BUS 100: Business and Society Master Syllabus
Course Instructor:
Office Number:
Office Hours:
Email:
Course Meeting Times:
Course Materials:
Course Website Canvas
Required Text
Business and Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy (17th edition)
Anne T. Lawrence, James Weber, and James E. Post, 2020
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 9781307817140
Other readings may be assigned throughout the semester and posted on Canvas.
Course Description
Business and Society is a interdisciplinary course that provides students a foundation for understanding the role of business in society, the social context of business, and the relationships among individuals, institutions, and business. This Mason Core Course develops critical thinking and writing skills by analyzing the role of business in contemporary society through a historical lens. Students will gain an understanding of the conflicting pressures that various stakeholders place on businesses to balance financial returns, sustainable business practices, and other positive societal impacts. Through structured learning activities (case studies, video lectures, quizzes, discussion prompts and written assessments) students will examine how different stakeholders negotiate collective solutions to pressing problems and the consequences when they fail to do so.
Approach to Learning
This course will rely on assigned readings, video lectures, discussions, assignments, group projects, and student presentations to facilitate learning. Students must complete all assigned lectures, readings and all other weekly activities by the end of the week in which they are due.
Major Course Components
Canvas quizzes
Students will complete quick comprehension quizzes on Canvas based on assigned chapters in the textbook and other materials in the weekly modules. No late attempts will be graded.
Class Discussion Activities
The text provides many interesting case studies in order to illuminate the concepts from each chapter. Weekly classes will require preparation for small and large group discussions to help develop weekly themes. Discussion preparations require chapter and other article reading, note taking, and readiness to discuss the questions before participating in class activities.
Company Overview Assignment
This theme based research assignment is due in week 6.
Case Study Presentation and Report
Students will work in small groups to present a case study. The presentation should include an overview of the case, its key events, the various stakeholders, outcomes, and updates. Students will then write, as a group, a four to five page paper analyzing the case, with possible recommendations for the stakeholders involved. Students must tie the case to concepts learned in this class. Detailed instructions and the final report grading rubric are posted on Blackboard.
Midterm
The midterm exam will cover chapters 1,2,3,5,6,7,8, and 13. The midterm includes multiple choice questions, short answer and long answer questions. Lockdown browser and a webcam is required.
Final Exam
The comprehensive final exam will require students to synthesize the material learned throughout the semester, including information presented in the group case studies, and apply it to various contexts. The final exam will include multiple choice, short answer and long answer questions. The final exam will be administered during finals week. Lockdown browser and a webcam is required.
Grading Scale
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A+ |
98.00 - 100% |
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A |
93.00 – 97.99% |
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A- |
90.00 – 92.99% |
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B+ |
87.00 – 89.99% |
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B |
83.00 – 86.99% |
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B- |
80.00 – 82.99% |
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C+ |
77.00 – 79.99% |
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C |
70.00 – 76.99% |
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D |
60.00 – 69.99% |
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F |
0 – 59.99% |
Assignment Breakdown
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6% - Reading Quizzes in Blackboard (12 @ 0.5%)
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4% - March Book Assignment or other individual writing assignment
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10% - Company Overview Assignment
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10% - Class Activities
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10% - Group case study presentation
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15% - Case study report
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20% - Midterm
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25% - Final Exam
Course Schedule/Topics
Key: RQ- Reading quiz
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Weeks |
Readings/Media |
Graded Assignments |
Due Dates |
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Week 1 Business and Society |
Review Syllabus Watch video lecture(s) Read Chapter 1
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Take Quiz 1 Submit Weekly Assignment
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Quiz: RQ #1 Assignment Due: |
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Week 2 Stakeholder Relations |
Watch video lecture(s) Read Chapters 2 |
Take Quiz 2 Submit Weekly Assignment
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Quiz: RQ #2 Assignment Due: |
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Week 3 Social Responsibility |
Watch video lecture(s) Read Chapter 3
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Take Quiz 3 Submit Weekly Assignment |
Quiz: RQ #3 |
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Week 4 Corporate Governance |
Watch video lecture(s) Read Chapter 13 |
Take Quiz 4 Submit Weekly Assignment |
Quiz: RQ #4 Assignment Due:
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Week 5 Business Ethics
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Watch video lecture(s) Read Chapters 5&6
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Take Quiz 5 Submit Weekly Assignment |
Quiz: RQ# 5 Assignment Due: |
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Week 6 Business, Government & the Political Environment
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Watch video lecture(s) Read Chapters 7&8 |
Take Quiz 6
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Quiz: RQ #6 Assignment Due: Company Overview Assignment Due |
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Week 7 MIDTERM
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Review all material covered up to this point including chapters 1,2,3,5,6,7,8 &13 |
MIDTERM EXAM |
Midterm Exam on Friday March 7th due Opens at 8am and closes at 11:55pm After the midterm: begin reading March by John Lewis ISBN: 9781603093002 |
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Week 8 Spring Break No Class this week |
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Week 9 Employee Relations |
Watch video lectures Read Chapters 15&16 Read March Book
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Take Quiz 7 Submit Weekly Assignment Watch “Triangle Fire” and “Rana Plaza” (Links found in Canvas) Read “US Labor Timeline” (link found in Canvas) |
Quiz: RQ #7 Assignment Due: |
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Week 10 Consumer Relations |
Watch video lecture Read Chapter 14 Finish Reading March Book |
Take Quiz 8 Submit Weekly Assignment Submit Group Project Team Agreement |
Quiz: RQ #8 Assignment Due: Team Agreement Due:
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Week 11 |
Watch video lectures Read Chapter 18
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Take Quiz 9 Submit Weekly Assignment Submit Group Project Case Report Draft for feedback |
Quiz: RQ #9 |
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Week 12 Technology Issues
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Watch video lectures
Read Chapter 11&12
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Take Quiz 10 Submit Weekly Assignment |
Quiz: RQ #10 Assignment Due: March Assignment Due |
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Week 13 Sustainability |
Watch video lecture(s) Read Chapters 9&10 |
Take Quiz 11 Submit Weekly Assignment |
Quiz: RQ #11 Friday@11:55pm Assignment Due: Group Project Draft Paper Due: |
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Week 14 Globalization & Global Supply Chains |
Watch video lectures Read Chapters 4&17 |
Take Quiz 12 Submit Weekly Assignment |
Quiz: RQ #12 Assignment Due: Group Presentations & Papers Due on Friday April 25th by 11:55pm
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Week 15
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Finish up Chapter 17 and any other remaining work
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Final Exam Review Review all chapters and all course material |
Quiz: RQ# 13 |
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Exam Period
May 7 – May 14 |
Prepare for Final Exam |
Cumulative exam covering all the material from this course |
Final Exam on Friday May 9th Opens at 8am and closes at 11:55pm |
**Disclaimer: The syllabus may be altered as the semester progresses, as needed, and does not create a contract. Any modifications will be announced in class and on Canvas. It is the student’s responsibility to stay informed as to any changes that are made.
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