| SYLLABUS | | FALL, 2009 | BSAD
132Z3 | Political Environment of Business | INSTRUCTOR(s):
| COURSE INFO:
| MEETS: | MW 12:30-1:45 | | LOCATION: | 001 Kalkin | |
Pre-requisites:
Required course specific fee of $20;
CE students only and instructor permission,
Degree students should register for BSAD 132 C.
Goals & Objectives: Most courses in the business school focus on firm interactions with customers, suppliers, partners, rivals, etc. in the form of mutually beneficial exchange in the free market. This course addresses business issues in the social, political and legal environment (the nonmarket environment). Our focus will be to explore firm interactions with other interests, outside of the free market, within the public policy making process of government. We will explore interactions with other interest groups, legislatures, regulatory agencies, and international organizations such as the WTO. Within the context of these interactions we will explore issues ranging from environmental regulation to international trade. BSAD 132 is structured in four main parts. First, we explore in detail how decision making occurs within the government and contrast this to decision making in the free market. We will develop a general understanding of the public policy process and the factors that affect political outcomes. While much of this discussion will focus on the institutions of the United States, we apply the framework to understanding decision making in international settings as well. Second, we analyze how firms manage issues within the nonmarket environment in which they operate. While most business decisions take place in the free market, more and more of these business decisions interact with the nonmarket environment which also affects the overall profitability of the firm. Thus a firms nonmarket strategy is an important and fundamental part of the overall strategy of the firm. Third, we apply the analysis to address a number of specific issues in a variety of nonmarket environments. We will explore policy issues such as antitrust and pollution, in a variety of environments at the state, national and international level. Fourth , we finish the course with an analysis of ethical issues including corporate social responsibility and fair trade. Course Content: An outline of individual sessions, including the principal case and reference reading(s) assigned for each class, appears in the detailed assignment section of the syllabus. Books & Materials Required Text(s):We will use a custom text titled BSAD 132 - The Political Environment of Business. The text is based on David P. Baron "Business and Its Environment" 6th Edition. In the assignments I will refer to the text as BARON. The text is available in the bookstore. You may find the 6th edition of Baron on line and use it if you prefer.Each student must also keep current by reading either of the following: Wall Street Journal or The Economist. You may use the free, online versions of each for this course. Other:I want to emphasize that teaching this course is my top priority. Any time you would like to talk to me about the course material or about any other topic of concern to you as a student at UVM, do not hesitate to contact me. My office hours are listed below. If you cannot attend office hours, please contact me via e-mail to schedule an appointment. If you have any suggestions for improving the course, please communicate your ideas. Technology I expect that all students have access to a microcomputer and are proficient with spreadsheet, presentation and word processing software packages. I expect that all of you will have an email account and access to the business school system. Throughout the semester, I plan to communicate with you electronically. I treat electronic communication (e.g., via email or posting to the BSAD 132 course folder) as equivalent to in-class communication. That is, if I send you something electronically, I assume that you received it. It is your responsibility to make certain that you do receive all electronic communication. Finally, I plan to read email once a day. Generally, I will respond to simple requests that can be unambiguously addressed via email. However, I find that a face to face meeting is much more effective when you have more complex requests.
Grading:
| Class Participation & Quizzes |
25% |
| Two Papers |
20% |
| Midterm Exam |
25% |
| Final Exam |
30% |
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Grading Comments:
Class Participation The ability to interact and debate in real time with others to address problems and issues is a very important skill. This means you must be prepared to offer your analysis and justify your reasoning on different issues being discussed about the cases and readings. Your comments are crucial to the dynamics of the class. What you get out of this course will depend to a great extent on what you put into it. Your participation will be measured based on both quantity and quality. Your participation has to be of sufficient quantity to afford a reasonable basis for assessment. However, a more important aspect of your participation is that your comments are of high quality and that your comments and responses trigger thoughtful responses from others. Examples of quality participation include, but are not limited to: 1. Linking the cases and readings to current events in the business and popular press (I will often start class with a brief current events discussion and you will have an opportunity to discussed below) 2. Linking the cases and readings being discussed to material addressed previously 3. Offering summary comments that enhance our understanding of the cases and readings Participation requires more than mere attendance. While attendance is a necessary condition to passing the course, it is not sufficient to earn a passing grade for participation. Even if you attend 100% of the classes, but contribute little to the discussion you will NOT earn a passing grade for class participation. QUIZZES:Quizzes will not be announced in advance. Quizzes will cover either (a) the reading assignment for the class when the quiz is given or (b) an important current event in the non-market environment that you should know about if you regularly read the Wall Street Journal or EconomistSix quizzes will be given during the semester. Your best four quiz scores will count toward your grade for the course (this prevents a missed quiz or a poor performance from damaging your overall grade). CASE PAPERS: You are required to turn in 2 case papers during the semester (the topics will be assigned later). Each write-up will be a maximum of 5 pages of text (12 point font, double spaced, normal margins) (you should include tables, appendices of figures, etc. and these will not count toward your 5 page limit). Your write-up will be evaluated based upon the following criteria: the quality of your analysis, the organization and clarity of your writing, and the application of course materials and concepts. I cannot emphasize enough that in your case papers you should not summarize or simply repeat material covered in the case. Instead the case paper should be an analysis of the case material. For due dates, refer to the detailed assignments page. Late Assignments will receive a failing grade. An assignment is considered late if it is turned in any time after the start of the class held on the due date. There are no exceptions to this policy. Computer failure is not an acceptable excuse for turning in a late assignment. GRADE DISPUTES AND GRADE CHANGES At times I make mistakes grading papers, exams or quizzes. You will have an opportunity to dispute a grade based upon the following rules: From the day I turn back a graded assignment or exam in class, you have 1 week maximum to dispute a grade. If you choose to dispute a grade, then your entire exam or assignment grade is subject to change. Your grade may improve, stay the same or decline! You must explain in writing why you deserve a change of grade. If you cannot explain it, I will not review your work or change the grade. You will receive a grade change only if I agree with your explanation.
Exam Comments:
Exams: I will have a midterm exam during the semester and a comprehensive final exam during the exam period. The midterm is worth 25 % of your overall course grade and the final exam is worth 30% of your overall course grade. I DO NOT OFFER MAKEUP EXAMINATIONS! If you miss an exam and I did not give you in advance an approved excuse for absence, you will receive a zero on the exam. If you miss the midterm exam and I did give you an advance approved excuse for absence in advance, your final exam grade will count for 50% of your overall course grade.
Attendance Policy:
I expect you to attend all scheduled classes. To illustrate, I expect that you will travel to visit family or for a vacation during holidays (not before or after the holiday). If you miss more than 3 classes without my approved excuse, your grade will suffer the amount of your grade reduction may include failing the course, depending on how many classes you miss. If you wish to request my approval for an absence, you must make the request by e-mail. You must request approval in advance except for unforeseeable absences.Please inform me in advance of classes you will miss because of religious observances - I will, of course, freely grant an excuse for these absences, but I need your communication to keep accurate records. My goal is to conduct class and my relationship with you in a manner that is consistent with any professional work environment. To that end, I respect your time and treat it as a precious commodity. I also expect you to respect your fellow students and my time in a like manner. I expect you to: 1. Attend and be prepared for all classes. I expect that you will complete readings and the analysis of readings in advance of lectures. 2. By the beginning of the second week, you must inform me of:-- all planned excused absences from class,, and -- all conflicts with the existing schedule for exams. 3. Arrive on time for class, and get settled before we start. Do not get up during class. It is very disruptive to the professor and your colleagues if you arrive late, leave early, or come in and out of class (e.g., to use the facilities) during the class period. 4. Inform me in advance if you must leave class early. Leave during class only if you must, and do so as discretely as you can. 5. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out from your peers what information you missed. I will not repeat the entire class after the fact. You are, however, always welcome to ask me specific questions about material that you missed. 6. Failure to meet the policies outlined above will (at a minimum) affect your class participation grade.
Additional Comments:
Lecture Slides:My goal with published lecture slides is too provide you with a template for a given lecture. I intentionally make the slides an incomplete summary of the lecture. My purpose for the notes is to provide an outline of the material to be covered to assist your following the lecture and to give you an opportunity to save time by not having to write down every detail in class. At the same time, I want you to participate actively in lecture and fill in the details. If you feel you need clarification on the slides, I will be happy to discuss the lecture with you during office hours. I will not, however, post more detailed lecture slides to the public folder and some lectures will not have lecture notes.Office Hours:Office hours are scheduled by appointment, typically on days the class meets. I would be happy to follow up on class discussions or reading assignments, review resumes, offer employment advice, particularly about the law as a career, or just talk about cabbages and kings.Teaching Assistants:Teaching assistants for this course will hold office hours by appointment. Their available times will be posted outside my office door. Each TA will be prepared to assist you on all class assignments, course papers and exams. I encourage you to make full use of this valuable learning resource.Conclusion:What you get from this course depends entirely on how much you get involved. I am here to provide an opportunity, but the rest is up to you. Do not be initially discouraged by the lack of structure, or the absence of "correct" answers. The process and thinking that are entailed in arriving at sound business decisions in today's complex global environment are what this course is about.
Academic Honesty
The principal objective of the policy
on academic honesty is to promote an intellectual
climate and support the academic integrity of the University of Vermont. Academic
dishonesty or an offense against academic honesty includes acts that may subvert or
compromise the integrity of the educational process. Such acts are serious offenses that
insult the integrity of the entire academic community.
Offenses against academic honesty are any acts that would have the effect of unfairly
promoting or enhancing one's academic standing within the entire community of learners
which includes, but is not limited to, the faculty and students of the University of
Vermont. Academic dishonesty includes knowingly permitting or assisting any person in
the committing of an act of academic dishonesty.
The policy distinguishes between minor and major offenses. Offenses purely technical in
nature or in which the instructor does not perceive intent to achieve advantage are
deemed minor and handled by the instructor. Major offenses are those in which intent to
achieve academic advantages is perceived. A full statement of the policy can be found in
the Cat's Tale. Each student is responsible for knowing and observing this policy.
Classroom Code of Conduct
Faculty and students will at all times conduct themselves in a manner that serves to
maintain, promote, and enhance the high quality academic environment befitting the University
of Vermont. To this end, it is expected that all members of the learning community will adhere
to the following guidelines:
- Faculty and students will attend all regularly scheduled classes, except for those
occasions warranting an excused absence under the policy detailed in the catalogue (e.g.,
religious, athletic, medical).
- Students and faculty will arrive prepared for class and on time, and they will
remain in class until the class is dismissed.
- Faculty and students will treat all members of the learning community with respect.
Toward this end, they will promote academic discourse and the free exchange of ideas by
listening with civil attention to the comments made by all individuals.
- Students and faculty will maintain an appropriate academic climate by refraining
from all actions which disrupt the learning environment (e.g., making noise, ostentatiously
not paying attention, and leaving and reentering the classroom inappropriately).
- Food and drink are not allowed in classrooms.
Instructors will inform students of any special/additional expectations.
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