The Cultures of Business Syllabus Instructor: Daniel Everett Office Phone: x-2118 Office: 308 Morison E-mail: deverett@bentley.edu Office Hours: T/TH 10-12; Or by appointment Class Meeting Day & Time: Tuesday 630-9pm Class Location: AAC 143 Blackboard Site: https://blackboard.bentley.edu/w ebapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_t ab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fweba pps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute% 2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse% 26id%3D_58250_1%26url%3D Course Description This course examines how values and valuation arise in human societies. From the foundational beliefs and practices of specific cultures it proceeds to look in depth at how cultures of business arise and how they influence one another and the societies in which the businesses operate. An initial introduction to the science of cultural explanation is followed by an anthropological discussion of stocks, commodities, and derivatives. The course develops and expounds concepts to enable the participants to analyze and apply their knowledge of companies as outputs of societies. Course Prerequisites: None. Course Goals The purpose of this class is to teach students how to understand the connections between cultural values and business values of specific societies. Student Learning Objectives Students should be able to understand the difference between society and culture and how the latter is formed both diachronically and synchronically by the formation and transmission of values. Students should also be able to more effectively analyze and understand the practices and values of specific businesses not only from a cultural perspective but in terms of the ways that these values impact business operations and their effects in societies. Course materials • • • Text(s) Everett, Daniel L. 2013. Language: The Cultural Tool. Vintage. *Harris, Marvin. 1974. Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture. Vintage Books. • • • • • • • • • Harris, Marvin. 1981. Why Nothing Works: The Anthropology of Daily Life. Touchstone Books. *LiPuma, Edward and Benjamin Lee. 2004. Financial Derivatives and the Globalization of Risk. Duke University Press. Trompenaars, Fons and Charles Hampden-Turner. 1998. Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business. McGraw-Hill. *Zelizer, Viviana A. 2011. Economic Lives: How Culture Shapes the Economy. Princeton University Press. *Ho, Karen. 2009. Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street. Duke University Press. *= Required text. All others are suggested, but not required. Other readings Software Other Assignments and grading Class presentations and participation: 15% I expect students to not only question in class, but I will regularly call on individual students at the beginning of class to summarize the reading for the class in 10 minutes. Midterm: 25% The midterm exam will cover all of the material from lectures (reading supplements lectures and students are responsible mainly for what we discuss in class) from the first class to the class prior to the midterm. Topic selection, research sources, and methodology: 20% Tentative essay topics will be due by the fourth class. The instructor will provide feedback and help the students to sharpen their focus and coverage and to identify sources. The ideal essay will be based on student interviews and/or field research, though this is not required. Essay 40% The essay is the crucial component of the evaluation, with 60% of the grade dependent on the clarity and sophistication of the argumentation and reasoning of the writing. The body of the essay should be at least 15pp, double-spaced, Times Roman 11 or 12 pt font, roughly 3700 words). The essay will be due during the final exam week and students are expected to meet with the instructor that week in class to discuss their essays, after they have handed them in. Expectations about class attendance, etiquette, participation Regular attendance is expected. Students are further expected to question, argue, and dialog with the instructor during the class period. Statement about academic integrity This class will be conducted in full accordance with Bentley’s policies about academic integrity and the Bentley Honor Code. These can be found at: http://www.bentley.edu/shandbook/integrity/ http://www.bentley.edu/shandbook/Integrity/The_Bentley_Honor_Code.cfm The Bentley Beliefs This class will be conducted in full accordance with The Bentley Beliefs. Please reread the Beliefs, which can be found at http://www.bentley.edu/shandbook/index.cfm. Learning Disabilities If you have a hidden or visible disability which may require classroom or exam accommodations, please see me as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, please register with Chip Kennedy, Coordinator of Disability Services in LaCava 166, who is responsible for coordinating accommodations and services for students with disabilities. I will make every effort to accommodate students with documented learning disabilities, as long as you inform me of your needs ahead of time. For further information on documenting a learning disability, please go to http://www.bentley.edu/counseling/disability_services.cfm. Specific course policies All assignments are due, without exception, at the time indicated, without prior approval from the professor. Tentative Course Schedule Date Topic Assignment January 21, 2014 Introduction to Culture: Culture explains the apparently irrational Req: Harris, ppv-35; Ho 1-39 January 28 Introduction to Culture: War February 04 Savagery February 11 Potlatch and the Demonstration of Wealth February 18 Messiahs February 25 MIDTERM EXAM; Magic and Action at a Distance March 04 The Social Structure of Money (March 8-16 Spring Break - No Class) March 11 How we talk about things: Culture and Language March 18 Corporate Cultures March 25 Global Flows Req: LL 1-33; Ho 249-295 April 01 Speculation Req: LL 33-85 April 08 The Ethnology of Derivatives Req: LL 85-141 April 15 Risk and Political Stability Req: LL 141-190; Ho 295-end April 22 Insurance and Human Value(s) Req: Z 1-72 April 29 What have we learned? What is there yet to learn? Review and discussion April 30-May 8 FINAL EXAMS May 17 COMMENCEMENT Suggested: Tromp. 1-19 Req: Harris 35-83; Sug:: Tromp. 20-51 Req: H 83-111 Sug:T 51-83 Req: H 111-155 Sug: T 83-121 Req: H 155-207 Sug: T 121-161 Req: Harris 1981 Chapter Four; Z 89-164; Ho 73-122 Req: Everett Chapter 10; Ho 122-169 Req: Ho 169-213 Sug: Tromp. 161-217