RYERSON UNIVERSITY

Ted Rogers School of Business Management

GMS 200: Introduction to Management

Winter 2009
Professor: Dr. David Valliere
Office: TRS 1-087
Office Hours: Thursdays at 2:00pm

Teaching Assistant: Issa Guindo

E-mail: iguindo@ryerson.ca

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces the concepts and complexities of the contemporary business environment
with an emphasis on competitiveness, quality, and the main functional areas of management:
planning, organizing, controlling, and leadership. Topics include: origins of management, forms
of business ownership, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, organization structure, strategy,
operations management, international business, social and ethical issues. A computer-assisted
management simulation will be used. Lect: 3 hrs.

COURSE NOTES:
This course is designed introduce students to the breadth and complexity of the challenges of the
modern business world.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop an understanding of the fundamentals of the management process.
2. To develop an appreciation of the complex issues involved in managing within a business
environment.
3. To examine prevailing management theories and practices.
4. To expose the student to business “case studies” which show the need for innovative thinking
in today’s competitive global market.
5. To expose the student to the variety of challenges and excitement involved in seeking a
career in business management.
GMS 200 Course Information Sheet, Page 2

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:
In compliance with the objectives of the course, various teaching techniques will be used. These
may include lectures, case studies, individual or group presentations, documentary audio-visual
materials, and printed “hand-out”. Continuous interaction and classroom discussion is
considered very important to this course and they will be emphasized. In addition, guest
lecturers from the business community may be used to augment the learning process. Students
are expected to attend classes fully prepared to discuss assigned readings and cases. If absent,
students are still accountable for all material, changes and announcements discussed during
classes.

TEXTBOOKS/Materials:
REQUIRED:
1. Management Fundamentals, Canadian Edition by John Schermerhorn Jr., Barry Wright,
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, I.S.B.N. 978-0-470-83844-0. Published 2007.
2. GLO-BUS Management Simulation (www.glo-bus.com). Instructions to acquire simulation
software will be provided.

SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL READINGS:

1. Various “Business” magazines: Fortunes, Forbes, Canadian Business, Inc., Harvard Business
Review, Fast Company and others.
2. Daily newspapers: their business sections contain many good articles related to course
material.

Method of Evaluation
Mini Assignments 10%
Business Simulation Game 25%
Term Test 25%
Final Examination 40%
Total 100%
GMS 200 Course Information Sheet, Page 3

NOTES TO STUDENTS:
1. In order to receive a PASSING GRADE in this course, a student MUST achieve an
average grade of at least 50% on all assignments together AND an average grade of at least
50% on the combination of the term test and final exam. Numeric and letter grades are
described in detail in Ryerson academic calendar both in print and on the Ryerson University
website www.ryerson.ca.
2. Up to 20% on any question in any test or examination may be deducted for poor
grammar, lack of clarity and/or spelling errors.
3. Failure to contribute to the efforts of your group will result in a lower, or ZERO, mark for
group evaluation items.
4. Every effort will be made to conduct the course as stated; however adjustments may be
necessary at the discretion of the instructor. If so, students will be advised and alterations
will be discussed in class prior to implementation.
5. Business Simulations used in this course involve data input for each period that must be
submitted by the deadline advised by the instructor. As such simulations are interactive, it is
necessary to have each group’s data to enable the simulation to be run. If your group’s data
has not been submitted by the advised deadline, your group may receive a penalty. Each
member of a group has joint-responsibility to ensure that data inputs have been submitted.
6. A Faculty/Course Survey will be run towards the end of the semester by student
representatives.
7. The Ryerson University Writing Centre (LIB266A and EPH202) offer free help to
students.
8. For tests and examinations it may be necessary for students to have a calculator and
writing instruments. The calculator may NOT be part of a cell phone or similar device and
you may not borrow such items from other students during tests and examinations: bring
your own and ensure that its battery is properly charged.
9. During all tests and examinations, communication devices such as cell phones are not
permitted and must be turned off and placed in your book bag at the perimeter of the
examination room.
10. Additional in-class handouts may be provided by the instructor. The student is
responsible for the content of such materials on tests and examinations. Such handouts are
available only during the class when handed out. If unable to attend a class, arrange for one
of your team members to acquire copies of such items for you.
11. Assignments are due within the first 10 minutes of scheduled class time on the due date.
Late assignments will be accepted within the 24 hours following this deadline, at a 20%
grade penalty. After this 24 hour period, late assignments will NOT be accepted.
12. Tutorials and lectures may differ among sections of this course. Check with your
instructor for details.
13. The instructor may require any student to leave the class room if, in the opinion of the
instructor, the conduct of the student is disruptive to the learning of others.
14. Written assignments must be submitted to Turnitin.com and a receipt must be handed in
with the assignment (assignments submitted without a receipt will be ignored). Students who
do not want their work submitted to this plagiarism detection service must, by the end of the
second week of class, consult with the instructor to make alternate arrangements.
15. All email communications related to this course must use your Ryerson account. No other
email addresses will be accepted or acknowledged.
16. Please review additional policies at the end of this syllabus.
GMS 200 Course Information Sheet, Page 4

1COURSE CONTENT:
1CLASS TOPIC AND ACTIVITIES READING
1 Course Introduction
Introduction to Organizations and Management Ch 1
The Dynamic New Workplace
GLO-BUS
Introduction to the Business Simulation Game Simulation Manual

2 Organizational Environments and Cultures Ch 4

3 Information and Decision Making Ch 7

4 History of Management – Past and Present Ch 2

Mini Assignment 1 due (5%) *

5 Global Dimensions of Management Ch 5

Quiz 1 (2%)

6 Ethics and Social Responsibility Ch 3

7 Midterm (25%)

8 Planning and Controlling Ch 8

Quiz 2 (3%)

9 Strategic Management Ch 9

10 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Ch 6

Mini Assignment 2 due (5%) *

11 Organizing Ch 10
Organizational Design and Work Processes Ch 11

12 Leading Ch 13

13 Managing Change and Innovation Ch 18

Course Wrap-up
Glo-Bus Annual Report due (10%) *

TBA FINAL EXAM (40%)

Notes:
1. Business Simulation submissions are due according to the schedule provided.
2. Students are required to have an activated Ryerson e-mail account in order to use the Blackboard
portal site. E-mail accounts should both have adequate space to receive e-mails and should be
checked frequently.
* Must be submitted to turnitin.com and a receipt must be handed in with the assignment.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES & COURSE PRACTICES

Course Management
• Every effort will be made to manage the course as stated. However, adjustments may
be necessary during the term at the discretion of the instructor. If so, students will be
advised, and alterations will be discussed prior to implementation. Students will be
informed of any alterations by email and/or announcements on the blackboard.

Departmental/University Policies and Course Practices:

Students should be reminded that they are required to adhere to all relevant University policies,
such as the Student Code of Academic Conduct.

To view: http://www.ryerson.ca/~acadpol/policies.html

Academic Integrity
• Students are required to adhere to all relevant University policies, such as the Student Code
of Academic Conduct. University regulations concerning unacceptable academic conduct
(cheating, plagiarism, impersonation, etc.) will be followed. See the Ryerson University
calendar or online versions at http://www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/current/pol60.pdf and
http://www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/current/pol61.pdf and
http://www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/studentrights.pdf for more explanation.
• Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and penalties range from zero in an assignment all
the way to expulsion from the university. Students should review the guidelines regarding
academic misconduct - visit the Academic Integrity website for more information
http://www.ryerson.ca/academicintegrity/ . They should ensure that they understand the
conventions for referencing sources, in footnotes and bibliographies. In addition to citing
quotations from all sources, whether from written materials, interviews or electronic
networks, students must credit with footnotes or in-text references all facts and ideas that are
not their own, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN YOUR OWN WORDS. If you do not, it is
considered plagiarism. In any academic exercise, plagiarism occurs when one offers as one’s
own work the words, data, ideas, arguments, calculations, designs or productions of another
without appropriate attribution or when one allows one’s work to be copied. (See the
Ryerson Library for APA style guide references:
http://www.ryerson.ca/library/ref/style.html)
• It is assumed that all examinations and work submitted for evaluation and course credit will
be the product of individual effort, except in the case of team projects arranged for and
approved by the course instructor. Submitting the same work to more than one course,
without instructors’ approval, is also considered plagiarism.
• Students who have committed academic misconduct will, at a minimum receive a “0” on the
work, and an instructor may assign an “F” in the course. The Academic Integrity Seminar
may also be assigned. Students will have the notation Disciplinary Notice (DN) placed on
their academic record and official transcript. The notation shall remain until the students
graduate, or for eight (8) years, whichever comes first. If you receive this in the first half of
your program, you may undergo a petition process to have it removed in your last year.
• Students who commit academic misconduct a second time shall be placed on Disciplinary
Suspension (DS) for up to two years, at which time they may apply for reinstatement to a
program. The designation DS shall be placed on their permanent academic record and
official transcript. The notation shall remain until students graduate, or for eight (8) years,
whichever comes first.
• Disciplinary Withdrawn standing (DW) shall be permanently noted on students’ academic
records and official transcripts.
• Expulsions shall be permanently noted on students’ academic records and official
transcripts.
• NOTE: Students may not drop a course when they have been notified of the suspicion of
academic misconduct. If a student attempts to drop the course, the Registrar’s office will re-
register the student in that course until a decision is reached.
• When an instructor has reason to suspect that an individual piece of work has been
plagiarized, the instructor shall be permitted to submit that work to any plagiarism detection
service.
• CHEATING ON AN EXAM OR TEST: Ryerson’s Examination Policy requires that all
students have a valid student identification card or other photo identification on their desk at
all times when taking an examination. If it is suspected that someone is impersonating a
student, the photo identification of that person will be checked, and the person will be asked
to sign the exam paper for further verification. If it is suspected that the identification is not
valid, students may be asked to provide alternate photo identification. Security may be called,
if circumstances warrant.

E-Mail Accounts
• Students are required to activate and maintain a Ryerson Matrix e-mail account. This shall
be the official means by which you will receive university communications. See
www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/current/pol157.pdf

Accommodation of Students with Disabilities

• In order to facilitate the academic success and access of students with disabilities, these
students should register with the Access Centre
http://www.ryerson.ca/accesscentre/index.html . They should also inform their instructor
through an “Accommodation Form for Professors” that they are registered with the Access
Centre and what accommodations are required.

Student Responsibilities in Academic Appeals

• Students should read the Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals policy at
(www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/current/pol134.pdf)
• It is the student’s responsibility to notify and consult with either the instructor, or the
Chair/Director of the teaching department/school, depending on the situation, as soon as
circumstances arise that are likely to affect academic performance. It is also the student’s
responsibility to attempt to resolve all course related issues with the instructor and then, if
necessary, with the Chair/Director of the teaching department/school as soon as they arise.
An appeal may be filed only if the issue cannot be resolved appropriately. Failure to deal
with a situation as soon as it arises will jeopardize any appeal.
• Students who believe that an assignment, test, or exam has not been appropriately graded
must review their concerns with their instructor within 10 working days of the date when the
graded work is returned to the class.

Standard for Written Work

• Students are expected to use an acceptable standard of business communication for all
assignments. You are encouraged to obtain assistance from the Writing Centre
(http://www.ryerson.ca/writing-centre) for help with your written communications as needed.
(See the Ryerson Library for APA style guide references:
http://www.ryerson.ca/library/ref/style.html)
Late Assignments
Students must submit assignments on time, which means within the first 10 minutes of class on
the schedule due date. Failure to do so will result in a penalty as detailed above. All assignments
submitted for grading will be handed back within 2 weeks except for the final exam.
• You need to inform your instructor of any situation which arises during the semester which
has an adverse effect on your academic performance and you must request any necessary
considerations or accommodations. A doctor’s certificate is required to substantiate illness
and should be submitted within 3 working days of a missed exam. See
http://www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/Other.html/medical.pdf for the required certificate.
Religious Observance requests are to be made formally within the first two weeks of class
(see www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/current/pol150.pdf) Other valid reasons must be approved
by the instructor in advance.

Maintaining a Professional Learning Environment

• Laptop computers, cell phones, or other devices should not be used for non-classroom
activities as they are distracting to other students, speakers and your instructor.

Academic Grading Policy

Evaluation of student performance will follow established academic grading policy outlined in
the Ryerson GPA Policy http://www.ryerson.ca/acadcouncil/current/pol46.pdf. The grading
system is summarized below:

Definition Letter Grade Grade Point Conversion Range

A+ 4.33 90-100
A 4.00 85-89
Excellent
A- 3.67 80-84
B+ 3.33 77-79
Good B 3.00 73-76
B- 2.67 70-72
C+ 2.33 67-69
Satisfactory C 2.00 63-66
C- 1.67 60-62
D+ 1.33 57-59
Marginal D 1.00 53-56
D- 0.67 50-52
Unsatisfactory F 0.00 0-49