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LEARNING STANDARDS FOR:
CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND OCCUPATIONAL STUDIES
AT THREE LEVELS

Standard 3b: Career Majors

Students who choose a career major will acquire the career-specific technical knowledge/skills necessary to progress toward gainful employment, career advancement, and success in post-secondary programs.

1. Basic Business Understanding

Students:

• demonstrate an understanding of business, marketing, and multinational economic concepts, perform business-related mathematical computations, and analyze/interpret business-related numerical information.

• explain the meaning of basic business and global economic terms
• provide examples of typical problems (e.g., declining sales, outdated hardware) that could arise in a business and explain how steps in the decision-making process could be used to solve such problems
• use spreadsheet software to forecast expenses for a business for three consecutive years
• interpret a 10-year graph of the Gross National Product (GNP) or Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• demonstrate an understanding of basic international business concepts
• identify and locate major cities and trade regions throughout the world.

Students:

• select, apply, and troubleshoot hardware and software used in the processing of business transactions.

• use touch keyboarding techniques to produce business documents (e.g., letters, memorandums, reports)
• use the components of various business technologies (e.g., CPU, disk drive, CD-ROM, modem, fax machine, scanner)
• enter data into various technological systems, using a variety of input devices (e.g., handwriting, keyboard, mouse, scanner, voice recognition)
• produce business documents and reports, using appropriate technology (e.g., business letter/word processing; business graphs and charts/spreadsheet and graphics software; inventory control reports/hand-held bar code scanners)
• use word processing software to prepare a form letter and do a mail merge soliciting customers for a simulated business
• use electronic media (e.g., e-mail, Internet/World Wide Web, fax) to communicate internationally.

Students:

• prepare, maintain, interpret/analyze, and transmit/distribute information in a variety of formats while demonstrating the oral, nonverbal, and written communication skills essential for working in today's international service-/information-/technological-based economy.

• compose and produce simple business documents (e.g., letters, memos, reports)
• prepare and deliver a three-minute oral presentation using at least one visual aid (e.g., marketing research report, stock market analysis)
• identify and interpret positive/negative facial expressions and other body language indicators
• identify and explain how and why specialized communication tools are used (e.g., voice mail, electronic mail, beepers, pagers)
• use simple electronic databases and spreadsheet information systems to manage a membership list or prepare a payroll ledger
• recognize challenges in business related to people speaking various languages
• identify international cultural similarities and differences and explain their relationship to international trade.

Students:

• demonstrate an understanding of the interrelatedness of business, social, and economic systems/subsystems.

• identify and explain the social, organizational, economic, business, and technological systems that stimulated the transition from an agricultural-based economy through an industrial-based economy to the current service-/information-/technological-based economy
• identify and explain aspects of basic systems that typically function in a business enterprise (e.g., administrative, financial, marketing)
• diagram the components (input, processing, output, feedback) of a typical business system and explain what documents/-materials/products are used in each component (e.g., billing, legal, marketing)
• explain and provide examples of the interrelationship of the free enterprise system and the marketing concept
• identify basic features of the sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, and franchise systems, and decide which form of organization would be best for given situations
• identify the currency systems of major countries and calculate currency exchange transactions.

Students:

• identify, organize, plan, and allocate resources (e.g., financial, materials/facilities, human, time) in demonstrating the ability to manage their lives as learners, contributing family members, globally competitive workers, and self-sufficient individuals.

• explain the need for and the steps incurred by a business in setting goals and priorities to meet company objectives
• identify and discuss the process for constructing a simple operating budget for a specific purpose in a small business (e.g., advertising budget)
• list and explain various personal and business needs related to banking, investments, and insurance (e.g., personal checkbook, mutual funds, life insurance)
• explain various paycheck deductions (e.g., federal and State taxes, FICA)
• open and use personal savings and checking accounts
• assist Red Cross personnel in scheduling student volunteers for participation in a local blood donor event.

Students:

• exhibit interpersonal skills essential for success in the multinational business world, demonstrate basic leadership abilities/skills, and function effectively as members of a work group or team.

• outline essential personal attributes/attitudes for successful interpersonal relationships (e.g., appearance/cleanliness, i n t e g r i t y, punctuality, dedication/commitment)
• explain the many benefits inherent in a business with a culturally diverse workforce
• demonstrate an understanding of how the traditions of various major cultures affect international business practices
• use a case study to illustrate how a business might use a team approach, flextime, or job sharing in its daily operations
• list the key elements necessary to facilitate a business-related meeting
• teach a classmate how to reconcile a checking account or how to use telecommunications software

participate in a job interview.