San José State University

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1 San José State University School: Lucas Graduate School, College of Business Department: Organization and Management Course Number: Bus 80 Title: The Legal and Ethical Environment of Business (online) Class number:30508 Section: 10 Semester: Spring/Special Session Year: 2014 Instructor: Nanette Clinch Office Location: BT664 Telephone: Please use the course shell as a priority for communication on classroom issues. Office Hours: Wed. 4:15-5:45 Class Days/Time: March 11-May 15 Student%20Login%20Information.pdf See the following for Canvas help: 3.pdf Classroom: online Prerequisites: Faculty Web Page and MYSJSU Messaging (Optional) Copies of the course materials such as the syllabus, major assignment handouts, etc. may be found on my faculty web page accessible through the faculty home page. You are responsible for regularly checking with the messaging system through MySJSU and CANVAS.

2 Course Description The purpose of the Legal and Ethical Environment of Business is to provide students with an understanding of the nature, function and application of the U.S. legal system as it applies to the modern business environment. Understanding the basic concepts and structure of the U.S. legal system will incorporate an emphasis on ethics and business decision making and include covering of the following: legal constraints on internal and external organizational operations, contracts, external regulation, legal and ethical accountability through litigation, modes of resolution of legal disputes, contracts, torts, employment, product liability, bankruptcy, and appreciation of the international context. Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives 1. An understanding of the following : sources of the law; the legal process, including federal and state systems; resolution of legal disputes, including alternative dispute resolution; the law of agency, significant laws affecting employment; business organizations and their economic and social roles; torts, product liability, contracts; creditors rights and bankruptcy. 2. Recognize and analyze how the law and ethics affect internal and external business operations and how an understanding of the law assists in predictions of whether certain actions will be legal (COB goal 3, goal 5); 3. An ability to engage in critical analysis by comprehending and analyzing legal and ethical issues in the workplace and the marketplace as well as how those problems can be effectively resolved in a legal and ethical manner (COB goal 3, goal 5) GE/SJSU Studies Learning Outcomes (LO), if applicable Course Content Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: LO3 Engage in critical thinking skills in the process of comprehending and evaluating legal and ethical issues in business.: (comprehend and evaluate insert learning objective 3) LO4 Recognize and articulate solutions to ethical problems that arise in business. Required Texts/Readings Textbook The Spartan bookstore has the SJSU Custom Textbook and it contains selected chapters from Beatty and Samuelson, Business Law an the Legal Environment, Standard Edition, Sixth Edition.Cengage: Southwestern (T The hardcover version of the Bagley textbook has this ISBN: To reduce student costs for textbooks, the custom edition

3 is not available on the Internet, only in the Spartan Bookstore on the SJSU campus. (The ISBN for custom is ) has black and white pages and contains selected chapters from the full hardcover edition that will be necessary for this course. It is also lighter to carry. It might be possible to rent the custom book through the Bookstore. You might also be able to rent the hardcover textbook, perhaps as an e book: check with the publisher, Cengage for such options. In all cases, the sixth edition is the required edition and earlier editions will not work since the content varies. The custom edition textbooks will be limited in number. Any student unable to purchase the custom edition will be required to purchase the more expensive hardcover edition by the first week of class. No copies will be made available for this course on reserve at the library. Other Readings Cases as assigned, often using King Library databases. Class research will require use of SJSU databases. You need your library card and PIN (available with a student ID) to access the databases at no cost. Lexis Nexis is available for finding cases by entering the names of the parties in the relevant search boxes. Classroom Protocol There may be no photographing or videotaping or recording during the class without my permission. See additional policies below. Announcements concerning assignments and scheduling will be made by or in the online class, including any modifications to the syllabus. Each student is expected to have a working MYSJSU account so that I may contact the class as needed. You do not need to provide me with your account as long as the College of Business or University has this account on file. When engaging in online activity, through discussion in a group or with the instructor, please remember to be courteous and respectful. Take time to reflect before quickly typing in responses. Good discussion calls for acknowledging the contributions made or interesting points of view presented by your peers, even if you disagree. Be prepared to give good reasons for presenting a different point of view. This requires drawing on what you are learning in the course as well as critical thinking. Avoid slang and jargon, use of uppercase when typing words, or symbols (though a happy face is always welcome). Be ready to clarify comments if you believe a posting was misinterpreted. If, at any time, you have any concerns, please address them to me by contacting me in the shell. Use of my , on the cover of the syllabus, should be only for exceptional circumstances. Academic honesty is vital.

4 Dropping and Adding Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are available at Information about late drop is available at Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes.

5 Assignments and Grading Policy All Canvas submissions must be in doc, docx. or pdf forms. Other files will not be given credit, so please see me the first week of class if you have any questions so that you submit the appropriate file. Thank you. All assignments and examinations described below should reflect appreciation and comprehension of material covered in lectures as well as assigned reading in the textbook or in other sources announced in class. The ability to analyze problems from a legal and ethical perspective while articulating relevant principles will be measured in assignments and examinations. By making a note of your scores, as they are recorded on Canvas, you will be able to track your progress. The final examination may be cumulative, but the final examination will emphasize material covered after the last midterm. Each assignment below is followed by each one of the learning objectives listed above (SLO Student learning objectives and CCLO = Course Content Learning Objectives) that the requirement meets. A. Quizzes (SLO 1, 2, 3 and CCLO 3, 4) B. Case Briefing (SLO 1, and CCLO 3) C. Roundtable Discussions (SLO 1, 2, 3 and CCLO 3, 4) D. Midterm and Final (SLO 1, 2, 3 and CCLO 3, 4) E. Research the Law (SLO 1, 2, 3 and CCLO 3, 4)

6 Midterm and final examination: These exams will consist of short/medium length essay questions. Exams will be posted in the class shell (dates noted in the schedule). Responses must be uploaded into the class shell dropbox by 11:50 pm on the due date. Briefing Case Assignment. See module on Canvas for instructions. A judicial opinion (case) must be located on the Lexis/Nexis database and briefed according to instructions on format. Access to the Lexis Nexis database is only free if you do so by using the King Library site, the link to Articles and Databases (on the right) and after finding L (Lexis Nexis link), having your library card and PIN number. Then follow instructions that will be provided in the assignment. Roundtable Discussions: These discussions are designed to develop confidence in talking about ethics and the law: using the terms, understanding the complexity and appreciating different points of view. There are 6 Roundtable Discussions that require your participation twice, usually on a Monday or Tuesday and again the same week, on a Wednesday or Thursday (noon deadline). The Discussion forum will open early Monday morning (by 8 am). The Roundtables are designed for discussion of the assigned material (chapters, documents on modules, and so forth). See the instructions posted on the Module for Rountables on Canvas. The first Roundtable starts Thursday March 12. Quizzes: This could be multiple choice and/or short essay responses. In all cases the time to actually take the quiz will be limited once you start. (Usually 20 minutes for a multiple choice test). When quizzes are posted, you will only have a two or perhaps three days to open and take the quiz (again, the actual time you have once you start will be limited). The tentative schedule below sets out the week of a quiz but the exact date will only be announced in the class shell. This is to ensure that you are keeping up with the class shell discussion as well as reading and the effort to understand the material. To attain credit for any essay question answers, there must be evidence of the use of external sources (textbook, materials made available in the shell (handouts, web sites, and so forth. For a limited time ( about three days) a practice quiz will be available on Canvas. Research the Law Assignment: This written assignment will require finding statutes online and providing answers to questions about the statutes..

7 Graded Assignments are graded by percentages, based on 100%. See outline below. Briefing a case 5% Class Roundtable Discussions (8) (Topics posted/time limit on participation for credit) 20% Research the Law Assignment 5% 2 Exams. (midterm and final) Essay (25%) each 50% Quizzes (4) 20% Total 100 Grading Percentage Breakdown 94% and above A 93% - 90% A- 89% - 87% B+ 86% - 84% B

8 83% - 80% B- 79% - 77% C+ 76% - 74% C 73% - 70% C- 69% - 67% D+ 66% - 64% D 63% - 60% D- below 60% F University Policies Academic integrity Students should know the University s Academic Integrity Policy that is available at Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University s integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The website for Student Conduct and Ethical Development is available at Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors. Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an

9 appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability. Student Technology Resources (Optional) Computer labs for student use are available in the Academic Success Center located on the 1 st floor of Clark Hall and on the 2 nd floor of the Student Union. Additional computer labs may be available in your department/college. Computers are also available in the Martin Luther King Library. A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student checkout from Media Services located in IRC 112. These items include digital and VHS camcorders, VHS and Beta video players, 16 mm, slide, overhead, DVD, CD, and audiotape players, sound systems, wireless microphones, projection screens and monitors. Learning Assistance Resource Center (Optional) The Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) is located in Room 600 in the Student Services Center. It is designed to assist students in the development of their full academic potential and to motivate them to become self-directed learners. The center provides support services, such as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising, learning assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills development. The LARC website is located at SJSU Writing Center (Optional) The SJSU Writing Center is located in Room 126 in Clark Hall. It is staffed by professional instructors and upper-division or graduate-level writing specialists from each of the seven SJSU colleges. Our writing specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement, and they are well trained to assist all students at all levels within all disciplines to become better writers. The Writing Center website is located at Peer Mentor Center (Optional) The Peer Mentor Center is located on the 1 st floor of Clark Hall in the Academic Success Center. The Peer Mentor Center is staffed with Peer Mentors who excel in helping students manage university life, tackling problems that range from academic challenges to interpersonal struggles. On the road to graduation, Peer Mentors are navigators, offering roadside assistance to peers who feel a bit lost or simply need help mapping out the locations of campus resources. Peer Mentor services are free and available on a drop in basis, no reservation required.

10 College of Business Program Goals: (Not all program learning goals are covered in every course) 1. Business Knowledge 2. Communication Understand basic business principles and demonstrate discipline-specific competencies as applied to local and global environments. Communicate ideas clearly, logically, and persuasively in oral and written format, using technology appropriately. 3. Ethical Awareness Recognize, analyze, and articulate solutions to ethical issues that arise in business. 4. Leadership, Teams and Diversity Comprehend the challenges and opportunities of leading and working in diverse teams and environments. 5. Critical Thinking 6. Innovation Comprehend, analyze, and critically evaluate complex and unstructured qualitative and quantitative business problems, using appropriate tools and technology. Recognize, analyze, and articulate strategies for promoting creativity and innovation. College of Business Policies: To ensure that every student, current and future, who takes courses in the Boccardo Business Center has the opportunity to experience an environment that is safe, attractive, and otherwise conducive to learning, the College of Business at San José State has established the following policies: Eating: Eating and drinking (except water) are prohibited in the Boccardo Business Center. Students with food will be asked to leave the building. Students who disrupt the course by eating and do not leave the building will be referred to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University. Cell Phones: Students will turn their cell phones off or put them on vibrate mode while in class. They will not answer their phones in class. Students whose phones disrupt the course and do not stop when requested by the instructor will be referred to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University.

11 Computer Use: In the classroom, faculty allow students to use computers only for class-related activities. These include activities such as taking notes on the lecture underway, following the lecture on Web-based PowerPoint slides that the instructor has posted, and finding Web sites to which the instructor directs students at the time of the lecture. Students who use their computers for other activities or who abuse the equipment in any way, at a minimum, will be asked to leave the class and will lose participation points for the day, and, at a maximum, will be referred to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University for disrupting the course. (Such referral can lead to suspension from the University.) Students are urged to report to their instructors computer use that they regard as inappropriate (i.e., used for activities that are not class related). Academic Honesty: Faculty will make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct in their courses. They will secure examinations and their answers so that students cannot have prior access to them and proctor examinations to prevent students from copying or exchanging information. They will be on the alert for plagiarism. Faculty will provide additional information, ideally on the green sheet, about other unacceptable procedures in class work and examinations. Students who are caught cheating will be reported to the Judicial Affairs Officer of the University, as prescribed by Academic Senate Policy S04-12.

12 Bus 80 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business. Online Tentative Course Schedule This schedule of assigned reading, exams, and so forth is tentative. Changes will be announced. in online class/ . We ek Date 1 March 11 2 March 17 3 March 24 Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines Check Module on Law and Ethics. Read this week:(textbook, Chapters 1 and 2. What is the difference between law and ethics? Roundtable One starts March 13. Take the practice Quiz on Canvas. Roundtable One continues. This week: Chapters 3 and 4. Look for quiz on Ethics at end of week (Thursday or Friday) Roundtable Two. Monday. Agency chapter 28. Quiz on legal system at end of week. 4 April 1 Read Chapter 29 Employment Discrimination: Research the law assignment due April 1. 5 April 7 Midterm One Monday April 7. Roundtable Three. Reach chapters 6 and 7 on Torts. 6 April 14 Roundtable Four. Complete Torts. Discuss Business Organizations. Chapter 31. End of week: Quiz 3 on intentional torts. 7 April 21 Roundtable Five. Contracts, Chapters 11, 12, 13. Quiz 4 on business organizations end of week. 8 April 28 Roundtable Six. Contracts Chapters 14, 15, 16: Analysis of Agreements, Assent, Third Parties, 9 May 5 Contracts. Chapters 17, 18 Performance, Defenses and Damages.

13 10 May 12 Final review. 11 May 16 Final Exam posted May 15 due May 16 (noon)