SM131 Syllabus PDF

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SM 131 BUSINESS, SOCIETYAND ETHICS COURSE DESCRIPTION & SYLLABUS FALL 2018 Section A1 Version: August 29, 2018 Please take the time to read this entire course description and syllabus. We know that it is very long but it is very important to your success in the course. Welcome to Business, Society, and Ethics. Our aim is to make this course challenging and rewarding. However, it is up to you to make the most out of the experience. If you come well prepared to all lectures, discussions, and workshops; if you are eager to participate in discussions - listening, asking, and commenting, BSE will be a memorable and valuable course. Course Objectives There are several important learning objectives for Business, Society and Ethics. We want all students at Questrom to: 1.

2.

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Become introduced to core business functions such as accounting, marketing, operations and strategy and understand the issues underlying corporate governance. Understand the role of business in society by learning and applying different theories of corporate social responsibility, sustainability and stakeholder engagement. Understand the relationship between business and ethical decision making, and have a solid foundation for making ethical decisions in a business context.

General Education (Hub) Objectives (see end of Syllabus for details) This course has been designed to satisfy the Ethical Reasoning unit that is part of the BU Hub General Education requirements. The Hub learning outcomes addressed in this course are: 1.

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Students will be able to identify, grapple with, and make a judgment about the ethical questions at stake in at least one major contemporary public debate, and engage in a civil discussion about it with those who hold views different from their own. Students will demonstrate the skills and vocabulary needed to reflect on the ethical responsibilities that face individuals (or organizations, or societies or governments) as they wrestle with issues affecting both the communities to which they belong and those identified as “other.” They should consider their responsibilities to future generations of humankind, and to stewardship of the Earth. 1

Further, in this course we stress written and oral communication skills as essential to effective participation in society and successful leadership. We stress logical reasoning as an ingredient for sound analysis and rational business planning. Finally, you will be introduced to teamwork, because at the heart of modern management is the need to collaborate with others and to organize, motivate, and monitor teams of diverse people to accomplish shared goals. By the end of BSE, we expect you to have identified a core set of personal values that will guide your decision-making going forward. In addition, we expect you to be able to apply ethical frameworks to a variety of managerial decisions with ethical components. You will be familiar with some of the language of management -- from accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, and strategy. We expect you to have developed professional writing and communication and learned how to view the world from a managerial perspective.

Course Content The course is divided into three modules. Module I: An Introduction to Business and Core Business Functions In this module, you will be introduced to key functions within a business, including accounting, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy. You will also work in teams and conduct research on the functional areas of an assigned public company. This project will culminate in two graded presentations to the class. Module II: Corporate Social Responsibility and Stakeholder Engagement Making ethical decisions in a business context requires a solid understanding of the role that business plays in society. In this module, we will examine current and historical criticisms of business and how such criticism has given rise to the concepts of corporate social responsibility, sustainability and stakeholder engagement. Module III: Ethical Decision-Making Business cannot function without smart, well-reasoned decision making. In this module, you will develop a foundation for making ethical decisions in a business context. Central to this objective is developing an understanding that ethics are comprised of behaviors, skills, techniques and processes for making principled decisions. You will learn to identify common management strategies, environmental factors, and social factors that contribute to poor decision-making, as well as identifying management strategies and contexts that increase good decision-making. You will also learn to apply common ethical frameworks to decisions and how to voice your own values.

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On a parallel track, and tied to the content, the course concentrates on building and strengthening professional skills. The skills that the student begins to master in BSE are skills that will be used and enhanced during her or his managerial career. •

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You will work hard to enhance your written communication skills. You will have several written assignments designed to hone your critical thinking and clarity in writing. You will also work on your presentation skills. You will be given the opportunity to make two team presentations to the class. You will be placed in collaborative learning situations.

Course Communications Our QuestromTools page (A1) will serve as our central communications link. We use the website to post assignments and other course information. Students must check it regularly. Classes We meet four (4) to five (5) times per week: one to two course-wide lectures, two discussion sections, and one workshop. However, the schedule may vary, so please consult your Syllabus and QuestromTools for any announcement about class. Lectures Lectures meet on Mondays and/or Wednesdays from 8:00 to 9:15 (A1) unless otherwise noted on the syllabus. We expect you to attend every lecture and we expect you to arrive ON TIME. On time does not mean right when lecture starts. On time means you are seated and ready before lecture begins. The Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center (UDC) seminars noted in the syllabus are mandatory, unless labelled as “optional.” Attendance will be taken during the UDC seminars. Discussion Sections Discussion sections meet twice per week: Tuesdays/Thursdays. Discussion sections form the core of BSE and your discussion section instructor will provide valuable advice during your first semester at Questrom. Therefore, you should get to know your instructor and consider them your first resource for any information related to class. Please don't hesitate to contact your instructor frequently. Attendance will be taken during discussion. Team Workshop Team Workshops are one hour long and meet on Fridays. You have been assigned to a workshop according to your discussion sections. Your TA will run your workshop. The Workshop is to develop and work on your teaming skills and presentation assignments. Because you will receive substantive feedback on your team-building and presentation skills during the Workshops, your grade on both the assignments and attendance will be affected by absences during Workshops.

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Evaluation and Grading Your discussion section instructor will determine your grade based on the following: 50%

Examinations: 1 6% 2 17% 3 27%

15%

Writing Assignments: Blog Post 5% GVV Assignments 10%

15%

Class Participation See discussion below

20%

Team Presentations 1 5% 2 15%

Each section of BSE is graded independently on all items except exams, which are scored and scaled across the course. Computer Literacy Each student is expected to have basic competency with word processing software (e.g., Microsoft Word or Google docs) and visual presentation software-Powerpoint. Class Participation As indicated earlier, discussion sections are the core of BSE. Given that we use the casemethod of teaching, we expect discussion sections to be truly interactive, with intense participation by all students. Class participation is tracked every discussion. Class participation is an essential ingredient in the learning process. We expect you to learn by actively participating in discussions and by observing your classmates participate. Neither activity is possible if you are absent; therefore, your presence in class is vital. To participate actively, you must be well prepared. This means more than just reading the assignments before coming to class. It means analyzing the issues ahead of time. We urge you to use your team to prepare before coming to class. Your instructor will use three criteria to evaluate class participation: the extent to which you participate in the class discussion; the quality of that participation; and your performance in in-class activities. Quality is more important than quantity. We consider that you are participating well when your comments reflect clear knowledge of the case and of the theoretical background

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provided by lectures and readings. Additionally, to establish quality your instructor will consider: • • • • • •

the relevance of your comments to the topic, the extent to which what you say is based on thoughtful interpretation of facts, the clarity and depth of your reasoning, your willingness to "think on the spot" and engage your professor and your classmates in discussion, and the degree to which you bring issues discussed earlier in the course and other relevant experiences into our deliberations The degree to which you thoughtfully participate in in-class activities

The degree to which you respect everyone's right to participate and have different opinions in the discussions is absolutely critical to the success of the course.

Written Assignments There are several written assignments during the semester. We expect you to organize and communicate your ideas clearly and concisely and to present them in a professional manner. These skills form the basis of effective case analysis. Late papers will be marked down. Please check QuestromTools for the details of these assignments. Team Presentations Learning how to work in teams is an important component of your Questrom experience and you will be introduced to teaming in BSE. Therefore, at the beginning of the semester we will assign you to a study team. We will arrange all teams using the following ground rules: • Each team should consist of 5-7 members. • We prefer gender-balanced teams. Teams are the students’ responsibility to manage. Efforts must be made to resolve team issues internally. If after several attempts at internal resolution the team still needs help, go first to your TA for advice before bringing the issue to the instructor. There are resources outside of class, such as The Team Learning Center that can also provide assistance to help resolve team issues. We hope that your team functions smoothly and productively and we will do what we can to help. However, we cannot help unless you ask us to do so. Please ask! Any change to team composition must be approved by the instructor. Approval is rarely granted There are two Team Presentations, please check QuestromTools of the details of those assignments.

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Exams All exams are multiple choice and will be cumulative; that is, you can expect some of the first exam’s material on subsequent exams. Exam schedules will only be modified for religious observance and disability accommodations. There are no excuses for missing an exam. Because of this, you should make no travel plans that conflict with the exam schedule. Information about time and location of exams will be posted on QuestromTools. The Final Exam schedule is produced by the Registrar’s Office and faculty members have no control over that schedule. If you have any questions about the time and date of the final exam, please contact the Registrar’s Office. Teaching Assistants Each BSE section has a teaching assistant. All TAs are Questrom undergraduates. Teaching Assistants will sit in on your classes, monitor your attendance, track class participation, run Friday workshops, and in general be available to help you succeed in BSE. TAs are there to help you; take advantage of their knowledge. But remember, following the advice of your TA does not guarantee a good grade. Your instructor, not your TA, assigns your grades. Academic Guidance, Tutorial Assistance, and Administrative Issues Most of us need some help from time to time. Please do not hesitate to ask, and ask sooner rather than later. You should address any administrative questions to the Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center (UDC). If your questions relate to course or other academic issues, ask your instructor to assist you. Your instructor may refer you to the UDC who can provide you with information about tutors and other sources of help such as the LOCK Honorary Service Society. This group provides tutorial assistance tailored to SM 131 students' needs. LOCK tutors are available through the Educational Resource Center (Tel: 353-7077). The ERC provides tutors for all Boston University undergraduates. Accommodations of Disabilities In keeping with University policy, any student with a disability who needs or thinks they need academic accommodations must call the Office of Disability Services at 353-3658 or stop by 19 Deerfield Street to arrange a confidential appointment with a Disability Services staff member. Accommodation letters must be delivered to your instructor in a timely fashion (within two weeks of the date on the letter and not later than two weeks before the first exam). Please note that accommodations will not be delivered absent an official letter of accommodation. Diversity & Inclusion Statement In developing this course, we have aimed to be thoughtful about how identity and culture impact the course content. We invite you to share your experiences and perspectives during discussions in class. If there are topics you feel would benefit from incorporation of social context or a differing perspective, please let us know. We hope to engage a wide variety of perspectives in our classroom.

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In SM131, we take pride in the fact that the national and cultural diversity of our classrooms gives us an opportunity to explore and appreciate the similarities and differences in how different cultures frame specific issues. Sexual Misconduct/Title IX Policy The Questrom School of Business is committed to fostering a safe learning environment for all members of the its community and preventing sexual misconduct. All forms of sexual misconduct, including rape, acquaintance rape, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment are violations of Boston University’s policies, whether they happen on campus or off campus. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. This law makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources at http://www.bu.edu/safety/sexual-misconduct.

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Academic Conduct Academic integrity is an essential component of your education. We cannot overemphasize the importance of honesty and integrity in your work. Every member of the Questrom School of Business is responsible for creating an ethical environment. Therefore, we urge you to become thoroughly familiar with the University’s academic conduct policy found at http://questromworld.bu.edu/acc/. We strongly urge you to read the Code, and you will be expected to provide the Questrom Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center (UDC) with an affirmation that you have indeed done so. You should be aware that we expect you to abide by the Academic Conduct Code. In the past, we have had unfortunate situations where students who did not abide by the code received a failing grade in BSE and were subjected to a variety of additional sanctions. We hope that no students will violate the Academic Conduct Code this year, but if we discover that someone does, we will act accordingly. Academic dishonest injures the integrity of the Program and angers faculty and your classmates. Attendance You are expected to attend every lecture, discussion, and workshop as well as certain mandatory lectures conducted by the UDC. Absences are neither excused nor unexcused – they are simply absences. Your first three absences (from lecture, discussion and workshop combined) are “no questions asked” free absences. Each additional absence will lower your final course grade by two points. For example, six total absences (three beyond the three free absences) could lower your course grade from 80 (B-) to 74 (C). You should be aware that it is possible to fail the course because of excessive absenteeism. If unusual circumstances occur (e.g., the bird flu), the student should inform his or her instructor and consideration will be given. Accommodations will be made for religious observances. An absence does not remove your responsibility for the day's work, and the responsibility to make up for missed classes is entirely yours. Required Texts 1. Custom edition of Understanding Business by Nichels, McHugh and McHugh 2. Custom edition of Business & Society by Carroll, Brown and Buchholtz The above texts are available at the BU Bookstore. Module 1: Introduction to Business and Business Functions Week 1 Wednesday, September 5 Lecture: Introduction to Business & Business Forms 1. Introduction to Questrom, Business and Business Forms, Prof. Fazendeiro 2. Introduction to Student Government

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Homework: 1. Read Chapter 1: The Business and Society Relationship, pp. 1-10 in Business & Society by Carroll. 2. Read Chapter 5, How to Form a Business, pp. 118-134 in Understanding Business by Nichels. You are only responsible for knowing about sole proprietorships, general partnerships, corporations--C, B and S and limited liability companies. 3. Read Chapter 19, Using Securities Markets for Financing and Investing Opportunities, pp. 270-278 in Understanding Business by Nichels. September 6: Discussion 1. Introduction/ice breakers. 2. Review business forms and discuss the Ford Pinto Case: Did Ford learn anything from the Pinto? 3. Overview of course objectives, expectations and syllabus. Homework: Read: The Ford Pinto Case Study https://www.engineering.com/Blogs/tabid/3207/ArticleID/166/categoryId/7/FordPinto.aspx Learning Objectives: 1. Learn about the different ways in which to set up a for-profit business and the considerations that affect which business form to choose. 2. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different business forms from sole proprietorships to conventional corporations to limited liability companies. 3. Discuss the ethical considerations involved in the Pinto case and the lessons learned. September 7: Workshop What does Academic Integrity Mean? Part1 Introduction to being a student in Questrom Navigating Questrom Tools Week 2 Monday, September 10 Lecture: Corporate Governance Lecture by Prof. Fazendeiro Homework: Read Chapter 4, Corporate Governance and Foundational Issues, Business & Society by Carroll. September 11: Discussion Discuss the FIFA scandal and corporate governance issues. Research proxy statements from six public companies.

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Homework: Read: 1. The FIFA Case: Questions, Answers and Updates: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/29/sports/soccer/questions-and-answers-aboutthe-fifa-case-one-day-after.html 2. What We Know About Corruption in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups https://sports.vice.com/en_ca/article/3kzxzv/what-we-know-about-corruption-in-the2018-and-2022-world-cup-bids and 3. The FIFA Scandal: What We Can Learn About Ethics and Compliance http://cctrends.cipe.o...