COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2013
1. COURSE NUMBER: STH 201
2. COURSE TITLE: Corporate Social Responsibility & Change Management
3. CLASSROOM/MEETIMG TIME: Bryan 204/Monday and Wednesday, 3:30-4:45pm
4. CREDITS: 3:3
5. PREREQUISITES: None
6. FOR WHOM PLANNED: Students in any field at UNCG
7. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION: Zachary Cole
Email: zdcole@uncg.edu
Phone:
Office: Bryan 471
Office Hours: M/W 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
8. CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Students explore how stakeholders define, measure, and
assign value to corporate efforts in social responsibility. Skill development in managing
change and innovation, stakeholder partnerships, social media, and volunteerism.
9. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Define the ethical framework that underpins CSR.
2. Describe the connections between corporate strategy and CSR, particularly the
relationship of CSR to organizational mission and vision.
3. Identify trade-offs that exist in the area of CSR for organizations and for individuals.
4. Explain how CSR can be a source of competitive advantage.
5. Demonstrate a multi-stakeholder perspective in summarizing CSR issues.
6. Appraise the level of commitment to CSR of a sample of organizations.
7. Justify investment in stakeholder partnerships, social media, and volunteerism to
support CSR goals.
8. Assess plans for developing, implementing, and evaluating a CSR program.
10. TEACHING METHODS



Written, audio/visual, or other materials made available through assigned texts and additional
readings posted to BlackBoard or through online mediums (i.e. Facebook, Twitter).
Virtual and face-to-face lectures, student presentations, debates and discussions will be used
on an ongoing basis. Active and problem-based learning is emphasized.
Students are expected to plan and take responsibility for self-studies, including reading
assigned course literature, and structuring and completing assigned written tasks.
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11. EVALUATION AND GRADING:
Assignment/Activity
SLOs Measured
in this activity
Points Possible
2 Exams
1-8
100
Case Analysis
1-8
125
Case Analyses Individual Write-ups
1-5
75
Organizational CSR Strategy Project
5-7
200
Discovery Exercises
1-8
~100-200
Prop Responses
1-8
~100-200
Participation and Enthusiasm
1-8
150
Total
~850-1050 points
Directions for each assignment will be posted on Blackboard. In addition, rubrics and
other evaluative instruments will be posted on Blackboard. Thus, students will know
exactly what they are to accomplish in this class as well as how their grade will be
determined.
Exams (50 x 2 = 100 points):
To evaluate student understanding of the key concepts and terms discussed and used in class, two
exams will be given. The exams will be on the material covered during the semester (in class, in
assigned readings). Exam questions will include a variety of formats: true/false, multiple choice,
short answer, short essay. Exam 1 will address SLOs 1-3; Exam 2 will address SLOs 4-7.
Case Analysis (125 points):
Student groups will lead one of eight (8) corporate case analyses via a group presentation. You
are expected to do independent research and bring in outside resources (including materials
posted on Blackboard) into these presentations; cite any sources using APA style.
Case Analyses Individual Write Ups (15 x 5 = 75 points):
Students not in the group presenting the case will do a minimum of five (5) one-page case writeups following a format to be provided by the instructor. You are expected to do independent
research and bring in outside resources (including materials posted on Blackboard) into these
papers; cite any sources using APA style. [15 pts each; the remaining two may be done for extra
credit]
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Organizational CSR Strategy Project (200 points):
You will complete research, including at least one interview, and present your findings about an
existing CSR strategy in an existing organization to the class. This assignment asks you to
prepare a group presentation on one or more of the following:




The company’s use of one or multiple social media tools to increase CSR partnerships
between the organization and its consumers.
The company’s use of a mentoring or networking program for internal organizational
members to promote the goals of social equity within the organization.
The company’s specific volunteer program that uses employees, consumers, or both in
community service at any level of society.
Other CSR relevant activities identified by students or by organizational members.
Discovery Exercises:
To stimulate class discussions and critical thinking, the Professor will provide discussion
questions, case studies and/or exercises for either team or individual response. While a majority
will be completed in class, some exercises will require out-of-class work and potentially group
meetings to establish an appropriate position and/or response. Also, a few online discovery
exercises will be completed individually and turned in exclusively via Blackboard. Exercises are
designed to entice students to read assigned readings, conduct further research, reflect, and
integrate personal experiences and opinions. During team Discovery Exercises, each team will
develop a single response and receive a team grade. All team members need to be listed in order
to receive credit when turning in a team response.
During team Discovery Exercises each student is expected to be a part of a team and fully
participate in all team exercises. There are no provisions for making up team Discovery
Exercises. All students should arrive by the start of class in order to receive credit for an in-class
exercise. NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE, PLEASE DO NOT ASK. For team Discovery
Exercises that require out-of-class meeting/organization, it is each student’s responsibility to find
a group if they were absent for the class period when teams were determined.
Prop Responses:
Throughout the semester I will utilize Blackboard, Twitter (@drzac), and Facebook (Doc Cole)
to ask reflective questions about course relevant stories from the popular media and ask for a
critical response via one of those mediums, adhering to the 140 character limit regardless of
platform used. Each response will garner 5 points. Pop Responses, as the name implies, will not
be planned or announced, but instead simply passed along as applicable stories come along.
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Marks:
Students will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. To receive credit for the course,
students must earn a letter grade of D- or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course
work (e.g., exams, assignments, discovery exercises, etc.). Final grades in the course will be a
letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for percentage grades are as follows:
A
AB+
B
BC+
= 93% & above
= 90% to 92.99%
= 87% to 89.99%
= 83% to 86.99%
= 80% to 82.99%
= 77% to 79.99%
C
CD+
D
DE
= 73% to 76.99%
= 70% to 72.99%
= 67% to 69.99%
= 63% to 66.99%
= 60% to 62.99%
= Below 60%
12. REQUIRED TEXTS:
Werther, W.B and D. Chandler (2011). Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility:
Stakeholders in a Global Environment, Second Edition. SAGE Publications, Inc.
ISBN: 9781412974530
Mackey, J. and Sisodia, R. (2013). Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of
Business. Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. ISBN: 9781422144206
13. TOPICAL OUTLINE/CALENDAR:
This outline is tentative and merely provides a general framework regarding the progression of
topics. As such, readings and/or assignment dates may change throughout the semester.
Readings noted here are to be completed prior to the week they are assigned, any changes and
supplemental text will be announced in class. Readings from the text are abbreviated as follows:
CSR = Werther and Chandler, 2011; CC = Mackey and Sisodia, 2013).
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Topic Description
Assignment
Course introduction/ outline and getting to
know each other.
Reviewing key history and future trends
affecting CSR.
Defining CSR through the concept of
sustainability.
Contextualizing CSR: The power of
purpose.
Corporate strategy and the stakeholder
perspective.
Equitably integrating stakeholder wellbeing within CSR.
Work day/Exam 1.
CSR1
CC3-4
CSR2
CC5-8
Exam 1
4
Readings
8
Stakeholder integration strategy.
9
Stakeholder integration strategy.
10
Leadership in CSR.
11
12
13
Org CSR Strategy
Outline
CC9-12
CSR 4
CC13-14
Implementing CSR through change
management.
Implementing CSR through change
management.
Creating CSR culture through
management.
CSR5
Case Analysis
14
Future trends in CSR.
15
Work day/Exam 2.
Exam 2
16
Final presentations.
Org CSR Strategy
CC15-18
Case Analysis
14. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:
Each student is required to sign the Academic Integrity Policy on all major work
submitted for the course. Refer to the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin or go to:
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/complete/
15. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are expected to attend and participate in the class. There will be many in-class
activities (e.g. Discovery Exercises), case studies, presentations, etc. and students’
participation in them will be reflected in their final grade (via 150 Participation and
Enthusiasm points).
16. CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
It is expected that all students arrive, on time, prepared for class. Please reserve laptops
use for note-taking in this course, as hard as it is to do so. Checking
Facebook/Twitter/etc., reading the newspaper, and/or surfing the web class is generally
discouraged. However, there may be times during class activities where using those tools
can be beneficial and even encouraged, so don’t be surprised if you are asked to put them
to use for the class. If at any time you have a question or have the need for assistance
and/or information about absolutely anything concerning the course, see the
Professor as soon as possible. Also, please turn off cell phone ringers (if it does ring in
class I have been known to answer it).
17. LATE WORK:
25% off assignment score. Assignments must be submitted by the day and time they are
due. I will accept late assignments for one week after they are due, after which time none
will be accepted and a zero received for that assignment.
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18. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Students with documented disabilities requiring accommodation need to notify the
instructor at the beginning of the semester.
List of relevant journals from which articles may be assigned by instructor of record.
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Review
Advancing the Consumer Interest
African Journal of Business Ethics
Balance Sheet
Business Ethics: A European Review
Business Ethics Quarterly
Business and Professional Ethics Journal
Business and Society
Business and Society Review
Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance: International Journal of
Business in Society
Corporate Reputation Review
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental
Management
Economics and Philosophy
Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and
Organization Studies
Environmental Ethics
Ethics and the Environment
Ethics, Place, and Environment
Ethics, Policy and Environment
Global Virtue Ethics Review
Harvard Business Review
Harvard Human Rights Journal
Health & Consumer Voice: Monthly Newsletter on
Food Safety, Health and Consumer Policy
Humanity: An International Journal of Human
Rights, Humanitarianism, and Development
Intercultural Human Rights Law Review
International Corporate Responsibility Series
International Journal of Business Governance and
Ethics
Journal of Academic and Business Ethics
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics
Journal of Business Ethics
Journal of Business Ethics Education
Journal of Consumer Affairs
Journal of Consumer Behaviour
Journal of Consumer Policy
Journal of Consumer Research
Journal of Corporate Citizenship
Journal of Human Values
Law and Ethics of Human Rights
Management ethics
Research in corporate social performance and policy
Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations
Sloan Management Review
Southern Journal of Business and Ethics
Stanford Business Magazine
Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Stanford Journal of Law, Business, and Finance
Studies in Cultures, Organizations and Societies
Teaching Business Ethics
Wharton Magazine
Yale Human Rights and Development Law Journal
Young Consumers: Insight and Ideas for Responsible
Marketers
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