Business Concepts at My Job

WORKSHEET 1

Goal: Identify how the concepts from the Business Concepts PDF textbook appear in your current or past job.

Task: Using your own job (past or present), answer the questions below by explaining how and where you see each chapter’s concepts at work. Keep your answers short and meaningful.

If you haven’t had a job, think more deeply; I will bet you have been in an environment where you experienced these concepts. Did you ever volunteer at a local non-profit? At a summer camp? Did you ever participate in an event in your 4-H club? Help a family member run a local pie sale or a 5K road race?

If you haven’t had any type of job, that’s okay. For this worksheet, try one of these additional options:

  1. Interview a friend or family member using the questions below. Record their answers here. (Preferred)
  2. Or, reflect on the jobs Maya, Michael, Nina, Leo, or Maria had and answer the questions below based on their experiences. You’ll still learn a lot from them.

Chapter 1: The “Invisible Walls” (Internal & External Environments)

Every business is influenced by what happens inside its walls and the forces outside in the world.

  1. Inside the Walls: Describe your company’s “Internal Environment.” Who are the owners/entrepreneurs, and how would you describe the “vibe” or culture of the workplace?
  2. Outside Forces: Identify one External Force (Economic, Legal, Competitive, or Social) that has recently made your job harder or caused a change at work. What happened?
  3. The Connection: How did your managers react to that external force? Did they change a policy, adjust prices, or hold a meeting?

Chapter 2: The Firefighter (Management)

Management isn’t just a title; it is the process of Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling (POLC).

  1. The Plan: Think of a busy day or a special project at your job. What was the specific goal (Planning) and how did your supervisor assign tasks (Organizing) to meet that goal?
  2. The Human Element: Give an example of a time your manager had to use “Human Skills” to motivate the team during a stressful shift. Were they successful?
  3. The Quality Check: How does your boss “Control” the work? Is there a checklist, a final inspection, or a software program that tracks if the job was done correctly?

Chapter 3: The People Puzzle (Human Resources)

HR is about managing “Human Capital”—the skills and well-being of the employees.

  1. The Training: When you started your job, what kind of “Onboarding” or training did you receive? Did it focus on Technical Skills (how to do the job) or Safety?
  2. The Reward: Besides your hourly wage, what is one “Benefit” or “Perk” your company offers to keep employees from quitting? (e.g., flexible shifts, discounts, insurance).
  3. The Fit: Think of a coworker who is great at their job. What “Soft Skills” (attitude, communication, punctuality) do they have that make them a good fit for the company culture?

Chapter 4: The Vibe and the Sale (Marketing)

Marketing is the process of identifying a target market and using the 4 Ps to reach them.

  1. The Customer: Who is your company’s Target Market? (Be specific: age, location, what they care about).
  2. The 4 Ps: Pick one product or service your company sells. Briefly describe its Price (High-end or Budget?) and how the company Promotes it (Social media, signs, word of mouth?).
  3. The Difference: Give an example of a “Marketing” effort at your job (something to get people in the door) versus a “Sales” effort (something done to close the deal).

Chapter 5: The Truth in the Numbers (Accounting)

Accounting is the “Scoreboard” that tells the story of the business’s health.

  1. The Costs: What are the two biggest “Operating Expenses” at your workplace? (Think about things like rent, electricity, inventory, or payroll).
  2. The Assets: Name one major Asset your company owns that is necessary for you to do your job (e.g., a delivery truck, a specialized oven, a point-of-sale computer).
  3. The Bottom Line: If your manager told you the company had high “Revenue” but low “Net Income” this month, what do you think happened to the money in between?

Final Project Prep: The “Fix-It” Reflection

Think about one major “pain point” or problem at your current job related to one of the chapters above.

  • What was the issue? (e.g., bad management, poor marketing, high employee turnover).
  • Based on what you’ve learned from the stories and the textbook, what is one specific change you would suggest to fix it?