Understanding Business

Understanding Businessby Nickels, McHugh, and McHugh has been the number one textbook in the introduction to business market for several editions for three reasons: (1) The commitment and dedication of an author team that teaches this course and believes in the importance and power of this learning experience, (2) we listen to our customers, and (3) the quality of our supplements package. We consistently look to the experts full-time faculty members, adjunct instructors, and of course students to drive the decisions we make about the text itself and the ancillary package. Through focus groups, symposia, as well as extensive reviewing of both text and key ancillaries, we have heard the stories of more than 600 professors and their insights and experiences are evident on every page of the revision and in every supplement. As teachers of the course and users of their own materials, the author team is dedicated to the principles of excellence in business education. From providing the richest most current topical coverage to using dynamic pedagogy that puts students in touch with today's real business issues, to creating groundbreaking and market-defining ancillary items for professors and students alike, Understanding Businessleads the way.

Part 1: Business Trends: Cultivating a Business in Diverse, Global Environments
Chapter 1 Taking Risks and Making Profits within the Dynamic Business Environment
Chapter 2 Understanding Economics and How It Affects Business
Chapter 3 Doing Business in Global Markets
Chapter 4 Demanding Ethical and Socially Responsible Behavior

Part 2: Business Ownership: Starting a Small Business
Chapter 5 How to Form a Business
Chapter 6 Entrepreneurship and Starting a Small Business

Part 3: Business Management: Empowering Employees to Satisfy Customers
Chapter 7 Management and Leadership
Chapter 8 Structuring Organizations for Today's Challenges
Chapter 9 Production and Operations Management
Chapter 10 Motivating Employees

Part 4: Management of Human Resources: Motivating Employees to Produce Quality Goods and Services
Chapter 11 Human Resource Management: Finding and Keeping the Best Employees
Chapter 12 Dealing with Union and Employee–Management Issues

Part 5: Marketing: Developing and Implementing Customer-Oriented Marketing PlansChapter 13 Marketing: Helping Buyers Buy
Chapter 14 Developing and Pricing Goods and Services
Chapter 15 Distributing Products
Chapter 16 Using Effective Promotions

Part 6: Managing Financial Resources
Chapter 17 Understanding Accounting and Financial Information
Chapter 18 Financial Management
Chapter 19 Using Securities Markets for Financing and Investing Opportunities
Chapter 20 Money, Financial Institutions, and the Federal Reserve

Bonus Chapters
Bonus Chapter A Working Within the Legal Environment
Bonus Chapter B Using Technology to Manage Information
Bonus Chapter C Managing Risk
Bonus Chapter D Managing Personal Finances