Business and Society

 

Course Description

How can we do well in any endeavor unless we understand what we are doing? What you believe about business affects both your choice of career path and your opinion on business ethics and regulation. Most business ethics courses spend the entire course examining ethics, but not the underlying institution. Most business courses focus on the tools for success, but not on the nature of that success. This course is meant to compliment these other courses by focusing on what business is and perceived to be in society. The course takes a multi-disciplinary approach and examines business in history, philosophy, management theory, and politics. 

 

Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes

Course objectives include the following: 

·        Examine various concepts of business stakeholders

·        Nuance understanding of the practice of business 

·        Examine consensus and lack thereof in notions of the role of business in society 

·        Explore conflicts and syntheses of ideas in philosophy, economics, and management 

·        Define what we mean—both personally and collectively—when we use the term business 

Learning Outcomes include the following: 

By the end of this course, students should be able to: 

·        Identify the various business stakeholders

·        Develop personal goals that are congruent with their understanding of business 

·        Trace the sources of their and their culture’s conceptions of business  

·        Understand the criteria by which they judge what counts as business 

·        Apply definitions of business and stakeholders to enhance critical examination of current events and issues.

 

Expectations or Teaching Philosophy

My classes are student centered in multiple ways.  First, I expect no more of you than I do of myself.  You are a full time student with other classes and responsibilities.  I am a fulltime faculty, with other classes and responsibilities.  Making this a rewarding class means recognizing that it is not the only thing in our lives, but that it is an important part for at least the current semester. 

Second, I am here to help you get the education you want. That is how I perceive my role as professor and facilitator.  I am completely dedicated to helping you with any questions or problems you encounter with the course material.  Within the rules laid out by this syllabus, I also do my best to help students balance other obligations with this course.  However, I do not read minds.  Getting the education you want requires that you communicate with me.  

Third, helping students does not mean doing whatever they ask.  It also does not mean agreeing with everything that is said in class.  You are no more expected to agree with the professor than the professor to agree with you.  In fact my general philosophy in life comes to the fore here.  I will challenge you on your thoughts and arguments.  Most likely, in all our exchanges, I will never completely agree with you.  I will do my best to make sure of it.  My goal is to help you explore and formulate your ideas on business.  I do not believe this is best served by a great deal of head nodding.  I will also show you how this can be done in a supportive and civil manner.  Showing true respect for any idea means engaging that idea and asking the person why they hold that idea.  While it is hard work, it is an enjoyable process; it is also why they killed Socrates.  I will do my best, with your guidance, to strike a happy balance.

Finally, I enjoy answering questions.  Not everything is an argument.  There will be many occasions when we are mutually involved in an exploration of ideas and practices.  If there is something you do not understand, or would like clarified, please ask. 

UIS Academic Integrity Policy

I support the UIS policy on Academic Integrity, which states, in part: “Academic integrity is at the heart of the university’s commitment to academic excellence. The UIS community strives to communicate and support clear standards of integrity, so that undergraduate and graduate students can internalize those standards and carry them forward in their personal and professional lives. Living a life with integrity prepares students to assume leadership roles in their communities as well as in their chosen profession. Alumni can be proud of their education and the larger society will benefit from the University’s contribution to the development of ethical leaders. Violations of academic integrity demean the violator, degrade the learning process, deflate the meaning of grades, discredit the accomplishments of past and present students, and tarnish the reputation of the university for all its members.”

Academic sanctions range from a warning to expulsion from the university, depending on the severity of your violation and your history of violations. Whatever the sanction, I will file a report of academic dishonesty to the Office of the Provost.

You are responsible for understanding and complying with the UIS Academic Integrity Policy available at http://www.uis.edu/campussenate/academicintegrity.htm

 

Required Text

Common Sense Economics, by Gwartny, Stroup, Lee, and Ferrarini, St. Martin's Press, ISBN-10: 031233818X, ASIN: B005ZO6UGY

Course Requirements

  

EXAMS and QUIZZES:          Exams:  200pts.   Quizzes:  80 pts.

There will be four exams in the class.  Each exam will be worth

 approximately 50 pts.  Exams will consist of multiple-choice, true false, and essay

 questions.  Exams are cumulative. 

Each week there will also be a small quiz for 10 points.  You may take the quiz at any

point during the week.  Quizzes close at the end of the week, Sunday 11:59 pm.

PARTICIPATION:                 

Participation will be worth 10 pts a week.  80 pts total.

Redundant posts count for less.  Do not say the exact same thing, literally or figuratively, as someone before you.   If you think you are too close, you probably are and should move on to answering another question. 

Please also take note that posting a discussion questions and commenting on the post of one other person is the required minimum.  To earn an “A” in participation with two posts, both must be excellent.  Additional good posts can help your participation grade.

While no list can be exhaustive, this list is a guide to how I judge the quality of a post.

No Credit	C	B	A
Simply repeating   what someone else says. One word answers or purely emotive responses e.g. “Yeah, that was great!  I was thinking the same thing.” Thread that bears no relation to the topic at hand.  Failure to use any grammar or punctuation.  Thread composed of texting language e.g. “ur gr8”	Thread contains some similarities to other posts. Brief answers that do not explain the topic.  e.g. “For Hobbes, justice is property.” Thread that bears minimal relation to the topic.  It makes people pause and think “How is this related?” Thread containing 3 to 4 mistakes in grammar or spelling.	Thread is new. Sufficient answer to the question.  Defines terms and references readings.  Reader understands clearly what the poster is talking about. Thread is relevant to the topic.  People do not need to pause and think “How is this relevant?” Thread Contains 1-2 grammar or spelling errors.	Thread is new. Goes over and beyond.  Poster displays a command of the subject line.  Poster understands trade-off between length and clarity.  Thread is relevant to the topic and makes reader see topic in a new light. Thread contains 0-1 grammar or spelling errors.

 

ATTENDANCE:                    

Attendance in this class is mandatory and is judged by participation.  Students who do not participate over a 10 day stretch will be penalized 20 pts.  Weekly partiicpation easily avoids this penalty.

Final note: I like teaching and enjoy helping students.  I would not be here otherwise.  However, I cannot read minds.  If you are confused, lost, the subject of some sort of emergency, or relevantly disabled, you must contact me immediately.  I will do everything I can to help throughout the year.  You should be warned, though, that last minute appeals in December for help will be fruitless.

Grading

87-89% = B+       77-79%=C+       67-69%=D+

93%- 100% = A          83-86% = B         73-76%=C          63-66%=D

90-92% = A-               80-82% = B-        70-72%=C-        60-62%=D-

Email Policies

Email is appropriate for clearing up minor questions about course materials or requirements. While you will most likely get a response sooner, please allow up to 72 hours for a response. Please note that I will not respond to emails on weekends or university holidays.  If you email me a question and the answer to your question is “It is in the syllabus” I will subtract 10 points from your participation grade.  It is your responsibility to read and know the syllabus.