Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
BA 364
BA 364: International Business and Society (3): Business organizations and the sociocultural environment; current issues; corporate responsibility; international and multinational business environments. Prerequisite: ENGL 202D, MGMT 301.
Overview
The overarching objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and cognitive tools to assess and negotiate the evolving societal role of business in the 21st century. The primary aim of this course is to develop an understanding of national and international business and managerial issues within the framework of corporate social responsibility. To achieve these goals, the course focuses on a broad spectrum of topics related to business ethics and corporate social responsibility; business relations with government, consumers, community, and employees; environmental and technological issues; and ethical issues in the global arena.
Globalization has created a demanding business environment for organizations. Today, business organizations are facing an ever increasing pressure to conform to the ever changing demands of their communities. There is a need for businesses to understand these changing demands, and they must try to negotiate their expected role with societal forces to maintain good relations with their many internal and external stakeholders, while remaining a viable business entity. To this end, this course will apply a strategic stakeholder focus to provide students with insights to understand problems faced by businesses relating to social responsibility and skills to maintain a balance between economic viability and social responsibility.
Note that, in accordance with Penn State University requirements and expectations, this is a “writing emphasis” class.
Course Objectives
Upon sucessful completion of this course, students should
- develop a broader and comprehensive understanding of the relationship between businesses and society;
- understand what "business ethics" means and be able to differentiate between various ethical principles;
- understand influences that come to bear on business ethics decision-making;
- comprehend the major stakeholder groups that interact with business organizations;
- understand major corporate social responsibilities of business—economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic—and appreciate their tensions with one another; and
- develop cognitive and writing skills in order to effectively internalize and articulate business, society, and ethical principles discussed in the course and apply them to business decisions in which managers face ethical dilemmas during their professional lives.
Methods of Instruction
Student-Centered Approach
In this course, we will discover and discuss a number of controversial topics. These topics intend to spark discussions and the exchange of ideas and knowledge. Therefore, the course is designed to enhance your understanding of issues related to business and society by giving you an opportunity to share your knowledge and experiences with others. In this learning process, I encourage you to continuously communicate with your classmates and instructor. Your active participation in this course is very important. Textbook materials will serve as an important tool for your course preparation. Some suggestions are
- Be enthusiastic and maintain a positive attitude.
- Maintain respect and class decorum during online discussions. The purpose is not to judge individuals, but to have a constructive discourse.
- Emphasize quality over quantity of materials you will be presenting. Most importantly, back opinions with coherent arguments.
- Be creative, analytical, and innovative in case analyses and other assignments.
- Answer review questions on a weekly basis.
- Utilize the suggested readings.
Analytical Requirements
The course is structured to link theories and concepts in the textbook with actual business and company cases; therefore, maintain an analytical approach in discussions, case analyses, and writing assignments. Try to ask the following questions when you analyze cases:
- What is the ethical issue involved?
- Who is affected by organizational decisions on this issue?
- What are the interests of major internal and external stakeholders?
- What solutions are available?
- What type of resources and organizational policy changes are needed for these solutions?
- What are the merits and demerits of each solution?
- What are your recommendations?
Course Materials
Required Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
E-Reserves
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
The instructor reserves the right to assign other materials during the semester as appropriate. Consideration will be given to making sure students have adequate time to review these materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Optional Course Library Resources
Talk to a business librarian if you have a specific business research question that you are unable to find via the library resources mentioned previously. Contact Diane Zabel, Benzak Business Librarian and Head of the Schreyer Business Library, during regular business hours at 814-865-1013, or via email at dxz2@psu.edu.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Grading
| Assignment | Points | Final Grade Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Participation on Discussion Forums | 200 | 25% |
| Group Current Events Report, Discussion Questions, and Peer Evaluation | 200 | 25% |
| Term Paper | 400 | 50% |
| Total of All Course Activities | 800 | 100% |
Letter grades will be based on the following scale:
| Letter Grade | Points | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A | 760.0–800 | 95.0–100% |
| A- | 720.0–759.9 | 90.0–94.9% |
| B+ | 696.0–719.9 | 87.0–89.9% |
| B | 664.0–695.9 | 83.0–86.9% |
| B- | 640.0–663.9 | 80.0–82.9% |
| C+ | 616.0–639.9 | 77.0–79.9% |
| C | 560.0–615.9 | 70.0–76.9% |
| D | 480.0–559.9 | 60.0–69.9% |
| F | 0–479.9 | Below 59.9% |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Assignments
Assignment Key
I = Independent
T = Team
U = Ungraded
G = Graded
Write all assignments in standard format, i.e., Microsoft Word, double spaced, and 1-inch margins on all sides.
This is a writing-intensive course, and students will also require academic and nonacademic resources to do their assignments. Therefore, it is imperative to properly reference and cite all sources. For this purpose, students can use MLA or APA styles, as long as they are used consistently in the assignments. Citation and Writing Guides are available on how to use MLA or APA Styles.
Group Current Events Report, Discussion Questions, and Peer Evaluation (25%)
The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to reflect on events within and outside of class and, more importantly, to integrate course materials and concepts with actual business practices. In the first week of the semester, all students will be assigned randomly to different groups. The first group will submit its topic to the instructor at the beginning of the 4th week, and will upload the questions and submit their report in the 6th week. Each week, a student group will be assigned to compose a current events report that reflects their reactions to recent newspaper articles, magazine articles, or e-articles about a business ethics issue. More specifically, a business ethics issue that an American company is facing or has caused in a foreign country.
The overall expectations for the group projects are the following:
- The groups will need to examine the chosen article’s main theme or claims in the context of your textbook; in this sense, the textbook material becomes a lens through which you examine the issue in the article and your own stance on this issue.
- The groups should also state the article's critical claim for this issue. The critical claim should reflect your opinion—your unique stance/contribution to the discussion of business ethics.
There are many journals and magazines from which to choose, most of which are available through the Penn State Libraries. Sample journals include Journal of Business Ethics, Business and Society, Business Ethics, Harvard Business Review, and Sloan Management Review. Samples of business magazines and newspapers are The Magazine of Corporate Responsibility, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, Fortune, Forbes, Newsweek, Time, etc. The current events article should be published after January 1st, 2012.
Deliverables:
- A group report: The group report should be between 3–5 pages (double spaced using Times New Roman, 12-point font size, with 1-inch margins on all sides).
- A class discussion: By Monday, the group assigned to that week will upload the news item for all students to read and post two to three discussion questions for the class. In these discussion questions, the group members will participate actively to guide the discussion and give their views based on their research on the topic.
- A peer evaluation: Group members will e-mail a completed peer evalution to the instructor that will be used to grade the individual performance of each team member.
Steps of this assignment:
- Assigning students to groups. (Instructor will perform this function.) (Week 1)
- Each group will then be assigned a week for their report. (Instructor will perform this function.)
- The group will e-mail their topic and news item to the instructor for approval. (By Monday, 2 weeks before uploading questions.)
- The group will then prepare their report and will submit it to the instructor in the week assigned to them.
The written report should address the following:
- Describe the major ethical issues.
- Identify the major stakeholders involved in the case.
- Analyze the different stances among these stakeholders toward the issue.
- Discuss the solutions or courses of actions to the problems.
Each group member will render a peer evaluation of each group member. The instructor will consider the peer evaluation in the group portion of the participation grade. A blank peer evaluation will be provided, and reviews will be due on the day the team uploads their news item and discussion question.
Individual Term Paper (50%)
Paper requirement: The paper should not exceed 12 pages in length, including an executive summary, table of contents, and list of references. Use Times New Roman, 12-point font size, double spaced between lines and paragraphs, and 1-inch margins on all sides.
References: Works cited should have at least 10 items.
Deliverables: You will submit portions of your paper throughout the semester as follows:
- Decide on a topic, and submit it to the instructor for approval. The topic should include a short (1–2 paragraph) description, including the research question and how the student intends to research and prove it. Students will get comments from the instructor on their short description (50 points). (Week 3)
- Prepare an outline of the paper based on comments received from the instructor and further research into the topic, and submit it to the instructor. This outline should be about 2–3 pages long (double spaced). Students will get detailed comments from the instructor (100 points). (Week 5)
- Prepare a list of references, and submit it to the instructor (50 points). (Week 7)
- Submit the complete paper to the instructor (200 points). (Week 14)
The result of this effort is an analytical paper on a current topic relevant to the course subject. A good topic ideally will
- be relevant to business and society,
- express a problem or dilemma, and
- provide an answer that is not obvious, but instead requires and demonstrates careful and informed analysis.
Your approach should be analytical rather than descriptive, which means explaining possible reasons for the issue (a "why" question) beyond describing what the issue is (a "what" question). Furthermore, you need to present your position for the issue. Your grade will not depend on your position either for or against an issue, but upon how persuasively you articulate and support your ideas. The points you make must be supported and documented from scholarly and practitioner sources. Finally, to help you understand the overall expectations for the term paper, please review the Term Paper Grading Rubric.
Below you will find a selection of suggested topics:
Contribution to Learning and Participation in Discussion Forums (25%)
This is an online course; hence, face-to-face interaction is not a possibility. But, to create a collaborative learning environment where students can contribute based on their interpretations and understanding of the readings, it is imperative that they participate in online activities. Students are expected to fully participate in discussions of each chapter review, posted case studies, and discussion questions posted by the current events teams.
It must be noted here that participation on the discussion forums is important to achieve a good grade in the course as they constitute 25% of the total grade. Students will be graded based on the quality, timeliness, and frequency of their contribution. The students need to submit one initial post by Thursday each week in which they will answer the questions posed on the forum. They will then reply to at least two more posts by Sunday. Points will be deducted if the initial post is late or not submitted or if the additional posts are not submitted.
The quality of the contributions is also very important. The quality of the post is established by (1) demonstrating that the students have read the assigned materials by properly using terms and concepts from the book and the readings in their posts, (2) answering the posed questions and subparts fully, (3) analyzing and examining the questions thoroughly by looking at them from different perspectives, (4) providing their opinion based on arguments and facts, (5) writing grammatically correct posts with no obvious misspellings, and (6) maintaining class decorum in which opinions are discussed but people are not judged. In essence, the posts and more importantly the initial post must be a though examination of the forum questions that may lead to insightful discussions.
The "Discussion Forum Grading Rubric" displays the details of the grading rubric for the discussion forums.
In the interest of creating a cohesive format, students will be assigned randomly to different groups in the first week of the semester. Hence, all discussions on the posted materials will be conducted within these groups for the duration of the semester. It is hoped that this small forum will lead to in-depth deliberations and exchanges of ideas. Students will be graded individually for their contributions in the discussion forums.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments. Each assignment will be identified as individual (I) or team (T), graded (G) or ungraded (U).
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Read Textbook Chapters Links to Readings via PSU Libraries
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Read Textbook Chapters Links to Readings via PSU Libraries
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Privacy Policy
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.Student Responsibilities and Conduct
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Values.
Report Bias
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.