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Introduction to Business
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Introduction to Business
For a Sustainable and Entrepreneurial Future

Second Edition
Available with:
Learning platform
January 2026 | 712 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Introduction to Business: For a Sustainable and Entrepreneurial Future engages and prepares students for their professional journeys, regardless of their career aspirations. Best-selling authors Heidi M. Neck, Christopher P. Neck, and Emma L. Murray encourage readers to see themselves in the world of business and develop the mindset and skill set they need to succeed. The updated Second Edition features a diverse set of examples and cases, from inspiring startups and small businesses to corporations, illustrating how businesses can prosper and create positive impact.

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This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support. Highlights include:

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  • NEW! Assignable simulation activities offer students an engaging, hands-on way to deepen their understanding of core concepts and sharpen their decision-making skills using workplace scenarios. Aligned with learning objectives and tailored to each chapter, these activities provide students with immediate feedback to enhance their learning and build their confidence.

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List of Case Studies
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Part I: Business in a Sustainable and Entrepreneurial World
 
Chapter 1: The Business of Business
What Is Business?

 
The Economics of Business

 
The Building Blocks of a Business

 
Balancing Profit and Purpose

 
The Future of Work

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 2: Business Impact, Entrepreneurship, and Ethics
Growth Mindset

 
Principle 1—Environmental and Social Impact

 
Principle 2—Entrepreneurial Thinking

 
Principle 3—Ethical Behavior

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: Business Without Borders
Global Business Today

 
Conducting Business in Other Countries

 
Multinational Corporations in the Global Economy

 
Working Across Cultures

 
Models to Improve Your Cultural Awareness

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part II: Block 1 The Product and Service Offering
 
Chapter 4: Business Creation
Entrepreneurship Is the Economic Engine of Society

 
Types of Entrepreneurship

 
Starting With Idea Generation

 
From Idea to Strong Business Opportunity

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 5: Business Models
The Four Parts of a Business Model

 
Types of Business Models

 
The Business Model Canvas

 
Business Model Disruption

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part III: Block 2 Markets and Customers
 
Chapter 6: Marketing
Marketing and the Marketing Mix

 
Modern Marketing Is Digital Marketing

 
Content Marketing

 
Influencer Marketing

 
Data-Driven Marketing Decisions

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 7: Customers and Market Segments
How Customers Create Markets

 
Consumer Behavior and Buying Decisions

 
The Buying Process

 
Market Segmentation

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 8: Sales
Businesses Don’t Exist Without Sales

 
The Sales Cycle

 
Popular Sales Techniques

 
Sales Tools

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part IV: Block 3 Structure and Strategy
 
Chapter 9: Organizational Structure
The Role of Organizational Structure

 
Traditional Organizational Structures

 
Contemporary Organizational Structures

 
Primary Factors in Determining Structural Type

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 10: Organizational Culture
Organizational Culture

 
Organization Mission, Vision, and Values

 
Dimensions of Organizational Culture

 
Employee Fit with Organizational Culture

 
Symbols of Organizational Culture

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: Business Strategy for Competitive Advantage
Business Strategy for Competitive Advantage

 
Strategic Analysis Tools

 
Strategy Frameworks

 
The Industry Life Cycle Curve and Popular Growth Strategies

 
Managing Disruption and Uncertainty

 
Strategic Planning: Putting It Altogether

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part V: Block 4 People Inside the Business
 
Chapter 12: Management and Leadership
The Functions and Skills of Managers

 
Management Roles and Styles

 
Leaders Versus Managers

 
Motivation Through Leadership

 
Emotional Intelligence for Leadership Effectiveness

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 13: Human Resources
Why Human Resources Matters

 
Recruitment and Selection

 
Onboarding and Training Employees

 
The Performance Management Process

 
Compensation

 
Standing Out and Progressing Your Career

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 14: Communication in Business
Communication Is a Process

 
Forms of Communication

 
Barriers to Effective Communication

 
Listening Skills for Effective Communication

 
Communicating Within the Organizational Structure

 
Persuasive Communication

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Part VI: Block 5 Performance
 
Chapter 15: Operations, Production, and the Supply Chain
Why Operations Matter

 
The Production Process

 
The Supply Chain

 
Service Operations

 
Approaches to Improving Operations

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 16: Accounting and Financial Statements
Accounting is the Language of Business

 
The Three Major Financial Statements

 
Analyzing Performance: Ratio Analysis

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 17: Financial Management
Financial Management Overview

 
Financial Planning

 
Equity Financing

 
Debt Financing

 
Internal Financial Controls

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 18 : Data, Systems, and Business Analytics
Data Powers Business Analytics

 
The Business Analytics Cycle

 
Types of Business Analytics

 
Business Analytics Challenges

 
Data Privacy and Security

 
In Review

 
Key Terms

 
 
Appendix A: Economics Basics
 
Appendix B: Business Law Basics
 
Appendix C: The Business Impact Project
 
Appendix D: Personal Finance Supplement: Credit and Debt Payoff Project
 
Glossary
 
Endnotes
 
Index
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • NEW! An AI Literacy module prepares students to engage confidently with today’s AI tools through an interactive, outcomes-focused experience—with minimal instructor lift and no course redesign required. Available exclusively in Sage Vantage and written by professors who teach and publish about AI, the AI Information Literacy, Academic Integrity, and Responsible AI Use module integrates video, data driven examples, applied activities, Knowledge Checks, and built-in assessments that help instructors track student understanding. Focused on strengthening critical thinking, the module teaches students how to evaluate AI outputs for accuracy and bias while developing responsible prompting strategies that support academic success without compromising students’ intellectual growth.
  • Available only in Sage Vantage, assignable simulation activities offer students an engaging, hands-on way to deepen their understanding of core concepts and sharpen their decision-making skills using workplace scenarios. Aligned with learning objectives and tailored to each chapter, these activities provide students with immediate feedback to enhance their learning and build their confidence.
  • The Second Edition has been retooled around three core principles shaping modern business: environmental and social impact, entrepreneurial thinking, and ethical behavior. Students are encouraged to do good, create boldly, and act with integrity.
  • New and updated case studies throughout the book—three in each chapter—introduce students to a range of innovative businesses tackling complicated social and environmental problems while also turning a profit.
  • New chapter 2, Business Impact, Entrepreneurship, and Ethics demonstrates the role of growth mindset in business, explains the role of business in creating meaningful change in the world, and explores frameworks to navigate ethical challenges across business functions.
  • Chapter 6, Marketing, and Chapter 8, Sales, now cover these two key functions in distinct chapters.
  • Extended coverage of core economics concepts in chapter 1, chapter 3, and a new dedicated appendix introduces students to the foundations of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
  • The explosion and widespread acceptance of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into discussions across the book, highlighting its growing relevance and impact within each area of business.
KEY FEATURES:
  • Each chapter offers 3 case studies that highlight how companies are working towards positive social impact. Cases are mapped to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Entrepreneurial Thinking activities ask students to develop the mindset and skillset they need to be successful in their professional careers.
  • Ethical Challenge activities prepare students to address ethical dilemmas, critically evaluate options, and consider the consequences of different decisions.
  • The Business Impact Project helps students apply what they've learned and gain a holistic understanding of how all the building blocks of business work together.
  • Unique chapters on business models, and data, systems, and business analytics ensure students have the knowledge they need to succeed in today's business environment.
  • Demonstrates AACSB guiding principles and standards for business accreditation with integrated coverage of technology, ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Ch1-2

Vantage Reference: 
Introduction to Business - Vantage Learning Platform