American Business Merit Badge

2012

4 Features of Free EnterpriseIndividual Freedom and Opportunity

Ownership of Land and Assets (equipment, products & machines)

Owners and Workers can Pursue their Own Interests & Goals

Consumers can Spend Their Money as They Wish

Freedom vs. LicenseU.S. Citizens have the Right of Choice to

Spend or Invest His/Her Earnings – However, the Ability to Exercise some Aspects of Freedom may Require License to do so.

You have the Freedom to Drive a Car, but You need a License or Permission from your State to Operate one.

The “Freedom” you want to Exercise may Require Permission from your Employer, Religious Organization or your School

How Scouting Relates to Business

Scout Motto – “Be Prepared”

By the time you enter the work force (summer and part-time jobs too), or start a business, you should have some knowledge of how business works.

Scout OathIn Business you must:

Do your best and help peopleYou must be trustworthyHelp those who are less fortunate – Charities To succeed you must be Friendly & CourteousMust follow the laws and rules of BusinessIn business, you must be Thrifty, setting aside

money for emergencies that might ariseYou should always Protect and Conserve our

Natural Resources

Industrial Revolution

When we started using machines to do work that had previously been done by hand, because it increased productivity & efficiency

It was called a Revolution because it transformed our nation

Energy

Before 1750 things were powered by humans, animals, water and wind

Steam engines began to improve efficiency

Materials

During the 1800’s the materials used in production changed

Wood, Stone and Fibers

Metals and Iron were used more…

Metal alloys and plastics

Mass Production

Eli Whitney helped begin mass production

Using interchangeable, standardized parts that were manufactured before hand

Helped production, as there were replacement parts now available

Eli Whitney

Eli Whitney invented the Cotton GinIn 1798 he got the idea of using

interchangeable parts in manufacturingIt was now possible to produce goods quicker

and cheaper than with custom-made parts

Henry Ford

In 1923 Henry Ford created the first assembly line

Over the years this has led to the use of robotics – and now computers

Computers have revolutionized mass production

Jack Kilby

In 1958, electrical engineer Jack Kilby invented the first integrated circuit, or chip

Chips have become smaller and faster over the years, and now microchips are used in just about everything in electronics

Sylvia WoodsSylvia Woods came from the cotton fields of

South Carolina and began a restaurant in New York that has become a soul food institution “Sylvia’s Restaurant”

In 1962 she opened her doors and now has several franchises in different areas.

Woods has shown what hard work, determination and a family’s love and respect can acheive

Bill Gates

In 1973 Bill Gates entered Harvard University. While there, he and friend Paul Allen developed a new version of the BASIC computer programming language.

In 1975 Bill Gates and Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft, and by 1999 Microsoft dominated the Personal Computer Market.

Insurance is useful to BusinessFire Insurance - In case of fire – replacement of home

or valuablesLife Insurance – Pays a sum to a beneficiaries after a

deathLiability – Protects a person or business against

claims or malpracticeAutomobile – Pays for damages, collision, fire, theft

and accident liabilityMedical Insurance – Pays medical and hospital

expenses

Labor UnionsAutomation – The use of machinery in production

meant that fewer workers were needed, leading to lower wages and unsafe working conditions

Union Shop – All employees in the shop in the Union

Open Shop – Workers have a choice as to whether or not to join

Inside the UnionCollective-Bargaining Agreements – The Union tries to

bargain with employers to improve wages, hours and workplace conditions

Shop Steward – The Union member who tries to help employees when they have complaints

Business Agent – Manages the Union Operations

Union Counselor – Helps Union members with personal or family problems

Fed/State AgenciesBureau of Labor Statistics - Complies statistics

on employmentNational Labor Relations Board – Conducts

elections to see if workers want a Union to represent them, and hears cases either way

OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration… ensures safe working conditions by enforcing job safety standards

State Agencies – Employment and unemployment services and worker’s compensation offices

Call of Duty

Developers

Infinity Ward

Treyarch

Sledgehammer Games

Raven Software

Gray Matter Interactive

Pi Studios

Spark Unlimited

Amaze Entertainment

Rebellion Developments

Ideaworks Game Studio

Ports:

n-Space

Aspyr Media

Demonware

Certain Affinity

Publishers

Activision

Aspyr Media

Creators

Ben Chichoski

ATVI

Platforms

Microsoft Windows/Mac OS X

Nintendo DS

Nintendo GameCube

Nokia N-Gage

PlayStation 2

PlayStation 3

PlayStation Portable

Wii

Xbox

Xbox 360

iOS

BlackBerry

Ways to look for companies with stock

Wikipedia

Los Angeles Times

Wall Street Journal

Business Week