Understanding Business - Hardcover

Get Ready for Prime Time. The "Driver's Ed for the Information Superhighway" has been moved and combined with the old "SUCCESS" prologue to create a new 'Get Ready for Prime Time' mini-booklet at the front of the text, focusing on the skills for success in college and in business - internet usage, study skills, etiquette, etc. Students need to learn new habits and skills that will lead them to success - Get Ready for Prime Time provides them with the information they need, and that instructors don't always want to spend class time on.
E-Commerce coverage: E-commerce and other technologies play such a vital role in the changing business environment that the topics are integrated throughout the entire text. Rather than segregate e-commerce and other technology concepts in a single chapter, the authors believe it is important that they be discussed along with traditional concepts so that students understand how technology is changing the way we do business. Time and time again, instructors told us how important it was for students to understand the impact of e-Commerce on all facets of business. At their urging, UB6E integrates e-Commerce into every chapter of the text. The impact that technology in general has had on the daily business environment is discussed along with traditional course concepts so students can make the connection to the impact of technology on every aspect of business.
New for the Sixth Edition, this is the first ever book-specific PowerWeb! PowerWeb harnesses the vast world of Internet resources for professors and students. Our dedicated staffs of professionals scour the Web to find the most relevant and interesting resources related to the materials presented in your course. Since this is a book-specific site, the material will not just tie into the course, but it will actually correlate with the specific chapter material of the text. All of these links are collected in one central area, not only enhancing the course material, but also saving time for instructors along the way.Professors can customize this book to meet their exact needs and mix and match with other items on Primis Online allowing them maximum choice and flexibility. Instructors can choose between two delivery formats: custom printed books (in black and white) or custom eBooks (in color).
A new and improved text-specific online learning center includes such features as Web-based projects, links to professional resources, and other exciting instructor support tools.
NEW for the Sixth Edition! Students and instructors will also have access to special E-commerce material on the Web. This online material allows students to examine the latest E-commerce information in a concentrated area, while the far-reaching implications are integrated throughout the text's lessons.

Website addresses for all companies referenced in the textbook are located in one central area.

New for the Sixth Edition! eLearning Sessions put the course content in context for your students with a self-quizzing function, a multi-lingual glossary (with audio pronunciation of important terms/definitions), Internet exercises, and even crossword puzzles to help student master the course content in an engaging fashion.
"Taking it to the Net" are EXTREMELY popular. These optional end of chapter exercises allow students to research topics on the web.
Developing Workplace Skills SCANS:
. Learning aids have been engineered to provide real skills-based learning opportunities for students based on SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills).

. SCANS identifies five workplace competencies that students need to develop: resources, interpersonal skills, information, systems, and technology. Nickels et al has learning tools designed to cultivate these SCANS competencies: Critical Thinking exercises throughout each chapter, Making Ethical Decisions boxes in each chapter, Developing Workplace Skills exercises, Practicing Management Decisions (cases), Taking It To The Net (internet exercises).
Business Week applications: the ever-popular 'From the Pages of Business Week Magazine' boxes return to bring interesting stories and real business data to UB6E.
"Spotlight on Small Business" boxes appear throughout the text and provide extensive coverage of small- to mid-sized firms. These smaller firms represent the fastest-growing segment of the global economy and these kinds of entrepreneurial ventures offer students tremendous opportunities.
'Legal Briefcase' boxes are scattered throughout the text and highlight important legal issues facing today's business world. In addition, the UB6E appendices 'Working within the Legal Environment of Business' and 'Managing Risk,' provide context for these business challenges.
'Reaching Beyond our Borders' boxes provide students with important context vis a vis the global nature of business today. In addition to this thematic coverage, UB6E includes numerous in-text examples as well as a full chapter on Competing in Global Markets.
'Making Ethical Decisions' is a boxed feature that places students in the middle of real ethical dilemmas and demonstrates how businesspeople must be prepared to deal with ethical challenges. Chapter 4 provides the in-depth foundations of ethics that professors have told us are critical to their students' success.
HOT TOPICS covered include: customer satisfaction, teams, quality, e-Commerce, Technology, Customer Relationship Management, and the Internet, cultural diversity.

Bill Nickels teaches Marketing in a large lecture environment at the University of Maryland. Bill has won the Outstanding Teacher on Campus Award for 3 years including 1997. Bill received his M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve and his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University. Jim McHugh is an associate professor of business at St. Louis Community College. Jim teaches several sections of introduction to business, and has been for 18 years. Jim holds an M.B.A. and has broad experience in both education and business. He has conducted numerous seminars in business and maintains several consulting positions with small and large business in the St. Louis area. Susan McHugh holds an M.Ed. and has completed Ph.D. coursework in education administration, concentrating on adult learning theory. As a professional, Susan consults in both training and curriculum development. Not only is Susan a co-author on UB5/e., she also developed the integrated teaching and learning system.