BA 3300 BUSINESS CORNERSTONE
Pre-requisite: Junior Standing
Syllabus – Spring 2006
Class CRN Nos.: 20096, 20657, 20658
This Syllabus will be supplemented with individual class assignments by each instructor
LEAD INSTRUCTOR: Ralph Kauffman, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Office: N-1017 Phone 713-221-8962 Fax 713-226-5226 Email kauffmanr@uhd.edu
Note: Any questions related to the overall course should be addressed to Dr. Kauffman. Any questions on assignments and other
subject-related matters should be addressed to the instructor for the particular module of the course.
This course is organized into three modules: Critical Thinking and Business Ethics, Research and International Business, and Teams
and Diversity in the Workplace. There will be three instructors for the course, one for each module.
INSTRUCTORS BY MODULE:
Name
Office Number
Phone Number
Fax Number
E-mail
Office Hours
Critical Thinking and
Business Ethics
Prof. King
1072 N
713-962-7264 or 713-222-5321
713-226-5226
kinge@uhd.edu
MW 10:30-11:30am
and 2:00-4:00pm
Research and
International Business
Dr. Kauffman
1017 N
713-221-8962
713-226-5226
kauffmanr@uhd.edu
MW 2:30-5pm,
TR 12:30-2:30pm
Teams and Diversity
in the Workplace
Prof. Junco
1096 N
713-222-5343
713-226-5226
juncog@uhd.edu
MW 2:00-3:00pm
TR by appointment
Additional office hours are available by appointment.
CLASS TIMES: MW 11:30am – 12:45pm COURSE CREDIT:
3 hours
CLASS SCHEDULE: Each one-third of the course will consist of 9 class sessions scheduled as follows: 1 st third 1/18 to 2/15; 2nd
third 2/20 to 3/27; 3rd third 3/29 to 4/26. Note there will not be class on Mar. 13 or 15 due to spring break. The class on May 1 will be
a review class.
CLASS ROOM NUMBERS: CRN 20096 Room C223 ; CRN 20657 Room C124 ; CRN 20658 Room C225.
BOOKS:
Required: Business Cornerstone, Course Book (Pearson Custom Publishing)
Recommended: Semester Subscription to The Wall Street Journal
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an introductory course for all business majors. The topics include critical thinking, team development, research
methods, business ethics, diversity in the workplace, and international business. The critical thinking component introduces the
concepts and techniques of critical thinking. The team development component focuses on the importance and role of teams in
business. The research methods component introduces the concepts of primary and secondary sources of information for business
research. The ethics component introduces the basic ethical concepts, principles, and techniques of moral reasoning needed in
business. The diversity component develops an understanding of the cultural demographic and regulatory aspects of a diverse
population of customers and employees. The international component develops an understanding of business operations within a
global economy.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of this course the student will have strengthened the academic skills needed for success as a business major and will
have a solid understanding of how ethics, diversity and globalization affect business operations. Specifically, the student will:
1. Become a better critical thinker
2. Demonstrate an awareness of primary and secondary research methodologies and techniques
3. Be aware of group dynamics and how they are utilized in creating effective teams
4. Understand the vital role that ethics plays in decision making
5. Appreciate business opportunities and challenges provided by globalization
6. Develop an understanding of diversity in the workplace
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
"UHD adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities should register with Disabled Student Services and contact
their instructor(s) in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations."
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Anyone suspected of academic dishonesty will be dropped from the course or given an "F". In addition to policies on other subjects,
UHD has a specific policy on using other people’s work and representing it as one’s own, otherwise known as plagiarism. Please go
the following website to review the UHD policy on plagiarism: www.uhd.edu/library/guides/plagiarism.html.
THERE IS ONLY ONE FINAL WITHDRAWAL DATE! If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the drop
procedure by March 23, 2006.
CLASSES
This class is taught by the team of instructors identified above. Attendance is MANDATORY. In the event of an absence, you will be
responsible for knowing what occurred during the class and for completing any assignments due or made during that class.
GRADED ASSIGNMENTS
Each instructor will make assignments that count toward your final grade in the course. These assignments will be distributed by the
instructor.
EXAMINATIONS
There will be an examination or team project presentation at the end of each of the three course modules and a comprehensive final
examination covering all three modules. Module test or project content is at the discretion of the module instructor. Tests will be given
on the dates specified in the assignment schedules to be distributed by each instructor. NO MAKEUP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN. The
comprehensive final exam covers all three modules. Each instructor prepares a set of questions covering their module. Three Scantron
forms are required for the final exam.
REVIEW AND FINAL EXAMINATION
The last class session, Monday, May 1, 2006, will be a review class for the final exam.
The final exam will be on May , 2006 from 11:30am to 2:00pm
GRADE CALCULATION
Calculation of overall course grade will be as follows:
Each of the three modules will count 30% for a total of 90%
The final examination will count 10%, making a total of 100%
Each instructor will advise how the 30% for each module will be determined.
Business Cornerstone BA3300
Ethics & Critical Thinking Module
Eligah King-Instructor MW 11:30 - 12:45
Spring Semester 2006 (CRN- 20658) Room C225
(NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS)
DATE
Monday
January
23
TOPIC
Elements of
Thought &
Intellectual
Standards
ASSIGNMENT
DUE
Reading Assignment: (ALWAYS to be completed 01-23
prior to coming to class)
Course Book: p.301-308 and p.361-370
In Class Exercise: Think about an issue that really interests you.
State the issue, your conclusion, and give at least 3 REASONS to
support your conclusion.
Wednesda
y January
25
Elements of
Thought &
Logic Fallacies
Reading Assignment: Course Book-p.371-374
Intellectual
Standards for
Thinking
Critically
Reading Assignment: Course Book-p.309-338
and p.376-382
Wednesda
y
February
1
Socratic
Questioning
Reading Assignment: Course Book-p.339-357
and p.386-398
Monday
February
6
The Ethics
Process
Monday
January
30
01-25
Homework DUE: Read the essay on p.373-74 (Hope's Argument)
of the Course Book and identify (in writing) the elements of
thought, using the questions on p.372 of the Course Book and
your notes from the class as a guide. (3%)
01-30
Homework DUE: Write a one-page (double-spaced and typed)
essay responding to the question: " Is Lucy justified in her
actions?" The essay will be discussed in class using the Elements
of Reasoning. (3%)
02-01
Homework DUE: Find and read the UHD Academic Honesty
Code. In writing (typed and doubled-spaced) respond to the
questions: What are the current student attitudes on the UHD
campus regarding academic fraud? What are the policies and
procedures regarding cheating and plagiarism at UHD? Do you
agree or disagree with the policies and procedures? Do you
believe the policies and procedures affect student behavior in this
area? Support your conclusions. (3%)
Reading Assignment: Course Book-p.401-410
02-06
Homework: Complete exercises on p.404 and 405
In-Class Exercise: Worksheet 1-1
Wednesda
y
February
8
Corporate Social
Responsibility &
Ethics
Reading Assignment: Course Book-p.443-480
In Class Exercise: Case 14.4 Campbell Soup
What should Mr. McGovern do?
02-08
Monday
February
13
Ethical Decision- Reading Assignment: Course Book-p.413-439
making &
and p.485-519
International
Homework DUE: Case 1.4 A Sticky Situation
Business Ethics
02-13
“While Jack continued to explain Spray-On’s decision, Kent
pondered how he should close this conversation.”
In writing (typed and doubled-spaced) respond to the questions:
What were the primary factors involved in Kent's decision? What
might Kent be reasoning as he ponders, and from what
perspectives? (3%)
In Class Exercise: Case 15.3 Shell Oil in Nigeria.
“Within a week of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s death, Shell
announced plans for a $4 billion liquefied natural
gas plant in partnership with the Nigerian
government.”
Wednesda
y February
15
Oral Presentation of Team Project (10%)
02-15
ETHICS AND CRITICAL THINKING MODULE
Business Ethics/Critical Thinking Team Project
Overview
For this project your team will investigate your company's record for compliance with a subset of the Caux
Round Table Principles for Business. You are to critically assess the extent to which your company adheres to
at least three of the principles enumerated in that document. The assessment should include examples of both
adherence and non-adherence during the last 5 years.
General Instructions
Your team will prepare one written report. The report is to be double-spaced and typed, with 1" margins and
page numbering. NO COVER SHEET!!! Place the names of all team members at the top of the first page of
the report under the name of the company your team investigated. The maximum length of the report is 5 pages
double-spaced, excluding references. References are required. Use the MLA or APA standard for formatting
your paper and references.
In addition to the written report, each team will orally present its findings to the class. This is a formal
presentation and you will be expected to use the overhead projector in your presentation. Each team will have 7
to 9 minutes to present the team's findings. Given the short length of the presentation, each team should choose
no more than two members to make the presentation on behalf of the team.
Grading Criteria
The report and oral presentation will be evaluated using the universal intellectual standards you studied in the
critical thinking readings. The figures on pages 329-338 of the Course Book provide an excellent set of
questions for self-assessment.
Specific Instructions on the Topic
The Caux Round Table Principles for Business is attached. An Internet search of these principles will also yield
a lot of information about the creation of the principles and their adoption by companies around the world. It is
recommended that prior to the investigation of your company, the team discuss the principles and their origins.
An understanding of these principles is essential for organizing your investigation and ultimately your reports
(written and oral).
The next step is the development of a research plan. It is recommended that the team develop a formal plan for
investigating the company's record with respect to the CAUX Round Table Principles for Business. This formal
plan will facilitate the delegation and coordination of the tasks that team members must perform. A plan
contains tasks, assignment of team members to each task, and establishment of deadlines. If you do not have a
plan of action that the team follows, the project will be more difficult to complete.
The third step is the completion by individual team members of the tasks assigned to them. Completion in a
timely manner is important to a team project. Set realistic deadlines for the completion of individual tasks.
Honor those deadlines and keep your teammates informed about your progress. TEAM MEMBERS WILL BE
EVALUATING EACH OTHER on this project, and will receive points commensurate with their average
evaluation percentage. As such, points earned may differ for individual team members.
The fourth step is discussion by the team of the findings and results of the individual assignments. From this
discussion, develop an outline for your written and oral presentations. Writer(s) complete drafts of the reports
(both written and oral).
For the fifth step, each team member reviews the written and oral reports using the universal intellectual
standards. Changes to the manuscript are made.
The final step is editing. Choose an editor for the report. An editor will edit (not write) the report. An editor
reviews the paper AFTER it is written to check the logical flow, grammar, spelling, and formatting.
________________________________________
EVALUATIONS
Thirty percent (30%) of your total grade for this course comes from the Business Ethics and Critical Thinking
Module. This 30% will be apportioned in the following manner:
Homework - Hope's Argument
Homework - Lucy's Case
Homework - Honor Code
Homework - Sticky Situation Case
Module Team Project
Participation
TOTAL
3%
3%
3%
3%
10%
8%
30%