Today's culture is increasingly influenced--even dominated--by business; "The Corporation" provides readers with a basic understanding of how a corporation works and how it contributes to the wealth of its shareholders, employees, communities, and nations in which it is active. Part I addresses how and why the corporation developed historically (in legal, political, economic, and social context) and how it become the most dominant business form in the U.S. Part II covers the laws and regulations that influence the corporation's daily operations and compares it with other business entities...

This practical guide to the entire business planning process from start to finish provides a framework for:

conceiving the vision of the firm

defining the purpose of the firm, its overall business mission

setting business goals and strategies for achieving them

understanding the external environment and competitive setting outside the firm

establishing operating plans for major functions

implementing control and review processes and

executing the plan, providing signposts when changes in strategy will be needed

This comprehensive approach to planning is presented...

At a time when corporations are reeling from mismanagement, a large proportion of homeowners are being forced to default on mortgages and the federal government is rapidly extending its formidable reach into the private sector, it is understandable that many Americans no longer trust big business and government institutions. To get the United States back on track and to preclude the same kinds of disasters in the future, it is imperative for corporate and government leaders as well as private citizens to understand the commonality in all of these events--the use and abuse of...