1. Introduction to Commercial Organisations
(a) Definition and basic understanding of terms
like commerce, business, industry, trade,
organization, firm and company. Meaning of
commercial organisations.
A basic understanding of the terms and their
distinctions using relevant industry examples.
(b) Classification
according to activities,
objectives and ownership structures.
Different industrial groupings need to be
explained like: Textile industry, FMCG (fast
moving consumer goods), etc. Many examples
need to be given to reinforce and clarify these
concepts. While the objectives for profit and
non-profit organizations are different, good
170
1. Introduction to Commercial Organisations
(a) Definition and basic understanding of terms
like commerce, business, industry, trade,
organization, firm and company. Meaning of
commercial organisations.
A basic understanding of the terms and their
distinctions using relevant industry examples.
(b) Classification
according to activities,
objectives and ownership structures.
Different industrial groupings need to be
explained like: Textile industry, FMCG (fast
moving consumer goods), etc. Many examples
need to be given to reinforce and clarify these
concepts. While the objectives for profit and
non-profit organizations are different, good
management is still essential. A brief
introduction to each ownership structure,
their features and distinctions.
(c) Environmental awareness
(i) Natural resources air, water, soil,
metals, minerals, forests and fuels.
Importance of these resources in our daily
life.
(ii) Causes of depletion of resources - over-
use, non-equitable
use/irrational
distribution of resources, technological
and industrial development, and
population growth.
Almost all activities of human society
have degraded the environment
physically, chemically, biologically and
ethically.
Technological inputs have yielded high
yielding varieties, which reduces the
products of agricultural residue such as
fodder, etc.; indiscriminate use of
fertilizers and pesticides. Mining,
industries, energy generation,
automobiles, urbanisation leading to
defacement of land, deforestation,
deterioration of hydrological resources.
management is still essential. A brief
introduction to each ownership structure,
their features and distinctions.
(c) Environmental awareness
(i) Natural resources air, water, soil,
metals, minerals, forests and fuels.
Importance of these resources in our daily
life.
(ii) Causes of depletion of resources - over-
use, non-equitable
use/irrational
distribution of resources, technological
and industrial development, and
population growth.
Almost all activities of human society
have degraded the environment
physically, chemically, biologically and
ethically.
Technological inputs have yielded high
yielding varieties, which reduces the
products of agricultural residue such as
fodder, etc.; indiscriminate use of
fertilizers and pesticides. Mining,
industries, energy generation,
automobiles, urbanisation leading to
(iii) Practices for conservation of resources -
search for altematives, promotion of
renewable resources.
of
Advantages and disadvantages
renewable resources when compared to
nonrenewable resources. Study of the
functioning of biogas, solar, wind and
hydro power.
(iv) Industrial pollution and degradation of
environment.
Measures to control pollution and
degradation. Need for an Eco-friendly
form of industrial development.
(d) Sources of Pollution
Vehicular, industrial, burning garbage, brick
kilns, industrial waste, off shore oil drilling,
thermal pollution, chemical fertilizer, bio-
medical waste, pesticides, radiation - x-rays,
radioactive fallout from nuclear plante
Their importance in different settings and
their disadvantages.
The advantages and disadvantages of each
method. Using industry examples and real-
life settings, see the relevance of each method.
(c) Skills required for effective communication.
The interpersonal skills required for effective
communication.
(d) Understanding the relevance and use of
different tools of communication: letter,
facsimile, e-mail, video conference, memo,
telephonic conversation, etc.
A comparative analysis of the tools needs to
be undertaken.
Their importance in different settings and
their disadvantages.
The advantages and disadvantages of each
method. Using industry examples and real-
life settings, see the relevance of each method.
(c) Skills required for effective communication.
The interpersonal skills required for effective
communication.
(d) Understanding the relevance and use of
different tools of communication: letter,
facsimile, e-mail, video conference, memo,
telephonic conversation, etc.
A comparative analysis of the tools needs to
be undertaken.
2. Functioning of a Commercial Organisation
To understand the specific roles played by
different departments of a
of a commercial
organization and to study the inter-relationships
and dependence of all the functional areas in an
actual firm: Purchase and Stores, Production,
Marketing and Sales, Finance, Human Resources,
General Administration and Legal.
These topics should be studied as departments in
a typical firm only, through case-studies or
projects. All the departments and their functions
need to be explained individually so that the cross-
linkages can be brought out clearly.
3. Business Communication
(a) Increasing relevance of communication in a
commercial organization.
With changing times and increasing size of
organizations the ever-increasing need and
relevance of communication.
(b) Ways of Communicating: verbal (written,
spoken) and non-verbal communication.
2. Functioning of a Commercial Organisation
To understand the specific roles played by
different departments of a
of a commercial
organization and to study the inter-relationships
and dependence of all the functional areas in an
actual firm: Purchase and Stores, Production,
Marketing and Sales, Finance, Human Resources,
General Administration and Legal.
These topics should be studied as departments in
a typical firm only, through case-studies or
projects. All the departments and their functions
need to be explained individually so that the cross-
linkages can be brought out clearly.
3. Business Communication
(a) Increasing relevance of communication in a
commercial organization.
With changing times and increasing size of
organizations the ever-increasing need and
relevance of communication.
(b) Ways of Communicating: verbal (written,
spoken) and non-verbal communication.
defacement of land, deforestation,
deterioration of hydrological resources.
4. Mechanics and Terminology of Accounting
Systems
(a) Need and relevance of accounting.
(b) Basic understanding of debit and credit.
(c) Understanding
of basic accounting
terminology: capital, liability, asset, revenue,
expense, purchase, sales, stocks, debtors,
creditors.
(d) Simple understanding of some accounting
records maintained such as journals, ledgers,
cashbook, and trial balance.
Self-explanatory.
No questions will be set on recording of
entries or on calculations
only an
understanding of the above is required.
4. Mechanics and Terminology of Accounting
Systems
(a) Need and relevance of accounting.
(b) Basic understanding of debit and credit.
(c) Understanding
of basic accounting
terminology: capital, liability, asset, revenue,
expense, purchase, sales, stocks, debtors,
creditors.
(d) Simple understanding of some accounting
records maintained such as journals, ledgers,
cashbook, and trial balance.
Self-explanatory.
No questions will be set on recording of
entries or on calculations
only an
understanding of the above is required.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
A minimum of four assignments to be completed
during the year, as assigned by the teacher.
Suggested list of assignments
1. Study the growth of the Consumer Durables
Industry in India - take any 4 firms of the industry
and group them according to ownership structures.
2. Study the working of Fast-Moving Consumer
Goods (FMCG) Industry in India take any 4
firms of the industry and group them according to
their Objectives (Profit/ Non-profit making).
3. Make a comparative study of different core
industries in India - take any 5 industries (such as
- cement, steel, paints, paper, and infrastructure)
and group them according to various factors such
as - growth, profit potential, etc.
4. Study any existing functional strategy for a
small/medium/large scale organization with
respect to its Marketing, Finance, Human
Resource, Production, purchase and find the
problems in the existing strategies.
5. Enact a play showing growing communication
needs in today's organizations, depicting the
possible problems that may occur due to poor
communication.
6. Critically evaluate the ways (verbal and non-
verbal) of business communication in a
commercial organization. Write the factors which
make one or the other method appropriate based
on your understanding of commercial
organizations.
7. Critically evaluate the tools (letters, e-mail, video-
conference, memo, and phone) of business
communication in a commercial organization.
Visit any commercial organization to understand
the working and importance of each of these tools.
8. Write an essay/play about two organizations (one
which uses communication effectively and one
which does not) and show how this has an effect
on their total working and profitability.
9. Study the accounting books maintained by a
manufacturing concern and prepare a report
highlighting the way in which they are maintained.
10. Study the balance sheet of a listed company.
Define basic accounting terminologies, such as,
capital, liabilities, assets, (fixed and current),
revenue, expenditure, etc.
- 3 views