With so many media outlets talking about a recession, many people probably assume the U.S. is officially in a recession. However, as of April 2008 we are not "officially" in a recession, at least not yet, as this brief PowerPoint presentation and podcast explain.

Thank you for selecting Business in Action, fourth edition. This new edition integrates print and online media in unprecedented ways to create a standout instructional package.

Until now, it was virtually impossible to keep text content up to date and to provide instructors with lecture material on late-breaking business events and trends. A unique new electronic update service, Business in Action Real-Time Updates, uses web and newsfeed technologies to meet both challenges.

First, we provide weekly updates to key content areas, so students and instructors are always kept up to date on important topics. At strategic points in every chapter, students are directed here to the website to learn about the latest news or a major event pertaining to a particular aspect of the chapter. (Click on Real-Time Updates to see the latest posts.)

Second, when important, late-breaking events occur that affect the world of business, we quickly prepare podcasts for students to download from the site and accompanying PowerPoints for instructors to use immediately. The PowerPoints, accompanied by lecture notes, are delivered via newsfeed right to your desktop.

Every chapter has its own RSS feed, so whenever you’re ready to teach a particular chapter, just sign up for its feed to receive late-breaking stories that you can put right to use in the classroom. When you’re finished with that chapter, you can simply unsubscribe from it and sign up for the next chapter’s feed. (You can also sign up via e-mail.)

Plus, we’ve organized a wide variety of multimedia materials for your convenience. Just click on the desired media type on the left side of the screen.

We wish you all the success in your teaching efforts with Business in Action. Please let us know how we can continue to serve your teaching needs.

Respectfully,

Court Bovee
John Thill

p.s. Be sure to check out Business Web Search, a unique metasearch capability that we developed to make it easier to conduct business-oriented research. With just a few clicks, you can submit precisely defined searches to more than 325 search engines.

Just about everyone who studies business probably thinks about starting his or her own business one day. This brief podcast mentions some of the key questions to ask before moving ahead with a new business idea, including whether an entrepreneur has the passion to stay motivated and energetic all the way through the start-up phase.

According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), companies able to tackle issues such as poverty, climate change, and population shifts are those most likely to succeed in the future.

This is a view shared by eight global business leaders in this online video, From Challenge to Opportunity: The Role of Business in Tomorrow’s Society. The group outlines this "manifesto for tomorrow’s global business" and discusses why and how four key areas of business and sustainable development need to be profitable in order to be effective.