Course Syllabus
Portico – MH100.23, Fall 2013
T TH 11-11:50 in Fulton 310; M 5:30 in Devlin 008
Mr. Michael J. Smith
Office: Fulton 254E
Office Hours: T 1-3pm, W 1-2pm, Th 1-3pm, F 1-2pm, & by appointment
e-mail: michael.smith.11@bc.edu
Course description and rationale:
Portico offers the beginning student a unique opportunity to situate contemporary business in a context
that is global and historical; learn about business through engagement with faculty and practitioners;
develop a nuanced method for recognizing and responding to the ethical challenges of contemporary
business; and raise questions about personal aspirations and the opportunities available in the world of
work. As its faculty creators—a team blending the talents of the Carroll School of Management and the
College of Arts and Sciences—described it, “the basic framework for the class is a funnel in which we
move from macro to micro/personal issues.” During the first half of the course, we begin with a wide
and historically informed consideration of global, national, and regional issues and end with a discussion
of industry, organizational, and functional issues. During the second half of the course, the ‘funnel’
narrows and we consider more personal issues, including ethics, leadership, and personal/professional
development. The choice of readings and assignments is designed to reinforce the interconnections
across the levels of the funnel.
Course formats:
As the description suggests, Portico’s goals are ambitious and to realize them will require a variety of
teaching and learning strategies.
• You will do much writing. Some of that writing will be straightforward and analytical. A
significant number of assignments, however, will require that you think and write in a more
personal, reflective manner.
• You will work individually and in teams.
• You’ll benefit from the attention of the instructor, student assistants, faculty from several
departments, alumni and business practitioners.
Texts and readings:
To purchase (available at the BC Bookstore)
1) The Course Packet for Portico (small one at the bookstore)
All readings labeled CP refer to this Course Packet
2) The Wall Street Journal (15 week subscription through the bookstore)
3) Readings on-line (through Blackboard vista MH111 and MH100)
MH111 is the site for all sections of Portico, where you can find all readings labeled BBV
MH100 is the site for all of my sections of Portico, where I’ll post extra readings, videos,
notes, assignments, etc.
Grading and evaluation:
The following assignments will be due throughout the semester (refer to the assignments column of the
calendar for details):
Summer essay (August 7th)
5%
Cell Phone Presentation (Week 3) 5%
Exam (Week 5)
15%
Group project (Week 7)
20%
Four year trajectory (Week 10)
*
Ethics Case (Week 12)
15%
Self-Assessment/Examen (Week 14) *
Final Exam
20%
Class Participation
20 %
(Class participation will include attendance, pop quizzes, online discussions, WSJ assignments,
weekly reflections, in class discussion, etc.)
* The four year trajectory and the self assessment will be required assignments, but will not be graded.
Failure to turn in one of these will result in a 5% deduction – per assignment – from your overall
grade.
Wall Street Journal:
To understand the world of business, it is important to follow current events. As part of class
participation, you are required to read the WSJ regularly, and to meet with your T.A. throughout the
semester to discuss articles that you find particularly significant. Specifically, you will need to meet with
your T.A. at least six times during the semester (outside of class) to present to them an article from the
WSJ. The article must (1) be related to business, (2) raise an ethical issue, and (3) be relevant to that
week’s class materials. The T.A.s will provide more details on how this will work.
Student Teaching Assistants:
Domenico Nicolia is a senior in the Carroll School of Management Honors Program, concentrating in
Finance and Corporate Reporting & Analysis (within the Accounting Department). Domenico is
originally from Long Island, New York and spent the summer living and working in New York City at
Jefferies LLC in the Investment Banking Division and will be returning there to work full time upon
graduation. On campus, Domenico is the Treasurer of the CSOM Honors Program and the Treasurer of
the Student Organization Funding Committee as well as a Teaching Assistant and Tutor in the
Accounting Department.
Katya Reeves is currently a senior majoring in Marketing and Management/Leadership. She is
originally from El Paso, TX but has spent the past three years in the Northeast. This past summer she
lived in New York, interning for Morgan Stanley’s Operations division. Specifically, she worked with
the Network Management team, dealing with client relationships. At BC, she has been in Smart Women
Securities, Appa, PULSE, and BCstreak, along with working at MTS and interning at Nixon Peabody
LLP. She also studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France in Spring 2013.
Academic Resources:
BlackBoard Vista
This course has a BBVista site to archive and distribute information such as class recordings, class
notes, assignments and study guides. Everyone in Portico also has a BBVista site called “MH111.” This
is where a majority of class readings (marked “BBV” in the calendar) are found. You can access these
sites through your agora portal or directly at cms.bc.edu.
Boston College Library
Claire O’Leary and Sonia Ensins are BC’s Reference Librarians for Business & Management. They
have put together some resources and databases that may be helpful throughout your business study, and
specifically for Portico’s Group Project. Here are some links to their pages.
Business & Management Library Portal - http://libguides.bc.edu/managementportal
(Three particularly useful guides are)
Company information - http://libguides.bc.edu/companyinfo
Industry Information - http://libguides.bc.edu/industry
Business Research - http://libguides.bc.edu/business
Course Policies:
Academic Integrity:
The Portico program holds the highest possible standards for academic honesty. Instances of cheating,
plagiarism, collusion, or any type of dishonesty will be treated seriously. To help understand the concept
of academic integrity, all Portico students will complete an on-line tutorial. The complete university
policy is found here:
http://www.bc.edu/integrity
Class Attendance:
Portico requires class participation and all member of the class are valued members of the community.
Class attendance is of utmost importance. In the event of having to miss class for a significant event or
emergency, you should contact your instructor. Unexcused absences will affect your final grade.
Ethics Requirement:
Portico fulfills the ethics requirement within the Carroll School. A Carroll School student who does not
successfully complete Portico will not meet this requirement, thereby jeopardizing their ability to remain
enrolled in the Carroll School.
Special Accommodations:
If you have a disability and will be requesting accommodations for this course, please register with
either Kathy Duggan (Kathleen.duggan@bc.edu) Associate Director, Academic Support Services, the
Connors Family Learning Center (learning disabilities and ADHD) or Paulette Durette, the Assistant
Dean for Students with Disabilities (all other disabilities). Advance notice and appropriate
documentation are required for accommodations.
Calendar:
Please note⎯for links to all videos or radio broadcasts, please consult the BBV site for our class
(MH100) or the weekly e-mails that I will send every Friday
Weekly Topics
Week One
Sept. 2-6
Globalization and
the cell phone
Readings & Doings
Monday Evening: No Session
Class A: Introductions and Syllabus
•
Watch Wallace, Commencement Address
•
Watch “Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!”
•
Watch the “September Campaign 2013”
•
Watch “A bath without water”
Class B: Cell phone disassembly
•
Read Kralik, “Up your Gratitude” (BBV)
•
Read Sara Corbett, “Can the cell phone help end global
poverty?”(BBV)
•
Read Friedman, Lexus and the Olive Tree (chapters 1 – 3 on
BBV)
•
Listen to Friedman on “How America Fell Behind”
•
Read Fitzmaurice, “Just because emerging markets buy
smartphones doesn’t mean they can use them”
Week Two
Sept. 9-13
Innovation and
entrepreneurship
Monday Evening:
•
Venture Capital readings (BBV)
Class A:
•
Read The Wealth and Poverty of Nations (Ch 4 on BBV)
•
Read Forging Ahead: How to get innovation right (BBV)
•
Read Fernholz, “The Big Mac Mirage”
•
Watch “The Call of the Entrepreneur” Trailer
Class B:
•
Read The World Turned Upside Down: A special report on
innovation in emerging markets (BBV)
•
Read How to Judge Globalism (Sen) (BBV)
•
Read “How the US lost out on iPhone work” (BBV)
•
Watch “Making global labor fair”
Week Three
Sept. 16-20
Value chains and
industry analysis
Monday Evening:
•
Michael Porter, “How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy”
(CP)
•
“Apple Inc. in 2010” (CP)
Class A:
•
•
•
•
•
Assignments
Summer
assignment due
August 7th
Evening Sessions
Labor Day – No
evening session
Entrepreneurship in
action
Cell phone
presentations
Special sessions
with Dean Andy
Boynton
Read “100 Million Android Fans Can’t Be Wrong” (BBV)
Read “Mozilla Plans Smartphones for Emerging Markets”
Read “Samsung Emerges as a Potent Rival”
Watch “The iPhone Economy”
Watch “The iEconomy: Factory Upgrade”
Class B: Cell Phone presentations
Week Four
Sept 23-27
Social
Responsibility of
Business and
Social Enterprises
Monday evening:
•
Social Entrepreneurship
Class A
•
Read “A message to millenials: Innovate to save lives” (BBV)
•
Read “Social Innovation: Innovation for the good of us all”
(BBV)
•
Read “Aravind Eye Care’s Vision for India”
•
Watch “Benefit Corporations Aim to make Profit, with Positive
Community Impact”
Class B
•
Read Milton Friedman, “The Social Responsibility of Business
Social
Entrepreneurship
Group
Presentation
Details assigned
Parent’s Weekend
•
•
Week Five
Sept 30 - Oct 4
Week Six
Oct 7-11
Ethical Horizons
is to increase its Profits” (BBV)
Read “Re-thinking the Social Responsibility of Business”
(BBV)
Read Kelly, “The Divine Right of Capital” (BBV)
Monday evening:
•
Selections from “The Idea Hunter,” by Andy Boynton
Special sessions
with Dean Andy
Boynton
Class A
•
How-to workshop for projects and presentations
•
Review for Exam
How-to
workshop for
projects and
presentations
Class B
•
Exam
Exam
Class A:
•
Read Machiavelli, The Prince
•
Read “How Workplace Bullies Get Ahead”
•
Watch Clip from Glengarry Glen Ross
Class B:
•
The Crito, Plato
•
Watch Clip from Sophie Scholl
Week Seven
Oct 14-18
Week Eight
Oct 21-25
Presentations
“On task” for group presentations
Week Nine
Oct 28 – Nov 1
Consequentialism
Monday Evening:
•
Accounting
Classes A and B – Group presentations
Columbus Day –
No evening session
Group projects
due
Accounting
Class A: Cases as assigned
•
Read Frankfurt, On Truth (uploaded to BBV)
•
Read Rand, “How Does One Lead A Rational Life In An
Irrational Society?” (BBV)
•
Read Brooks, “If it Feels Right” (BBV)
•
Read “The Whistle-Blower’s Quandary”
•
Watch “Ex exec defends claims of Goldman’s ‘unethical
behavior’”
Week Ten
Nov 4-8
Deontology
Class B:
•
Read Velasquez, “Utilitarianism” (BBV)
•
As US Agencies Put More Value on a Life, Businesses Fret
(BBV)
•
Read Sandel, “The Moral Limits of Markets”
•
Read Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas”
Monday Evening
•
Finance
Class A:
•
•
•
Class B:
•
•
•
Week Eleven
Nov 11-15
Virtue Ethics and
4 year trajectory
due.
Finance
Deontological Theories, Kant (BBV)
Read “Why We Lie” (BBV)
Re-visit cases
Kant continued
Read MLK, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (BBV)
UN Declaration of Human Rights (BBV)
Monday Evening
•
Marketing
Marketing
beyond
Class A:
•
Read Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, (BBV)
•
Book One, Chapters 5 & 7
•
Book Two, Chapters 1 & 3
•
Read Lewis, “Wall Street Job versus a Calling” (BBV)
•
Read Bennett, “Happiness a Buyer’s Guide” (BBV)
•
Watch, “How to buy happiness”
Class B:
•
Read Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book Three, Chapters 1 –
5 (BBV)
•
Read Tony Hsieh on happiness (BBV)
•
Read “The Body in Room 348”
Week Twelve
Nov 18-22
Ethical
Leadership
Monday Evening:
•
Management and Organizations
Class A:
•
Read Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book Eight, Chapters 1-4
•
Catch 20.5: Corporate Morality as an Organizational
Phenomenom (BBV)
•
How following orders can harm your career (BBV)
Ethics Case
due November
22nd
Management and
Organizational
Studies –
“Threadless”
Class B:
•
Six Steps for Remedying Contemporary Ethical Problems
(BBV)
•
A Hiker’s Plight (BBV)
•
When we are too Busy (BBV)
Week Thirteen
Nov 25-29
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Break – no class
Read “Thank you. No, thank you” (BBV – in honor of Thanksgiving)
Week Fourteen
Dec 2-6
Ethical
Leadership
Monday Evening:
•
Operations and Information Management
Week Fifteen
Dec 9-11
Final
Monday Evening:
•
Chris Lowney (BBV)
Class A:
•
Review for Final Exam
Thanksgiving Break
Self Assessment
due Dec. 9th
Operations and
Information
Systems
Common Final
Exam on
Tuesday, Dec
17th at 4pm
An evening with
Chris Lowney
Class A:
•
Boston Beer Case (BBV)
Class B:
•
Parable of the Sadhu (CP)