The Eighth Edition of this bestselling introductory text features a comprehensive, updated survey of all key business functions: management, marketing, accounting, finance, and information technology. Core topics highlighted within these functional areas include ethics and social responsibility, small business concerns, different forms of business ownership, and international business concepts. In light of current business conditions, this edition also addresses the nation's economic problems, corporate credibility and efforts to improve accounting standards, the dot-com meltdown, entrepreneurial businesses, diversity, globalization, e-business, and other timely issues. Likewise, the authors have integrated more information on employment trends to help students choose a career and compete in a fickle job market. Updated and enhanced coverage of e-Business—in boxed features, examples, illustrations, and discussions throughout the text—reflects this sector's growing importance. All boxed features that focus on real business or workplace issues have been replaced. These boxes cover major themes, including Adapting to Change, Talking Technology, Examining Ethics (with Issues to Consider that stimulate critical thinking and facilitate discussion), Going Global, and Exploring Business. Using the Internet boxes continue to point students to relevant web sites for more information on concepts, companies, or issues covered in each chapter—prompting them to conduct independent research. Due to its loose-leaf format, this text sells for considerably less than standard hardcover books and also provides students with greater flexibility. Building a Business Plan features now appear at the end of every Part, helping students to write their own business plans incrementally over the course of a semester or during class. Chapter 6 also includes revised coverage of business plans. Running a Business, an ongoing video case featured at the end of each Part, provides students with an in