Syllabus
Lamar University, a Member of The Texas State University System, is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award
Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctorate degrees (more details at
http://www.lamar.edu).
Department
Accounting and Business Law
Course Number
BULW 1370
Course Title
Business Environment and Public Policy
Professor
Toni Mulvaney and Frank Cavaliere
Contact Information
(toni.mulvaney@lamar.edu)
Office: 409-880-8640
Personal Introduction
Welcome to Lamar University. My name is Professor Toni Mulvaney, and I will be your
instructor of record for Business Environment and Public Policy—BULW 1370. By way of a
very brief introduction, I earned my baccalaureate degree in English/Communication at the
University of the Incarnate Word and my J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law. My
area of expertise is law. I joined the faculty at Lamar in the Fall of 1989 and I am currently a
Professor for the Department of Accounting and Business Law in the College of Business.
Course Description
This is a survey course emphasizing the interaction of business with its internal and external
environments. Students are introduced to the public policy process and issues with focus on
ethical and moral considerations. Recommended for freshmen, especially business majors.
Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will be able:
 Analyze the external environments of business, including the economic, political, socialcultural, technological, international, and legal environments;
 Develop an awareness of the public policy process and related issues;
 Establish a set of values consistent with leadership, professionalism, and humanity in
business;
 Enhance analytical, decision-making, and communication skills;
 Understand key principles and rules of law in the following areas considered of particular
importance in business: employment law; labor law; environmental law; consumer
protection law; antitrust law; administrative law; and international law;
© 2012 Lamar University
1 of 11

Develop an awareness of diversity issues in the workplace.
Core Curriculum Objectives
This course is designed to meet the Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Curriculum Outcomes;
specifically, critical thinking, communication and social responsibility.
 Social Responsibility: to include intercultural competency, civic knowledge, and the
ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. (See Chapters
5: Corporate Social Responsibility, Chapter 6: Implementing Corporate Social
Responsibility, Chapter 7: Business Ethics; Chapter 8: Making Ethical Decisions in
Business, Chapter 11: Multinational Corporations, Chapter 12: Globalization, Trade and
Corruption, Chapter 16: The Changing Workplace, and Chapter 17: Civil Rights,
Women, and Diversity.)
 Critical Thinking Skills: To include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis,
evaluation and synthesis of information. (See Critical Thinking Exercise and Rubric
attached; and Marketplace-Live Introduction to Business and Strategy Simulation Game,
gm.marketplace-live.com; Chapters 2-18 provide end of chapter Case Study with critical
thinking questions that are assigned and tested on exams. Each chapter has at least one
introductory story that is assigned, discussed and tested over).
 Communication Skills: to include effective written, oral, and visual communication.
(Homework assignments and class participation are factored in as participation grade; for
extra credit articles from Business magazines and journals are assigned and students can
volunteer to present the article to the class.)
 Empirical and Quantitative skills: successfully use quantitative concepts to operate a
business in an online business simulation game.
Academic Prerequisites
Admission to Lamar University.
Technology Prerequisites
Students are not required to have advanced technology training or skills in order to be successful
in the class. They should, however, feel confident about their ability to navigate through typical
online websites and their ability to use common word processing software in order to submit
written assignments. The minimum technical skills and the system requirements for this course:
System Requirements
Computer/Technology Requirements
1. Students will need regular access to a computer with a broadband Internet connection.
The minimum computer requirements are:
 Any current Flash-compliant browser (recent versions of Firefox or Safari)
o Please note that Blackboard may not support Internet Explorer or Chrome.
 512 MB of RAM, 1 GB or more preferred
 Broadband connection (cable modem, DSL, or other high speed) required – courses
are heavily video intensive
 Video display capable of high-color 16-bit display – 1024 x 768 or higher resolution
 A sound card and speakers or headphones
 Current anti-virus software must be installed and kept up to date.
© 2012 Lamar University
2 of 11

Students will need some additional free software for enhanced web browsing. Be
certain to download the free versions of the software.
o Adobe Reader
o Adobe Flash Player
 Most home computers purchased within the last 3-4 years meet or surpass these
requirements.
2. At a minimum, students must have Microsoft Office 2003, XP, 2007 or OpenOffice, or
Student Office for Mac. Microsoft Office is the standard office productivity software
utilized by faculty, students, and staff. Microsoft Word is the standard word processing
software, Microsoft Excel is the standard spreadsheet software, and Microsoft
PowerPoint is the standard presentation software. Copying and pasting, along with
attaching/uploading documents for assignment submission will also be required. If you
do not have Microsoft Office or Student Office for Mac, you can check with the
bookstore to see if they have any student copies.
3. Your computer must be compatible with Blackboard. Please see the Blackboard
Supported Browsers and Operating System page to make sure your system will allow you
to use all the tools and features available.
Technology Skills Requirements
You need to be able to:
 Navigate websites, including downloading and reading files from them.
 Download and install software or plug-ins such as Adobe Reader, Window Media Player
or Flash.
 Use e-mail, including attaching and downloading documents/files from e-mail.
 Save files in commonly used word processing formats (.doc, .docx, .rtf).
 Copy and paste text and other items in computer documents.
 Save and retrieve documents and files on your computer.
 Locate information on the Internet using search engines.
 Locate information in the library using the online catalog.
Course Materials
Required Text
The textbook for this course is Business, Government, and Society by Steiner & Steiner (13th
edition 2012).
Accessibility Statement
It is the policy of Lamar University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to
federal and state law. Should you need accommodation, visit the Office for Students with
Disabilities website at http://dept.lamar.edu/sfswd or call the office by dialing (409)-880-8347.
Also know that I will assist in whatever way I can to ensure that this course supports the
university’s commitment to equal education opportunities.
Academic Integrity Statement
Lamar University expects all students to engage in academic pursuits in a manner that is above
reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their academic
experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any
© 2012 Lamar University
3 of 11
phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary proceedings may be
initiated against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited
to, cheating on an examination or other academic work which is to be submitted, plagiarism,
collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
Plagiarism shall mean the appropriation of another’s work or idea and the
unacknowledged incorporation of that work or idea into one’s own work offered for
credit.
Collusion shall mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
work offered for credit.
Abuse of resource materials shall mean the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft or
alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.
Academic work shall mean the preparation of an essay, report, problem, assignment,
creative work or other project that the student submits as a course requirement or for a
grade.
Students are specifically warned against all forms of plagiarism, which include “purchasing, or
otherwise acquiring and submitting as one’s own work any research paper or other writing
assignment prepared by an individual or firm.” Plagiarism is defined as, “the appropriation and
the unacknowledged incorporation of another’s work or ideas into one’s own offered for credit”
(82). Students seeking to avoid plagiarism should consult either the course instructor or the most
recent addition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. The course instructor will
complete a thorough and impartial investigation of any instance of academic dishonesty. A
student found guilty of academic dishonesty will be notified in writing by the instructor of the
violation, the penalty, and the student’s right to appeal the determination of dishonesty and/or the
sanction imposed. Penalties for academic dishonesty in this course will result in either a lowered
letter grade or failure of the course as determined by the instructor.
Copyright Policy Statement
Copyright is defined as the ownership and control of the intellectual property in original works
of authorship which are subject to copyright law. As an institution of higher learning that values
intellectual integrity, Lamar University prohibits the distribution of published materials (print or
electronic) in violation of copyright law.
Netiquette (Online Etiquette) Statement
Please adhere to the same standards of behavior and professional respect online that you would follow in face-toface communication with others, but most particularly when writing email and when taking part in collaborative and
discussion board activities. Lamar provides access to network resources, including the Internet, in order to support
learning and to prepare students for the 21st century world. Students, however, are expected to adhere to the Lamar
University Acceptable Use Policies when Using Networks

Acceptable Use
Students must respect the integrity and security of LU's computer systems and network,
and the privacy and preferences of other users. Responsibility for learning about and
complying with LU's Acceptable Use Policy ultimately rests with the individual. The
network may be used to download, copy, or store any software, shareware, digital media
files or freeware, as long as the use complies with copyright law; licensing agreements,
and campus policies such as storage space limitations and network bandwidth
© 2012 Lamar University
4 of 11

restrictions. The network may not be used for any activity, or to transmit any material,
that violates United States or local laws.
Unacceptable use
The network may not be used for commercial purposes. Advertising and sponsorships on
UW web sites is restricted. In addition, students may not permit other persons to use their
usernames, passwords, accounts or disk space, or disclose their usernames, passwords or
account information to any third party. Students may not log on to someone else's
account, internet address, or other network codes, or attempt to access another user's files.
Students may not create false or dummy accounts to impersonate someone else. Students
may not try to gain unauthorized access ("hacking") to the files or computer systems of
any other person or organization. Students may not impersonate another person by
forging e-mail, web pages or other electronic media. Students who maliciously access,
alter, delete, damage or destroy any computer system, computer network, computer
program, or data will be subject to disciplinary action by LU, and criminal prosecution as
well. Students may not disrupt or attempt to disrupt network traffic, and they may not
attempt to monitor or capture network traffic in any way. Finally, students may not
intentionally create, store, display, print or transmit information that violates the
university’s Sexual Harassment Policy.
General Guidelines to Respect All Participants
 Respect the right of each person to disagree with others.
 Treat people the same as you would face-to-face.
 Respect the time of others
Guidelines When Communicating with Others (email, discussion, blogging, and etc.)
 Always sign your names to any contribution you choose to make.
 Be constructive in your responses to others in the class.
 Do not use all caps. (Doing so may be interpreted as shouting)
 Re-read your postings before sending them.
 Always think before you write.
 Respond respectively.
 Use appropriate grammar and structure.
 Spell-check your postings.
 Use short paragraphs focused on one idea
 Use appropriate business language at all times
Privacy Policy Statement
Student records maintained by Lamar University comply with the Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (PL93-380). Detailed information should be accessed through
this link: https://sacs.lamar.edu/catalog/PrefMaterial/V.GenAcademicPol.htm#edurights.
Grading Policy and Evaluation
Teaching Methods: Lectures, discussions, case/company analysis and written assignments are required
to effectively teach this course.
Due Dates:
© 2012 Lamar University
5 of 11
Central Time Zone: All due dates and times on Blackboard are for the Central Time Zone. Late
assignments will NOT be accepted—regardless of the reason. When possible, submit projects early in
case you have technical or other problems.


Each week the new lessons/chapters will start on Monday.
Initial Discussion Board posts are due on Wednesday by the end of the day; subsequent
posts must be completed before Sunday by the end of the day.
 Assignments (one per week) are due by Sunday at the end of the day.
 Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Game Quarter Decisions are due at the end of
the day on Sunday
 Weekly quizzes and your Midterm/Final Exams will be available during the hours of 610 p.m. on Sunday.
Blackboard Help: Blackboard support for students is now available after hours (5 p.m.—8
a.m.), on weekends, and on holidays. Please call toll free 1-866-321-7170 for assistance during
this time. For Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., call 409-880-7849.
Evaluation Tools:
A. Business Simulation Game. Students are required to purchase and participate in the
“Introduction to Business and Strategy” computer simulation game. Students will
simulate starting up a microcomputer business and running it for 1-½ years. This project
will begin in the second week (Instructions for sign-up are linked in Module 1—Week 1).
This project will continue each week for six consecutive weeks. The maximum score on
this computer simulation is 100 points. Your Quarter Decisions are due at the end of
Sunday in Weeks 2-7. The game is complete with step-by-step instructions. Students
who read the material will perform well on the simulation. Your score will be evaluated
using the Balanced Score Card approach. (100 points)
B. Examinations. There will be two examinations, and a comprehensive final. The exams
are worth 100 points each. The comprehensive final, covering all the course work for the
semester, can be counted twice to replace a student’s lowest test grade, if it is higher than
a previous test grade. (300).
C. Homework, Discussion and Participation Grade:
a. Case Studies. Students will be assigned selected cases from the text. It is every
student’s responsibility to read the case and answer the questions that follow it.
Exams will include questions about the case studies. In-class discussions will be
graded as part of the student’s Participation grade.
b. Online Homework Assignments. There will be weekly assignments to be
completed on Blackboard for in-class discussion. Students will be called on
during discussion and must be prepared to discuss the issues in the assigned
readings and videos.
D. Extra Credit Assignments. Periodically, assignments from magazines such as Fortune,
Forbes, and Business Week will be given. For extra credit, students may volunteer to
sign-up to present these articles to the class. Students may earn up to 5 points extra credit
for these assignments. To earn the credit, students must read the assigned article, prepare
a short summary of the highlights of the article and turn it in to the professor on or before
it is due, and orally present the article to the class on the date assigned. Communication
rubric will be used to evaluate the student’s presentation.
E. Professional Development: Passport to Lamar Program. Online Passport Workshops
© 2012 Lamar University
6 of 11
will be available to students in this class. You are required to complete one (1) Passport
event for a total of 20 points.
Drop Dates
This course adheres to the add/drop standards for each term as stated by Lamar University. For more
details, refer to the Lamar Academic Calendar. If the link does not work, visit Lamar University at
http://www.lamar.edu, and search the site with the term, “Academic Calendar.”
Course Evaluation
Instruction as well as student performance is subject to evaluation. Procedures for evaluation will
be provided near the end of this course.
myLamar Portal
Students are asked to obtain a Lamar Electronic Account username and password so they can log
onto the myLamar Web site. Students may get information on how to get into the myLamar Web
site from the University’s homepage (http://www.lamar.edu) by clicking on the myLamar link on
the left top corner of the screen. Follow the steps to secure your myLamar username and
password. Access to library resources is described on the Academic Partnership page, also
available through the http://www.lamar.edu.
Course Content
Course Content and Assignments
Module 1
Welcome and Course Introduction
Weeks 1
and 2
Readings

Welcome Letter and Course Instructions Video

Course Syllabus

Lesson 1 – Chapter 1: Business, Government and Society and the
ExxonMobil Introductory Story

Lesson 2 – Chapter 2: The Dynamic Environment of Business
Videos

Welcome and Course Instructions

Lesson 1 – Introduction to Course and Chapter 1

Lesson 2 – Introduction to Economics and the Macro environment
Introduction to the Industrial Revolution (3)
Assessment

Assignment: American Fur Company Case Study (Critical Thinking and
Social Responsibility Objective)

Quiz Chapters 1-2

Sign Up for Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Game (Critical
© 2012 Lamar University
7 of 11
Thinking Objective)
Weeks 3
and 4
Readings

Lesson 3 – Chapter 3: Business Power and Case Study: John Rockefeller
and the Standard Oil Trust

Lesson 4 – Chapter 4: Critics of Business
“Was President McKinley the Wizard of Oz?”
Videos

Lesson 3 – Business Power—Prof Mulvaney
History of Oil Videos (5)
Spindletop Gusher Video

Lesson 4 – Money, Power and Wall Street
Assessment
Module 2
Week 5
and 6

Assignment: Standard Oil Trust Case Study (Core Curriculum Critical
Thinking Objective and Communication Objective)

Quiz Chapters 3-4

Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Game Quarter 1
Readings

Lesson 5 – Chapter 5: Corporate Social Responsibility

Introduction to CSR PowerPoint Presentation

Chapter 5 Case Study: GE Under Jack Welch

Lesson 6 – Chapter 6: Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility

Chapter 6 Case Study: Marc Kasky vs. Nike

Article: “Is Teaching the ‘Social Responsibility of Business’ Socially
Responsible?”

Calvert Social Investing Website
Videos

Lesson 5 – Chapter 5: Corporate Social Responsibility—Prof Mulvaney

Making a Difference: Zeitgeist Europe 2010
Assessment

Case Studies Marc Kasky vs. Nike and GE under Jack Welch (Critical
Thinking Objective, Social Responsibility Objective, Communication
Objective)

Discussion: Evaluating Priorities in Implementing CSR (Critical Thinking
Objective)
© 2012 Lamar University
8 of 11

Quiz Chapters 5-6 (Social Responsibility Objective)

Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Quarter 2 (Critical Thinking
Objective)
Readings
Weeks 7
and 8

Lesson 7 – Chapter 7 Business Ethics

Chapter 7 Case Study: The Trial of Martha Stewart

Lesson 8 – Chapter 8 Ethical Decision Making in Business
Videos

Lesson 7 – Managing Ethics—Prof Mulvaney

How the Courts Treat Corporate Wrongdoing –Prof Mulvaney

Tylenol Crisis

Ethics and Fraud at HealthSouth—Inside the Corporate Meltdown

Lesson 8—Schools of Ethics—Prof Cavaliere
Assessment

Assignment: Ethical Scenarios and Cases (Social Responsibility, Critical
Thinking and Communication Objectives)

Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Quarter 3 (Critical Thinking
Objective)
Midterm Exam – Chapters 1 - 8
Readings
Weeks 9
and 10

Lesson 9 – Chapter 9: Business in Politics

Chapter 9 Introductory Story: Paul Magliochetti and Associates

Chapter 9 Case Study: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Lesson 10 – Chapter 10: Regulation of Business
Videos

Lesson 9: Jack Abramoff Video

Lesson 9: Keating Five Video

Lesson 10: Regulation by Administrative Agencies—Prof Mulvaney
Assessment

Assignment: Lobbying and the Protection of the First Amendment:
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (Critical Thinking
Objective, Communication Objective)

Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Quarter 4 (Critical Thinking
Objective)
© 2012 Lamar University
9 of 11

Week 5 Quiz : Chapters 9-10
Readings
Week 11
and 12

Chapter 13 – Industrial Pollution and Environmental Regulation

Chicago Tribune Article: “Sick and Tired of the Global Warming Whine”

Practical Lawyer Article: “Copenhagen/Kyoto Treaties”

Case Study: The FDA and Tobacco Regulation

Chapter 15 – Consumerism

Republican Contract With America

“How Business Trounced the Trial Lawyers” article

Toshiba Litigation Parts 1 and 2 articles

Website: Judicial Hell Holes
Videos

Overview of Environmental Law—Prof Mulvaney

Product Liability Law—Prof Mulvaney

Love Canal Video

Global Warming 101 Video

The Mix: Legacy and Future of the Clean Air Act—Regulating GHGs
Assessment

Assignment: Regulating Greenhouse Gases (Critical Thinking, Social
Responsibility and Communication Objective)

Discussion: Should Toshiba Have Settled? (Critical Thinking and
Communication Objective)

Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Quarter 5 (Critical Thinking
Objective)

Week 6 Quiz—Chapters 13 and 15 (Social Responsibility Objective)
Readings
Weeks
13-14

Chapter 16 - The Changing Workplace

Chapter 16 Introductory Story The Ford Motor Company

Chapter 17 – Civil Rights, Women and Diversity

Chapter 17 Introductory Case: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Case Study: Adarand v. Pena
Videos

Lean and Mean Management Style—Prof Cavaliere

Employment Discrimination—Prof Cavaliere
© 2012 Lamar University
10 of 11

Affirmative Action—Prof Cavaliere
Assessment

Assignment: Adarand v. Pena Case (Critical Thinking, Social
Responsibility and Communication Objective)

Marketplace—Live Business Simulation Quarter 6 (Critical Thinking
Objective)

Week 7 Quiz Chapters 16-17 (Social Responsibility Objective)
Readings
Weeks
15 and
16

Chapter 11: Multinational Corporations

Chapter 11 Introductory Case: The Coca-Cola Company

Chapter 11 Case Study: Union Carbide in Bhobal

Chapter 12: Globalization, Trade and Corruption

Global Poverty Act Fact Sheet and Unruh Article

Chapter 18: Corporate Governance

Chapter 18 Introductory Story: Mark Hurd

Citigroup Shareholder Derivative Case

“Mutual Fund Abuse and Breach of Fiduciary Duty” Article
Videos

Globalization—Prof Cavaliere

Corporate Governance—Prof Cavaliere
Assessment

Assignment: Critical Thinking: The Global Poverty Act (Critical Thinking,
Social Responsibility and Communication Objective)
Final Exam – Chapters 9-13; 15-18 (Social Responsibility Objective)
© 2012 Lamar University
11 of 11