Office Hours: Secretary: Nancy Palmer
By appointment Room 442
Phone: 862-3371
 

INTRODUCTION:

This course deals with a subject that many corporate executives consider the most critical area of modern management: the relationship between the private business unit and the larger social, political, and economic environment in which it operates. The course focuses on public policy to emphasize that, in addition to the direction of the market, business performance is strongly influenced by: federal, state, and local government policy; the establishment of governmental and administrative bodies; the enactment of laws and regulations; and the implementation and revision of policies previously established.

While the course explores a broad range of issues, its focus is on the interaction of business and government in the United States. The first section of the course provides an introduction to core BG&S concepts and issues including global business, corporate social responsibility, government regulation of business, private collective action groups, corporate political activity, and the formulation and implementation of public policy. The second segment of the semester is devoted to U.S. government regulation including anti-trust, product safety, environmental and employment policies. The third segment of the semester applies the foundations from the first two segments and focuses on BG&S issues in the state of New Hampshire.
 

REQUIRED TEXTS AND READINGS:

Main Texts:
David Baron, Business and Its Environment (Prentice Hall, 2000).
Richard Rosecrance, The Rise of the Virtual State (Basic Books, 1999)
Reading packet (will be available for purchase).

It is also strongly recommended that students access relevant INTERNET Web sites from the Instructor’s home page (http:pubpages.unh.edu/~rgittell/BGSSITES.html) and read the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and/or Business Week on a regular basis during the semester.

Downloadable Power Point Slides
Introduction
Virtual State
Corporate Social Responsibility
Markets and Government
Regulation & Antitrust
Safety & Environment
Employee Regulations
Final Class
 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

(1) Class participation. Class attendance and participation is essential.

(2) Midterm examination. There will be a take home examination.

(3) "Scrapbook" assignment. Each student will be required to keep a journal of current BG&S issues. The scrapbook assignment is a written journal. Specification of scrapbook requirements are provided on a separate page at the end of the syllabus.

(4) Group projects. The class will be divided into groups and each group will have two project assignments. Projects will require in-class formal presentation on an assigned BG&S topic. To prepare for presentations groups must access current information off of the INTERNET and from business periodicals (e.g., Business Week and the Wall Street Journal). The instructor should be consulted and used as a resource. Project preparation work should be commenced at the beginning of the semester when group assignments are made.

(5) Final Exam. The final course requirement will be a comprehensive take-home examination. The final will require students to analyze current BG&S issues and cases applying the theories and concepts reviewed during the semester.

GRADING:

Each student's grade in the course will be based on four elements: (1) 25 percent on class participation; (2) 10 percent on midterm examination; (3) 15 percent on scrapbook; (3) 25 percent on group projects; and (4) 25 percent on the final examination.
 

COURSE OUTLINE

SESSION 1: Introduction and Review of Requirements
March 25th Baron, Chapters 1& 2.

  Discussion of course requirements, readings and group assignments.

  Intro: The Market and Non-Market Environment

  Organize class groups.

  Mini-Cases:
   * NH School Funding Crisis
   –Should NH businesses care?

   * Fox: Who wants to marry a multimillionaire
   -Market and non-Market issues for Fox.

   * Adam’s Mark Hotel
   - The price of discrimination

  Readings:
   "School fund change urged by Sen. King"
   "Advancing the ball  Old and new ideas on fixing the education budget”
   "After Wedding Fiasco, Fox Vows No More Exploitation”
   "Who Wants to Buy Ad Time After 'Multimillionaire’ Debacle?”
   "Hotel Chain Offers Settlement"
   "NAACP Backs Adam's Mark Boycott"

 What are the key trends affecting businesses in the coming century?

 What does Rosecrance mean by “virtual state”(group 1)
 What are key trends in technology and their implications for businesses (group 2)?
 Identify key trends in international trade and the implications for US business (group 3)?
 What are key trends in global production systems affecting businesses (group 4)?
What are the primary roles of national (group 5) and international (group 6) government in the new economy?
 What obligations do global businesses have to their "home" nations? (group 7)
 What role and power do resident-citizens have in the new economy? (group 8)

  Readings:
   “Seven Plus Seven Corporate Responsibilities”
   "Link Between Corporate Performance and Ethical Commitment"
   "The Proposed Takeover of Ben & Jerry’s: Are Socially Responsible Initiatives at Stake?”
   "Frequently Asked Questions”
   "Corporations Diversify Corporate Giving Programs”
   "Fidelity pushes charity tax break”

  Mini-Case: (group lead)
  Ben & Jerry's:  Does corporate social responsibility sell?

Guest Speaker:  TBA

  Readings:
   "How To Scuttle Overfishing?"
   "Hook, Line, and Extinction"

 Group Debate (2 groups):  Should the Internet be regulated and taxed?

  Readings:
   "E-Commerce Firms Start to Rethink Opposition to Privacy Regulation”
   "States to Consider Flurry of Internet Bills”
   "Fed Panel Urged To Keep Web Tax Free”
   "Retailers and Governors Attack Proposal to Make the Internet a Tax-Free Zone”

  Readings:
   "Spheres of Lobbying Influence Growing Fast in Washington”
   "Politics of Real Pork”
   "Business, labor, others spend $100m a month to lobby Washington"
   "Lobbying D.C. cost region $65m last year"
   "Campaign Finance Reform Chronology"
   “Political Money, On Line”

Group Debate (2 groups): Business Lobbying and Campaign Contributions -- Democratic Failure or An Exercise of Free Speech?

Scrapbook assignment due.  Class Discussion of Scrapbooks.

SESSION 6: US Regulation of Anti-Competitive Practices
April 27th Baron, Chapter 9.  Baron, “The Microsoft Anti-Trust Case”
 

Case:  High Technology and Anti-Trust Policy --Microsoft and Anti-Competitive Practices

 Are Microsoft's market actions in violation of anti-trust law?

Group Role Plays: (3 groups).  Microsoft and American OnLine (or another competitor) present their defense/accusations and the Federal Government acts as the arbitrator.

  Readings:
   "Microsoft Faces a Class Action on 'Monopoly’”
   "Showdown:  The Microsoft Case”
   "In the United States District Court for the District of Columbia” Brief of Professor L. Lessig.

  Readings:
   “For First Time, Justices Reject Punitive Award"
   "Motorist Alert! -- The Elites Are Coming for Your Pickup Truck"
   "Greenpeace Applauds Mattel’s Decision to Replace Vinyl with Plant-Based Plastics in Toys”

  Environmental Regulation
  Baron, Chapter 12.

  Readings:

   "Honda, Nissan Put Green Cars On the Road, GM Unveils Test Models"
   "Raytheon Energizes for the New Millennium"
   "Saturn, UT, EPA Form 'Green’ Supply Chain Partnership”
   "Environmentalists grumble as catalog business grows”
   "Home Depot pushes timber suppliers to be environmentally friendly”
   "Northern N.E. officials rejoice over pollution order"
   “Ford, Chrysler to Cut Emissions of Sport Utility Vehicles, Minivans”
   “A Cleaner Family Truck”

Group Presentations: Updates on product safety & environmental regulation.

SESSION 8: Regulation of the Workplace
May 11th Baron, Chapter 21.   Baron “American Airlines and Weight Standards”
 

  Readings:
   "Suit Is Filed Against Coke by Current, Past Employees Who Allege Racial Bias”
   "Coca-Cola Concedes Its Efforts For Diversity Have Been Too Slow”
   "Ford Will Pay $3.8 Million In Discrimination Settlement”
   "Sex Discrimination Alert”
 "So You Want To Hire The Beautiful. Well, Why Not?"
  "A New Sexual Harassment Dynamic"
  "Justices Ponder Varying Tenets on Harassment"
  "In a Battle Over Preferences, Race and Gender are at Odds"

  Case Discussions (Led by 2 Groups): American Airlines and Coca-Cola

SESSION 9: NH TOPIC #1:  The NH Economy:  State Government and Private Sector Roles and Responsibilities

May 18th
 

Roundtable Discussion:  To be invited:  Georgie Thomas (NH State Treasurer), Stuart Arnett DRED, Jesse Devitte (NH Software Association), Aaron Smith (Vitts), Craig Welch (eyeon).

Group frames roundtable format and prepares questions for roundtable discussion.

  Readings:  (not in reading packet but available at websites listed):
   "New England as the Twenty-First Century Approaches:  No Time for Complacency".
   http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neer/neer99.htm#nov/dec1999
   "Preparing New Hampshire for the NetCentury"
   http://www.swanh.org/EconomicDevelopment/index.htm

Guests:  Kate Harnett (NH Sustainable Development Project) and Brian Gottlob (NH Business and Industry Association)

Group takes lead on working with guests to frame discussion and ask questions.

  Readings (not in reading packet but available at websites listed):
  "Linking the New Economy to the Livable Community"
   http://www.coecon.com/coming.htm

NH TOPIC #3: Charitable Contributions in NH: Are NH Businesses Responsible?

Guests to be invited - representatives from the NH Charitable Foundation and community groups.

Group takes lead on working with guests to frame discussion and ask questions.

  Readings (not in reading packet but available at websites listed):
   "Giving New Hampshire Program"
   http://www.nhcf.org/givnh.htm
   "Who Gives in New Hampshire"
   http://www.nhcf.org/whogiv.htm
   "Charitable Giving and Volunteering in New Hampshire"
   http://www/nhcf.org/chagiv.htm

Take home final examination handed-out.  To be completed by June 8th.

 BG&S: GROUP PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS

     1  4/6  Lead Case Discussion on Ben & Jerry's

     2  4/13  Debate - Internet - only minimal government regulations required

     3   4/13  Debate - Internet - taxation and government regulations required

     4  4/17  Debate -- In support: stricter business campaign expenditure limits.

     5  4/17  Debate -- Opposed: to stricter campaign expenditures

     6  4/27  Role Play -- Microsoft

     7  4/27  Role Play -- Competitor of Microsoft

     8  4/27  Role Play -- Federal Judge or US Department of Justice

     1  5/4  Update--Product Safety Regulation

     2  5/4  Update--Environmental Regulation

     3  5/11  Case Presentation:  American Airlines

     4  5/11  Case Presentation:  Coca-Cola

     5  5/18  Roundtable Facilitation:  NH Economy –private sector

     6  5/18  Roundtable Facilitation: NH Economy --public sector

     7  5/25  Discussion Facilitation:  NH economy & environment

     8  5/25  Discussion Facilitation:  NH who gives?
 

 "SCRAPBOOK" ASSIGNMENT"

DESCRIPTION:
The scrapbook assignment is due April 17th.  It requires students to collect and analyze newspaper/magazine articles or Internet documents addressing three important BG&S issues.  The analysis of each issue must apply concepts and theories from the text and class discussion to: (1) gain insight on an important BG&S issue; (2) suggest how the issue effects corporate practice and performance; and (3) recommend corporate strategy and actions.
 

RULES
The following rules apply:

(1)  A copy of each article/INTERNET document should be included;

(2)  The source and date of each article must be indicated;

(3)  All types of magazines/newspapers/INTERNET sites are eligible;

(4)  Write-ups must be analytical, not summaries of articles;

(5) Written analyses must be typed and double-spaced and be no longer than two pages per article (6 page limit)

(6) Students are allowed to get help in finding articles from other students, family members, and friends, but must prepare analyses independently.
 
 

GRADING CRITERIA

   Content:  Relevance/Importance of issues selected and articles used
   Analysis:  Quality of the analysis, insights gained
   Diversity:  Range of topics covered and sources used