Words of the Week #1 Foundations of Business
Business any activity that provides goods or services to consumers for the purpose of making a profit.
Five Functional Areas of a Business Management Operations Marketing Accounting Finance
Management planning for, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling a company’s resources so that it can achieve its goals.
Operations Designs and oversee the transformation of resources (labor, materials, money) into goods or services(products) tangible products—iPhones, iPods intangible products—health care, lessons
Marketing Everything a company does to identify customers’ needs and design products to meet those needs. Develop the benefits and features of products, including price and quality. Best method of delivering products Best means of promoting them to attract and keep customers Manage relationships with customers
Accounting measure, summarize, and communicate financial and managerial information
Finance Involves planning for, obtaining, and managing a company’s funds
Economics the study of how scarce resources are used to produce outputs—goods and services—to be distributed among people.
Resources The inputs used to produce outputs. Resources may include any or all of the following: Land and other natural resources Labor (physical and mental) Capital, including buildings, equipment, and money Entrepreneurship
Factors of Production Land – raw materials Labor – transforms raw materials into goods and services Capital - equipment, buildings, vehicles, cash, etc. Entrepreneurship - skill and creativity needed to bring the other resources together to capitalize on an idea
Economics the study of how scarce resources (or factors of production) are used to produce the goods and services that will be distributed among people.
Free Market System also known as capitalism, business is conducted with only limited government involvement. Competition determines what goods and services are produced, how they are produced, and for whom.
The Basic Economic Problem The problem which faces individuals, businesses and governments of satisfying unlimited wants with limited resources.
The Decision Making Process Define the problem. - which want, will be satisfied. Identify the choices. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each choice. Choose. Act on your choice. Review your decision.