LG 2 Think critically and creatively
Learning Objective 3 - To interpret, analyze and synthesize information in a business context. Learning
Objective 4 - To use qualitative and quantitative methods p creatively solve business problems.
LG 3 Contribute to teamwork and leadership
Learning Objective 5 - To understand leadership skills and team dynamics.
Learning Objective 6 - To participate effectively in a team to complete tasks.
LG 4 Engage in Ethical reasoning and actions
Learning Objective 7 -To identify and address relevant ethical challenges in business.
LG 5 Acquire an international perspective
Learning Objective 8 - To understand the international business environment.
LG 6 Acquire and integrate core knowledge
Learning Objective 10 - To learn, integrate and apply core business knowledge

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BA1501 How Business Works Winter 2023

Appendix A: UNB’s Learning Communities (up to 5% bonus grades):

UNB’s Learning Communities is program designed to help students in their first and second years connect with the
wider university. Learning Communities are bi-weekly academic success sessions cocreated by student leaders,
faculty members, and staff. If students attend these sessions, which are designed to help them get the most out of
their time at UNB, they can qualify can earn up to 5 bonus points in specific courses. Please note: Bonus points
cannot be used to move from a failing grade to a passing grade and can only be applied to one eligible course (they
cannot be split).
For more information, including session times and locations, visit https://unb.ca/saintjohn/newstudents/ learning .

The Tutorials have different themes:

• Academic Integration to the University: This tutorial will help orient you to some of the nuances of studying in
the university environment
• Social Integration: You will get to hear about opportunities on campus that happen outside the classroom, and
how best to balance the social with the academic
• Learning to Learn: What are the habits that are key to student success?
• Academic integrity: This tutorial will investigate some common ways students accidentally find themselves in
trouble, and what you can do to avoid that!
• Stress and Self-Care: We will take a step back and look at some practices to help manage our time and our
well-being.
• Planning your program and next steps: This session provides students with advice on the next steps in planning
their degrees, careers, and life
How to join a Learning Community:
Show up! No registration is required just attend the meetings and participate at the posted times.

Bonus points
You can get up to 5% added to your final grade in a participating course based on your attendance:
• 5 or 6 different modules: 5 bonus points
• 4 different modules: 4 bonus points
Points must be applied to a single participating course. You cannot divide your bonus points between two or more
courses. They cannot be used to move from a failing grade to a passing grade.

Participating courses
This list is subject to change. Confirm with your professor that the course is participating in this program.
https://www.unb.ca/saintjohn/newstudents/learning/index.html

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