Foundations of Business

Distinguish between business ethics and social responsibility to understand how a company’s stance on these distinct concepts shapes its corporate culture and public perception. This course examines this critical area of decision-making, revealing the positive impact that ethically-sound and socially responsible actions have on stakeholders and society. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze a company’s choices and their consequences, contributing to a more responsible business environment.

Understand how businesses generate wealth for stakeholders and create community opportunities by navigating the complex world of banking and finance. This course explores the pivotal role of accounting in everything from securing loans and managing payroll to making ethical financial decisions within a global economy. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze how businesses interact with the financial system and evaluate the accounting practices that ensure both success and integrity.

Explore the exhilarating journey of a new business, from the initial spark of entrepreneurship to the complexities of global expansion. This course covers how successful leaders assess risks and make critical decisions that balance profitability with market impact, tracing how these choices evolve as a small business grows into a corporation. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze the growth trajectory of a company and understand how its decisions directly influence its market presence and overall success.

Learn how to align a company’s structure and daily operations with its overarching corporate goals to ensure it stays focused on the right objectives. This course demonstrates how effective goal communication, strategic organizational structure, and operational planning - including capacity and forecasting - all work together to drive a business forward. By the end of this course, you will be able to develop plans that connect short-term operational success to the achievement of a company's long-term vision.

Learn how marketing extends far beyond advertising to influence every facet of a business, from defining the product and its price to identifying the target audience. This course will show you how to strategically shape the entire promotional mix, including sales methods, product descriptions, and branding, to build a cohesive identity. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze how these core functions intertwine to establish a powerful brand for products and services across any industry.

Discover how to build a successful business by focusing on its core foundation: its employees. This course explores the crucial role of Human Resources, covering essential functions from hiring and staffing to employee training and motivation, and showing how these practices directly impact a company’s reputation. By the end of this course, you will be able to apply effective HR strategies that foster employee well-being and career growth, significantly contributing to your organization's overall success.

Learn to evaluate the critical financial strategies that fuel corporate growth and enhance wealth by balancing risk with reward. This course explores how leaders weigh immediate cash needs against the complexities of being a publicly traded company, where decisions must account for shareholders and board members. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze how corporations strike this crucial balance to make strategic funding decisions that drive long-term success.