Welcome to USD Business & Society - Course Description

University of San Diego
School of Business Administration

ETLW 302
Business & Society
Section # 8
Spring 2010




Richard E. Custin, J.D., LL.M. email: rcustin@sandiego.edu
Olin Hall Office 205 Office Hours- MWF 7-8 A.M. & 10-11 A.M.
619 260-4854



Course Description:


This course examines principles of social responsibility, ethics, law, and stakeholder theory as they apply to organizations domestically and abroad. Coverage includes business ethics; individual versus societal interests; labor and employment issues; consumer protection; discrimination and diversity; the natural environment; politics, public policy, and government regulation of business. Particular attention is given to developing moral reasoning skills. Meets the requirements for the Environmental Studies minor. Prerequisite: MGMT 300.

Course Objectives:


Students who complete this course will be able to:

Recognize the stakeholders in various types of international and domestic organizations

Evaluate competing interests in business, government, and society

Apply ethical reasoning to problem solving in business

Demonstrate an appreciation for diversity

Assess the relationship of ethics and law




Key topics to be covered this semester are:

The Relationship between Business & Society

Corporate Responsibility

The Stakeholder Approach

Corporate Governance

Crisis Management

Business Ethics

Legal issues concerning business including Products Liability, & Consumer Product Safety

Employment Law

Labor Law

Employment Discrimination & Affirmative Action

Workplace Legal Issues including Privacy & Health & Safety





Requited Course Materials:
Business & Society, Stakeholders, Ethics & Public Policy, 12, Lawrence & Weber, McGraw-Hill Irwin

Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture, Ellen Ruppel Shell,
Penguin Press (2009) ISBN-13: 978-1594202155


Course Requirements and Student Evaluation:

Attendance:

We fully expect that students will attend all scheduled classes. All students will be provided two absences during the spring semester. Your final cumulative point total may be reduced five points for each absence in excess of two days. Please do not enter the classroom late. Tardiness may count as a class absence. Please note: Students in prior semesters have occasionally ignored the attendance and tardiness rule and have earned poor grades.


Caveat:

Average work in this course will result in a “C’ grade. You must be prepared to discuss the material assigned and the cases contained within. In the event you are unprepared for any class question or case discussion your overall cumulative grade points may be reduced five points for each instance you are unprepared. We need your active participation! Please do not text, email or use your phone during class. You may use your computer for taking notes or to view the electronic version of the text.

Please provide me with a valid e-mail address. I may contact you via e-mail with information concerning class cancellations, assignments, due dates and supplemental reading. An e-mail message created and sent to you creates a presumption that the e-mail was received and read by you. Therefore, check your e-mail regularly! You may need access to the Internet to complete some assignments.

No make-up examinations will be given absent extraordinary reasons. (Ie: major earthquakes-8.0+, tornados, floods- like the “Ark”, impending end of world, and disasters of monstrous proportion) No assignments will be accepted after the announced due date.

Grading:

Scale: A+ 100-97, A 96-92, A-91-90, B+89, B 88-82, B-80-81, C+ 79, C 78-72, C-71-70, D+ 69, D 68-62, D- 61-60, less than 60=F

2 tests = 40%
multiple choice

Final Examination= 30%
Essay and/or multiple choice
Comprehensive

Written Assignments= 15%

Class Participation= 15%



Statement on Academic Integrity:

“All members of the University community share the responsibility for maintaining an environment of academic integrity since academic dishonesty is a threat to the University. Acts of academic dishonesty include: a) unauthorized assistance on an examination; b) falsification or invention of data; c) unauthorized collaboration on an academic exercise; d) plagiarism; e) misappropriation of resource materials; f) any unauthorized access of an instructor's files or computer account; or g) any other serious violation of academic integrity as established by the instructor.”

School of Business Administration Mission Statement:

To develop socially responsible business leaders with a global outlook through academically rigorous, relevant, and values-based education and research.