Introduction to the Fundamentals of Business: British Columbia Edition

Organization of Content

This book is organized into three parts. It starts with introducing key business concepts, then moves to discussing business in today’s world, and brings it all together with a discussion of managing businesses today.

Part A: Introducing Business in Canada

Part A introduces students to the exciting and challenging world of business in British Columbia, Canada, and the rest of the world. This part discusses the various components and disciplines that make up a business. For a business to prosper and survive, business organizations must respond to the changing environment. While the environment provides opportunities for businesses, it also presents threats to and limitations on the business organization’s ability to achieve its goals and objectives. The interrelationships between the various components and integration of the basic unifying themes of business will be discussed, as well as the importance of working collaboratively and the reasons teamwork is crucial in business.

Part B: The Contemporary Business World

Part B builds for students a foundation of the contemporary business world. It discusses how existing businesses are being changed by new ways of doing business due to technology, the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to embrace equity, inclusion and diversity, and the steps that businesses are taking to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. This part covers business and economics, business in the global environment, the external environment’s influence, forms of business ownership, entrepreneurship (starting a business), and business conduct, including ethics and social responsibility.

Part C: Understanding the Business of Managing

Part C discusses the elements, processes, procedures and issues in managing the business organization from different perspectives: employers, employees, consumers and investors. This part focuses on the role of the managers, structure and organization of large and small businesses, human resources management, employee motivation, operations management and marketing processes, and consumer behaviour. Part C also discusses elements and processes of financial information and management systems, as well as the role of financial institutions, financial planning, and managing risk with diversification, stock market, mutual funds and securities.

What to Expect in Each Chapter

Each part includes chapters that introduce students to different core business elements. Each chapter includes the following sections.

• Learning Objectives: The Learning Objectives section describes in general terms the information that the students are expected to understand upon completion of the chapter and its associated assessments. The learning objectives section is intended to provide readers with a guide to getting the most out of the content.
• Show What You Know: Because learning is an active process, to foster students’ engagement we have incorporated H5P tools to provide learning checks and reflections.
• Topics: This section discusses topics that present a clear and concise description of the most important concepts contained in the chapter.
• Case Studies: Case studies may provide information and opportunities for students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Comprehension Check: This is a series of questions or an activity related to the chapter content for students to self-test their level of knowledge after reading the chapter.
• Key Takeaways: This is a summary of important terms and concepts.
• Glossary: Key terms are highlighted, and definitions are provided in the glossary at the end of the book.