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Business in Action, 9th edition

Published by Pearson (February 1, 2019) © 2020

  • Courtland L. Bovee
  • John V. Thill

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For introductory business courses.

A concise and comprehensive introduction to business

Business in Action remains the premier textbook for important introductory business principles and concepts. Featuring a highly organized, objective-driven structure, the text incorporates relevant, contemporary examples and trends from the business world.

Now 16 chapters (down from 20), the 9th Edition has been streamlined to better match the needs of the course. New material, visuals and assessment questions cover the full spectrum of contemporary business topics without filler or fluff. So students can focus on what's important: developing the skills today's business leaders are looking for.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Each chapter contains 7 segments, each with its own learning objective and knowledge checkpoint. This chunking of information helps students absorb new concepts in manageable doses.
  • Sharpening Your Communication Skills sections let students practice applying this skillset while exploring real-life business issues and challenges.
  • Building Your Team Skills sections have students work with classmates on reports, presentations and other projects.
  • Diagrams and infographics present vital concepts visually, minimizing reading time and maximizing students' learning.
  • A clear, concise, conversational writing style helps keep students engaged.
  • Chapter-opening vignettes and end-of-chapter case studies show how professionals apply the chapter skills and concepts to real life.

New and updated features of this title

  • NEW: Streamlined coverage (from 20 to 16 chapters) of essential business topics better aligns this text to the course curriculum.
  • NEW: Coverage of the latest research and business practices, from inclusiveness in financial services to the ethics of artificial intelligence, prepares students for the world of business today.
  • NEW: 275+ questions and activities help students develop their employability skills related to communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and business ethics and social responsibility.
  • NEW: Growing as a Professional activities encourage students to apply the business concepts they're learning about to facets of their academic and personal lives right now.
  • NEW: Intelligent Business Technology activities help students grasp the benefits of the smart systems that their future employers will likely use.
  • 30 NEW: Exhibits, including diagrams, graphs and quick-reference tables, address the challenge of getting students to read long passages of text by presenting vital concepts visually.

Features of MyLab Intro to Business for the 9th Edition

  • A powerful homework and test manager lets you create, import and manage online homework assignments, quizzes and tests that are automatically graded.
  • NEW: Pearson eText is an easy-to-use digital textbook, available with MyLab, which lets students read, highlight and take notes all in one place, even when offline.
  • Chapter Warm-up Assessments help you hold your students accountable for learning key concepts in each chapter before coming to class.
  • Dynamic Study Modules use the latest developments in cognitive science and help students study chapter topics by adapting to their performance in real time.
  • Mini Sims put students in professional roles and give them the opportunity to apply course concepts and develop decision-making skills through real-world business challenges.
  • Engaging Videos explore a variety of business topics related to the theory students are learning. Exercise Quizzes assess students' comprehension of the concepts in each video.

PART 1: SETTING THE STAGE: THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS
1. Developing a Business Mindset
2. Economics, Money, and Banking
3. The Global Marketplace
4. Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

PART 2: BUILDING THE FRAMEWORK: BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
5. Forms of Ownership
6. Entrepreneurship and Small-Business Ownership

PART 3: GUIDING THE ENTERPRISE: LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATIONS
7. Management Roles, Functions, and Skills
8. Organization and Teamwork
9. Production Systems

PART 4: SUPPORTING THE WORKFORCE: MOTIVATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
10. Employee Motivation
11. Human Resources Management

PART 5: SATISFYING THE CUSTOMER: MARKETING, SALES, AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
12. The Art and Science of Marketing
13. Product Management and Pricing Strategies
14. Customer Communication and Product Distribution

PART 6: MANAGING MONEY: ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
15. Financial Information and Accounting Concepts
16. Financial Management and Financial Markets

About our authors

Courtland L. Bovée and John V. Thill have been leading textbook authors for more than 2 decades, introducing millions of students to the fields of business and business communication. Their award-winning texts are distinguished by proven pedagogical features, extensive selections of contemporary case studies, hundreds of real-life examples, engaging writing, thorough research, and the unique integration of print and digital resources. Each new edition reflects the authors' commitment to continuous refinement and improvement, particularly in terms of modeling the latest practices in business and the use of technology.

Professor Bovée has 22 years of teaching experience at Grossmont College in San Diego, where he has received teaching honors and was accorded that institution's C. Allen Paul Distinguished Chair. Mr. Thill is a prominent communications consultant who has worked with organizations ranging from Fortune 500 multinationals to entrepreneurial start-ups. He formerly held positions with Pacific Bell and Texaco.

Courtland Bovée and John Thill were recently awarded proclamations from the Governor of Massachusetts for their lifelong contributions to education and for their commitment to the summer youth baseball program that is sponsored by the Boston Red Sox.

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