Modules/Syllabus
Download the PDF version of the syllabus for spring 2014 here.
I. Business & Society
WEEK 1 – Mon January 27 – INTRODUCTION
Introductions & Discussion – Why has business gotten a bad rap?
Readings:
http://community.mis.temple.edu/ba3102/files/2014/01/In-Life-and-Business-1112014.pdf
“In life and business, learning to be ethical.” Can Ethics Be Taught?
http://www.gangsofamerica.com/1.html
“How did corporations get so much power?”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/opinion/sunday/fables-of-wealth.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
“Capitalists and other psychopaths”
“McDonald’s can’t figure out how its workers survive on minimum wage”
Video clips – “The story of Citizens United v. FEC” http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-citizens-united-v-fec/
WEEK 2 – Mon February 3 – CORPORATIONS, SOCIETY & STAKEHOLDERS
Discussion: Do corporations have a responsibility to society?
Readings:
http://www.reason.com/0510/fe.mf.rethinking.shtml
“Rethinking the social responsibility of business”
“The case against corporate responsibility”
http://valentemike.blogspot.com/2010/09/growing-complexity-of-corporations-in.html
“WSJ ignores the growing complexity of corporations in society”
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0105-21.htm
“In business for life”
http://www.thecro.com/files/100Best2012_List_3.8.pdf
100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2012
Video clips – “The Corporation” http://www.thecorporation.com/
First assignment due 2/3/14 – read syllabus and blackboard. Email me that a statement that they have read and understand your syllabus and blackboard.
WEEK 3 – Mon February 10 – PRIORITIZING STAKEHOLDERS
Discussion – How can business prioritize among its stakeholders?
Readings:
“The Wal-Mart effect and business, ethics, and society” (attached on BB)
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-15/wal-mart-tries-to-improve-its-battered-image
“Wal-mart tries to improve its battered image”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/business/15shelf.html
“Behind the greening of Wal-Mart”
“Costco CEO Craig Jelinek leads the cheapest, happiest company in the world”
Video clips – “The High Cost of Low Price” http://www.walmartmovie.com/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jazb24Q2s94 or https://vimeo.com/52359213
II. YOU as a Stakeholder
WEEK 4 – Mon February 17 – MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS: CAPITALISM & VALUES
Discussion – How does our economic system shape the values that inform our behaviors and decisions in the workplace?
Readings:
“Some costs of American corporate capitalism” (attached on BB)
http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2009/05/04/must-capitalism-be-moral/
“Must capitalism be moral?”
http://m.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/06/rip-american-dream-why-its-so-hard-for-the-poor-to-get-ahead-today/276943/
“RIP, American Dream? Why it’s so hard for the poor to get ahead today”
http://news.columbia.edu/stiglitz
“Nobel Laureate Stiglitz on the price of inequality”
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/americans-want-to-live-in-a-much-more-equal-country-they-just-dont-realize-it/260639/
“Americans want to live in a much more equal country (they just don’t realize it)”
Debate #1 – It is possible for any American to become part of the 1% today.
Due: Stakeholder Analysis
WEEK 5 – Mon February 24 – MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS: PERSONAL PRINCIPLES
Discussion – What are some of the guidelines for “doing the right thing” in the business world?
Readings:
“Theoretical bases for analyzing the ethics of a decision” (attached on BB)
http://www.givingvoicetovaluesthebook.com/excerpt/
“Giving voice to values – excerpt”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html?pagewanted=all
“Why I am leaving Goldman Sachs”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/greg-smith-goldman-sachs_b_1354345.html
“Why Greg Smith’s critique is way too narrow”
Video clips – Justin Paperny, white-collar criminal & former investment executive, Bear Stearns & UBS http://www.acfe.com/vid.aspx?id=4294975514
WEEK 6 – Mon March 3 – Sprink Break – No Class – Enjoy!
WEEK 7 – Mon March 10 – WHY GOOD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS
Discussion – Is “doing the right thing” possible in the business world, arguably a corrupt system?
“The spreading scourge of corporate corruption”
http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct04/goodbad.html
“What makes good people do bad things?”
http://www.businessinsider.com/27-psychological-reasons-why-good-people-do-bad-things-2012-8?op=1
“27 psychological reasons why good people do bad things”
“When good people work for bad companies”
Video clips – “The Human Behavior Experiments 2006” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YUMxsj6rl4
III. Internal & External Stakeholders
WEEK 8 – Mon March 17 – THE OWNER AS A STAKEHOLDER
Discussion – How can corporations be better governed?
Readings:
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/study-boards-use-peers-to-inflate-executive-pay/?scp=6&sq=corporate%20governance&st=cse
“Study: Boards use peers to inflate executive pay”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/business/in-chief-executives-pay-a-rich-game-of-thrones.html?_r=1&hp
“In chief executives’ pay, a rich game of thrones”
http://go.bloomberg.com/multimedia/ceo-pay-ratio/
“Top CEO pay ratios”
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2006-01-23-enron-chronology_x.htm
An Enron Chronology
http://www.pillsburylaw.com/siteFiles/Publications/TimelineExec_Comp_Corp_Gov.pdf
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act – a summary
Video clips – “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” http://www.enronmovie.com/
Due: Analysis Paper #1
WEEK 9 – Mon March 24 – THE EMPLOYEE AS A STAKEHOLDER
Discussion – Should corporations be expected to look out for employees’ needs beyond salary?
Readings:
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/your-boss-and-your-blackberry/
“Your boss and your Blackberry”
“The case against racial colorblindness in the workplace”
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/the-sorry-lives-and-confusing-times-of-today-s-young-men/
“The sorry lives and confusing times of today’s young men”
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-can-8217-t-have-it-all/9020/
“Why women still can’t have it all”
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/01/the-23-best-countries-for-work-life-balance-we-are-number-23/250830/
“The 23 best countries for work-life balance”
http://www.fastcompany.com/3004953/how-sas-became-worlds-best-place-work
“How SAS became the world’s best place to work”
Video clips – “Sheryl Sandberg Pushes Women to Lean In” http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50149975n and “Working the Good Life (at SAS Institute)” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ebIGpZIWI
WEEK 10 – Mon March 31 – THE GOVERNMENT AS A STAKEHOLDER
Discussion – Has corporate power eroded our democracy?
Readings:
http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/UserFiles/File/Events/FY08%20Events/11_November%2007%20Events/111407%20Reich%20Article.pdf
“How capitalism is killing democracy”
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/on-wall-st-a-culture-of-greed-wont-let-go/?ref=business
“On Wall Street a culture of greed won’t let go”
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/why-isnt-wall-street-in-jail-20110216?print=true
“Why isn’t Wall Street in jail?”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704250104575238562718885050.html
“The Gulf Spill and the revolving door”
Video clips – “Inside Job” http://www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob/
WEEK 11 – Mon April 7 – THE CONSUMER AS A STAKEHOLDER
Discussion – What does business owe consumers, and what do consumers owe business?
Readings:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28nutritionism.t.html?pagewanted=all
“Unhappy meals”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0
“The extraordinary science of addictive junk food”
“In major blow to consumers, Supreme Court protects mega-corporations from liability”
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2013/03/share-everything-why-way-we-consume-has-changed-forever/4815/
“Share everything: Why the way we consume has changed forever”
Debate #2 – Corporations are responsible for our unhealthy relationship with food.
Video clips – “Food, Inc.” http://www.foodincmovie.com/
WEEK 12 – Mon April 14 – THE COMMUNITY AS A STAKEHOLDER
Discussion – What should be the relationship between businesses and the communities in which they inhabit?
Readings:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/067a0a38-ef39-11e0-918b-00144feab49a.html#axzz1iz2C1WVw
“US shale gas bonanza: New wells to draw on”
“As gas drilling spreads, towns stand ground over control”
http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/corporate-philanthropy-dead-long-live-corporate-philanthropy/
“Current do-good business climate breathes new life into corporate philanthropy”
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/05/13/the-perils-of-philanthrocapitalism/
“The perils of philanthrocapitalism”
Video clips – “Shale Gas Drilling: Pros and Cons” http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7054210n and “The Sky is Pink” http://vimeo.com/44367635
WEEK 13 – Mon April 21 – THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AS A STAKEHOLDER
Discussion – How do corporations contribute to – and how can they help to solve – issues of environmental degradation?
Readings:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/magazine/11Economy-t.html?hp
“Building a green economy”
“The sustainable economy” (attached on BB)
“Who’s to blame: 12 politicians and executives blocking progress on global warming”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2013/apr/12/escalating-consumption
“Let’s stop hiding behind recycling and be honest about consumption”
Debate #3 – Stricter environmental regulations should be placed on the coal, oil and natural gas industries.
Video clips – “Story of Stuff” http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/ and “Ending the Silence on Climate Change” http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-ending-the-silence-on-climate-change/
WEEK 14 – Mon April 28 – THE GLOBAL VILLAGE AS A STAKEHOLDER
Discussion – Is what’s good for American business good for the world?
Readings:
http://www.theglobalist.com/storyid.aspx?storyid=9788
“The real winners and losers of globalization”
http://www.alternet.org/story/45833/
“Globalization has increased the wealth gap”
http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/10/16/gdp-vs-gpi-which-measures-the-economy-best/
“GDP versus GPI: Which measures the economy best?”
“Overseas sweatshops are a US responsibility”
“Signs of changes taking hold in electronics factories in China”
http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-11/business/31145490_1_shoes-china-giant-distribution-center
“Dansko stepping up its US footprint”
Video clips – “Behind the Swoosh” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5uYCWVfuPQ
Due: Analysis Paper #2
WEEK 15 – Mon May 5 – STAKEHOLDER MODEL FOR CHANGE
Discussion –
Readings:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/223762
“B Corps: The next generation of company?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/ben-and-jerrys-b-corp-impact-investing_n_2005315.html
“Ben & Jerry’s becomes B-corp certified”
https://www.globalreporting.org/information/about-gri/what-is-GRI/Pages/default.aspx
“What is GRI?”
http://business-ethics.com/2011/05/12/does-corporate-social-responsibility-increase-profits/
“Does corporate social responsibility increase profits?”
“Socially responsible investing: What you need to know”
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20110501/how-a-business-can-change-the-world.html
“How a business can change the world”
Video clips – B Corporations http://www.bcorporation.net/news-media/videos and Michael Porter’sTedGlobal talk “Got Social Problems? Business Can Help” http://sharedvalue.org/michael-porter-tedglobal2013
May 12 , 5:45 to 7:45 PM- FINAL EXAM – to be announced
DUE today: Submit your participate evaluation form