EMT 664IT BUSINESS LAW
SPRING 2012
Stevens Institute of Technology/Executive Masters of Technology Management Program
EMT 664 - Exelis
Business Law
Spring 2012
STUDENT COURSE NOTES
John Sogliuzzo
Adjunct Professor
Howe School of Technology Management
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Office Phone: 973-495-4219
Fax: 201-216-8355
Email: jsogliu@stevens.edu
Howe School Alliance for Technology Management
Executive MBA in Technology Management Program
Program Coordinator: Antonella Bove (201-216-8322)
EMTM Fax #: 201-216-8355
John Sogliuzzo, Adjunct Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology | 1
12/1/11
EMT 664IT BUSINESS LAW
SPRING 2012
Stevens Institute of Technology/Executive Masters of Technology Management Program
1. Course Description
The course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and legal principles that
they can expect to encounter in various roles as managers/professionals in public and
private companies, consultants and/or entrepreneurs, together with the ethical criteria,
moral values and social norms in the environments they will face. The course will cover
the American judicial system, international law in a global economy, ethics and
business decision making, different forms of business structure, contracts, business
torts, products liability, insurance, employment law, criminal law and the recent DoddFrank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act.
2. Course Objectives
Through the study of specific cases and legislation the student will develop a basic
understanding of the interdependence of business, ethics and the law in a democratic
free market society, as well as a global economy from which will flow an analytical
ability to enable one to identify and weigh competing concerns in the managerial
decision making process and their ethical ramifications. While students may come from
a range of industries and positions across the value chain, they must be cognizant of
the basic legal principles that are common to all. Accordingly, the course is relevant to
all techno-management students irrespective of specific technical focus.
3. Relationship of Course to Rest of Curriculum/ Prerequisites
The Business Law is a standalone course which is designed to introduce students to
the concepts in business law along with the ethical issues that attend business
interactions. .
John Sogliuzzo, Adjunct Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology | 2
12/1/11
EMT 664IT BUSINESS LAW
SPRING 2012
Stevens Institute of Technology/Executive Masters of Technology Management Program
4. Learning goals
After successfully completing the course, a student will be able to:

Understand the American Judicial System as well as international law from which
to develop critical thinking skills to recognize the legal implications on business
decision making.

Comprehend the underlying interdependence of ethics and the law in the
business environment in which managers and decision makers operate.

Analyze competing concerns in the managerial decision making process and
appreciate the ethical and legal considerations in that process.
5. Pedagogy
The course will consist of lectures, assigned readings and case studies. We will cover
the concepts in depth and then we will explore simple real life applications through case
study discussion.
6. Text
Title: Business Law Today: The Essentials
Authors: Miller & Jentz 9th Edition,
Publisher: South-Western College Publishing, 2010,
ISBN#: 978-0-324-78615-6
John Sogliuzzo, Adjunct Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology | 3
12/1/11
EMT 664IT BUSINESS LAW
SPRING 2012
Stevens Institute of Technology/Executive Masters of Technology Management Program
7. Course Schedule Time: 6.30 – 9.15pm
Month
Jan
Thurs Lect
ure
12
1
Chap.
Ch
Topic
Assignmentment Due
Course Overview
Business Activities &
Legal Environment
Judicial System, State & Federal
How & where to resolve a
dispute –class exercise
Jan
19
2
1&3
Jan
26
3
2
Ethics & Business
Decision Making
Making an ethical business
decision-class exercise
Feb
2
4
19
Forms of Business
Structure
Choose the business form-class
exercise
Feb
9
5
17
Agency Relationships & Liability
Feb
16
6
8&9
Contracts-Formation
Feb
23
7
10
Contracts-Breach &
Remedies
Employee, agent or
independent contractor-class
exercise
Elements of a contract &
capacity to assent-class
exercise
Remedies-review of specific
cases in class
Mar
1
8
Mar
8
9
13
Mar
15
10
Mar
22
Mar
April
Mid-Term Exam
Quality Control-class exercise
18 & 23
Products Liability &
Consumer Law
Insurance & Employment Law
11
4&6
Business Torts & Criminal Law
Review specific cases
29
12
25
International Law in a Global Economy
Applicability of international lawclass exercise
1
13
21
Dodd/Frank Act & Corporate Governance
Final Exam
Wearing your HR hat-class
exercise
8. Course Grading
The course will emphasize class discussion and the analysis of the assigned readings.
The grade will be based on
Assignment
Grade Percent
(approx.)
50
25
25
100%
In-Class Discussion
Mid term
Final exam
Total Grade
John Sogliuzzo, Adjunct Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology | 4
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EMT 664IT BUSINESS LAW
SPRING 2012
Stevens Institute of Technology/Executive Masters of Technology Management Program
9. Ethical Conduct Policy
Ethical Conduct
The following statement is printed in the Stevens Graduate Catalog and applies to all
students taking Stevens courses, on and off campus.
“Cheating during in-class tests or take-home examinations or homework is, of course,
illegal and immoral. A Graduate Academic Evaluation Board exists to investigate
academic improprieties, conduct hearings, and determine any necessary actions. The term
‘academic impropriety’ is meant to include, but is not limited to, cheating on homework,
during in-class or take home examinations and plagiarism.“
Consequences of academic impropriety are severe, ranging from receiving an “F” in a
course, to a warning from the Dean of the Graduate School, which becomes a part of the
permanent student record, to expulsion.
Reference:
The Graduate School Catalog, Academic Year 2002-2003: Stevens
Institute of Technology, pp. 27-28.
10. Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) Overview:
John Sogliuzzo, Adjunct Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology | 5
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EMT 664IT BUSINESS LAW
SPRING 2012
Stevens Institute of Technology/Executive Masters of Technology Management Program
The EMBA course and teacher evaluations are an important part of our quality
improvement process. Every student should know at the start of the course the
evaluation criteria and standard procedure.
Continuous improvement can only occur with feedback based on comprehensive
and appropriate surveys. At the end of the course, you will have an opportunity to
comment on the quality of both the course and the instructor. These course and teacher
evaluations are an important part of our quality improvement process. Your feedback is
an important contributor to decisions to modify course content/pedagogy in the EMTM
program which is why we strive for full class participation in the survey.
All course teacher evaluations are conducted on-line. You will receive an e-mail
one week prior to the end of the course informing you that the survey site
(https://www.stevens.edu/assess) is open along with instructions for accessing the site.
Login is your Campus Pipeline (email) 'CPIPE' username and password. This is the
same username and password you use for WebCT. Simply click on the course that you
wish to evaluate and enter the information. All responses are strictly anonymous.
We especially encourage you to clarify your position on any of the questions and
give explicit feedback on your overall evaluations in the section at the end of the formal
survey which allows for written comments. We ask that you submit your survey as soon
after the last class as possible.
Since your feedback is very important to us, we strive for 100% participation.
John Sogliuzzo, Adjunct Professor
Stevens Institute of Technology | 6
12/1/11