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FOB Course Outline S12

Vanier College 

Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences 

FUNDAMENTALS OF BUSINESS  

300-210-410-110-VA/ Ponderation 3-0-3 

Prerequisites: None 

 Section(s) 13-12

FALL, 2026 


Instructor Dr. Samie Li Shang Ly  
Office  N-225
Phone/E-mail lys@vaniercollege.qc.ca 
Office Hours By appointment, please feel free to Mio me

 Assigned Times to the Course: 

Day Time Location 
Monday Tuesday 8:30 - 10:00  N-231316
Thursday Friday 8:30 - 10:00  N-364316

1. Course Description 

This course is designed to introduce the students to the world of business and to enhance one’s understanding of business activities. The student will examine the main functions found within a business enterprise. This will include an overview of marketing, finance, human resources, and production. An appreciation of how each function relates to the success of the overall organization will also be emphasized. The student will enrich his/her business vocabulary and develop a better understanding of the external environment affecting any business organization.

1.1 Course Level Learning Outcomes 

The student is able to:

    • Apply basic business terminology, concepts and theories to business situations

    • Understand the role of business (including small business) in Canada and globally

    • Examine the main functions in a business enterprise including management, marketing, finance, human resources and production

    • Evaluate how each function relates to the success of the overall organization

    • Identify and examine various forms of business ownership and structures

    • Identify and explain external environmental factors and how they affect the organization (and vice versa)

    • Explain how business relates to the social sciences

    1.2 Durable Skills In this Course

    1.2.1 Manage tasks and deadlines

    1.2.2 Build positive relationships 

    1.3. Program Relevance

    2. Teaching Methodology and Resources 

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    2.1 Compulsory Resources (Includes textbooks & softwares) 

    There will be no compulsory text for this class

    You can buy the mandatory textbook (electronic version with access to MyLab) at the Vanier bookstore or from the Pearson website (website to be provided at a later time): 

    Ebert R.J., Griffin R.W., Dracopoulos G. & Starke F.A. (2023) Business Essentials, 10th Canadian Edition. Pearson Education.**
    ISBN: 9780137368976

    Note: Used or previous editions of the book are also accepted. Please check with me first to make sure it is the right book.

    The Social Science and Commerce Student Success Guide and The APA Style Manual: 
    The Vanier College Learning Commons makes available to all Vanier students an electronic version of the Vanier Social Science and Success Guide and the APA Style Manual. Students should access these resources on a regular basis in order to find helpful tips to make various aspects of their experiences more successful and fulfilling. Here is the address to the web page: https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/learning-commons/tasc/

    2.3 Teaching Approach 

    The modality of this course will be based on in-class theoretical lectures complemented with practical learning sessions and work sessions. 

    Teaching strategies include group work, individual work and experiential activities aligned with the learning objectives of this course.

    3. Learning Competencies & Objectives 
    022N: To identify the contribution of knowledge related to Social Science disciplines to the understanding of the human phenomena.

    Elements of the Competency and Performance Criteria

    Title: Fundamentals of Business

    Code: 022N (Initiation)

    Elements of the Competency

    1. To comprehend the development of business knowledge

    Performance Criteria

      1. Explain the role of business in the Canadian economy and in other countries.

      2. Identify and evaluate the forms of business ownership in Canada.

      3. Examine how individual ethics and corporate social responsibility develop, and affect their environment.

      4. Understand the major world marketplaces.

      5. Describe the process of management.

      6. Examine and evaluate various business structures.

      7. Explain and evaluate the role of small business in the Canadian economy.

      8. Explain the concepts of motivation as they relate to human resources and describe strategies to enhance job satisfaction.

      9. Describe the activities involved in the management of human resources as well as the role and activities of labour unions.

      10. Understand the environment for banking in Canada and some of the most important kinds of financial institutions.

      11. Understand the role and need for financial management.

      12. Describe and understand the type of markets in which stocks and bonds are advantageous

    1. To comprehend the major business trends, concepts, theories, methods and other key aspects that determine this body of knowledge

      1. Define major theories, concepts and methods of business knowledge.

      2. Assess how major theories, concepts and methods have contributed to the development of business thought.

      3. Employ the terminology and definitions appropriate to the business field.

      4. Examine the impact of business on the environment.

    1. To demonstrate the pertinence and breadth of these disciplinary components in the understanding of the phenomena in the social sciences

    Explain the relation of commerce to social sciences.

    3.2 Examine the impact of globalization on contemporary society Understand the College’s policies with respect to academic issues.

    Understand and apply effective study
    management practices. 

    4. Academic Integrity 

    4.1 Plagiarism 

    Teachers reserve the right to make use of plagiarism detection software to help deter and detect plagiarism, students might be required to submit assignments to a plagiarism detection service. 

    5. Institutional Policies & Guidelines 

    5.1 Familiarity with and adherence to Vanier College course level policies

    It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with and adhere to the Vanier College Academic Policies. The complete policies can be found on the Vanier College website, under Policies. Students should pay particular attention to the Institutional Policy on the Evaluation of Student Achievement (IPESA). The IPESA aims to clarify the structures and means that ensure the fair and equitable evaluation of student achievement, including the conditions for learning, assessment, and certification.

    Section 11.4 of IPESA provides details on Academic Integrity, which is an essential component of any educational institution and all students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity during their college studies. Failure to do so may result in serious consequences – please see section 11.4.2 on Academic Misconduct. There are many resources available to support academic integrity in your courses. If you have a problem that you have been unable to resolve by talking with your teacher, please reach out to the Student Advocate or to a Faculty Dean’s office (A-286, B-208, N-301).  For Continuing Education courses, students can visit E-115.

    Academic Complaints may be defined as grievances related to any matter covered in the IPESA (chapter 19). It is the College’s responsibility to offer a fair and equitable hearing of student complaints. To do so, the College provides students who perceive that there have been mistakes, errors, or breaches of procedure involving any aspect of this policy with clear complaint and recourse processes. Complaint and recourse processes may be informal or formal. Students are always encouraged to approach their teacher before seeking help from any outside person or body, but other courses of action may be followed depending on the situation. In the case of Academic Complaints, after having discussed with your teacher, if you are still dissatisfied, you may contact the following, in the specified order:

    1. Department Coordinator: Marc-André René, renem@vaniercollege.qc.ca (for Business Administration courses)
    2. Faculty Dean: Alena Perout, perouta@vaniercollege.qc.ca
    3. Student Advocate, Student Services: General Email to Student Services, studentservices@vaniercollege.qc.ca

    5.2 R-Score Information 

    Students often ask their teachers about the calculation of their R-score. Please note that the computation of the R-score depends on information teachers do not have access to, for instance the high school averages of students in the class. Also, R-scores may be calculated for a single section or can combine students across several sections of the same course. This means that class averages, as they appear on LEA, are not necessarily the ones used to determine your R-score. For more information on the R-score, please visit this website: https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/advising/r-score/ 

    5.3  Artificial Intelligence Usage 

    Students must submit their own authentic work in order to demonstrate their own learning. Any document generated by AI, regardless of the AI program or software used, is not deemed your own authentic work.

    In some instances, students may be permitted or required to use AI, however, students must respect the rules established by a given teacher in their courses.

    Students are responsible to know when AI is permitted and when it is not. Unless a teacher explicitly states that the use of AI is permitted, in which context, and under which conditions and parameters, students must assume that it is not allowed. When not explicitly permitted, its use will be considered as cheating and plagiarism, and the Academic Misconduct Procedures applies.

    5.4 Medical Absences

    In the case of a missed assessment for a short-term medical reason, the student needs to document the absence with a verifiable medical note (or other medical documentation deemed legitimate by the College) in order to receive an alternative assessment plan. A student’s self-declaration of a medical absence (https://bit.ly/medical-absence) will be considered valid documentation, providing the student follows the appropriate steps of reporting to their teacher(s) for each day they are absent. If the medical absence is for 5 or more consecutive school days, the student is required to provide valid medical documentation from a physician to support their situation.

    6. Assessments 

    Type of Assessment Weight Tentative Dates
    1.  3 TESTS  60%
    Test 1 20% See detailed schedule
    Test 2 20%
    Test 3 20%
    2. Learning Integrative Assessment (LIA)  20%
    Term paper 20% See detailed schedule
    3. Assignment Activities 20%
    In class activities (6)
    		See detailed schedule



    6.1 Assessment Notes 

    Tests 

    Each test will cover the chapters assigned, it will be a format mix of multiple choice questions and essay questions. 

    The test is completed in class during our class time. Absence for the test must be justified with a note prior to the test date. Any missed exams without notifications will be graded as 0. 

    6.2 Minor Assessments 

    Through out the semester, there will be 6 activities held in class to build formative knowledge of each chapter topic. They are completed with various timelines and discussed in the classroom as individual or as a group. Missed attendance for these activities will result in a grade of 0. 

    6.3 Learning Integration Assessment (LIA)

    The term paper may be 1 larger term paper of at least 750 words or several smaller essay topics assigned throughout the semester to complete a minimum of 750 words.

    The term paper(s) must be the student’s original work on course-related subjects. The paper must have the appropriate cover page, table of contents, numbered pages and a list of references used in the research, presented through appropriate in-text citations. Students are urged to start work early on the term paper.

    The LIA guidelines will be added here. 

    6.4 Student Proficiency in the Language of Instruction (SPLI)

    Student proficiency in the language of instruction is the ability to write, read, speak, and listen in order to communicate effectively at the college level, within and across disciplines.  SPLI may also require discipline-specific vocabulary, documentation, and communication skills. An assessment of language skills must account for a minimum of 10% of any take-home written assignments or oral presentations in which English is the language of expression. 

    7. Student Resources & Expectations 

    7.1 Peer Tutoring

    Free Drop-in Peer Tutoring Service for Social Science and Commerce Students
    Get help with your Social Science, Commerce and Methodology courses. Whether it be to understand course content, search and read scholarly texts, write academic papers, cite your sources properly or any other questions you may have, the Peer Tutors are here to help. To see the schedule and connect with a Peer Tutor go to: 

    https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/social-science/resource-center/ 

    7.2 TASC Writing Centre

    Teacher Provided Resource Service for RM/IP Students 
    The Writing Centre's writing consultants (Vanier teachers) are available for online assistance with and feedback on all of your written assignments or essays.  For information on how to work with a writing consultant or to see the schedule, visit: 
    https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/learning-commons/writing-centre/ 
    You can access a series of short PowerPoint videos explaining different aspects of APA with examples (plagiarism, in-text citations, references, paraphrasing and quoting), along with some other information about referencing here: 
    https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/learning-commons/plagarism-citing-sources/ 
    For more information about Academic Integrity in general: 
    https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/learning-commons/academic-integrity/

    8. Detailed Schedule 

    You can view the detailed class schedule via this live link. The core is fixes, smaller details may change to accommodate student learning. Please check often. GoBusiness toFundamentals scheduleS calendar.12 Live Schedule HERE

     

     

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