Course Syllabus

  Contemporary Business Issues Leavey School of Business

Students on campus 

THERESA A STRICKLAND IMG_0579.jpeg 

Instructor:      Theresa Strickland

E-Mail:           tstrickland@scu.edu

Cell Phone:   415-706-5939 (You are welcome to text me.  Tell me who you are please.)

Office:            Lucas Hall 221TT/ZOOM    

Office Hours:  Monday at 4:00pm on zoom or by appointment on zoom

Class Time:  

BUSN 70-12 (35062) TTH 10:20 - 12:00 pm Lucas Hall 206 Synchronous

BUSN 70-13 (35067) TTH 12:10 - 1:50 pm Lucas Hall 206 Asynchronous

All Zoom meetings for the class will use the same address:

https://scu.zoom.us/my/tastrickland

Meeting ID: 924 0737 9306

Password: MaciMonkey Maci Monkey   

Join by phone:

+1 (669) 900-6833

Meeting ID: 924 0737 9306

              

CANVAS: (https://camino.instructure.com) You must register on Canvas to find course powerpoints, assignments, readings and grade postings. 

MANDATORY: Please post your picture and bio on Canvas.  This helps me to get to know you better.

ZOOM ETIQUETTE:

  • Find the best lighting: Walk around your house with your laptop.
    • Best facing into light with solid behind you.
    • Overhead lights cast a lot of shadows down on you. Move around.
    • You might have to grab a task light to put behind your laptop
  • Find the most flattering camera angle
    • You want to be slightly looking up in the video. Do not look down!
    • The Camera should be slightly above your eye level
  • Don’t sit too close to your laptop, be within arm’s length
  • Make sure you are filling the screen appropriately.
  • Choose your background. Keep the background tight and clean.
  • Keep distractions to a minimum (pets, family)
  • Try to look into the lens instead of off to the sides.
  • Try not to play with your hair, touch your face,.
  • Dress business casual for the event.

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

BUSN 70 After completing BUSN 70, students will be able to:

  • Describe the common legal organizational forms and internal structure of business organizations, including the roles of managers and the functions of different departments.
  • Describe the significance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and information technology in modern business enterprise.
  • Analyze the role of market forces in business decisions relating to pricing, marketing, and production.
  • Apply tools commonly used to make business decisions, such as the time value of money, risk and return assessment, and organizational team strategies.
  • Access and interpret multiple sources of business information, including financial statements.
  • Identify and analyze the effects of business decisions on internal and external stakeholders, including ethical implications.

READINGS:

Text: McGraw Hills: Ferrell, Business Foundations 12e

$106.95 - $133.95 contains both digital access code and hard copy. Purchase online:  https://scu.bncollege.com/shop/santaclara-rocklin/home

This contains the new edition material as well as our custom chapter on Mike’s Bikes. This ISBN also allows students to connect to the McGraw Hill Smart book. 

THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM:

BUSN70 18926/ 18934 FALL QTR 2020

Option #1:  BUSN 70 W/ ONLINE ACCESS >IC<

  • EDITION:  LATEST
  • PUBLISHER:  MCG CUSTOM
  • ISBN: 9781264032761

from $133.95 - $133.95

Option #2:  BUSN 70 CONNECT ACCESS CODE/W EBOOK

  • EDITION:  LATEST
  • PUBLISHER:  MCG/CREATE
  • ISBN: 9781307482492

from $106.95 - $106.95

URL: https://connect.mheducation.com/class/t-strickland-ferrell-business-spring20

 

MIKE'S BIKES SOFTWARE SIMULATION:

We will be using a software simulation program as part of this class called Mikes Bikes.   Internet access is required (dial-up connection is sufficient).

  • ALL students must register and pay the license fee for the software. The approximate cost of the software license is $58 Mikes Bikes Players Manual (www.smartsims.com) Instructions to purchase software.
  • Note:  To receive a grade for this portion of the class, you must pay the software license fee prior to class 12. 
  • Student Login: use password sent to you via Smart Sims.
  • https://youtu.be/gONFKnQdN5o  A training link to the MB interface and dashboard.  A good watch before beginning the single player.

BUSINESS NEWS: 

You will be expected to keep current with Business news as part of this class. Topics from the news will be used in class discussions, particularly when relevant to the syllabus material. There may be exam questions, which ask you relate current events described in the Business press and their relevance to the class.   You are therefore encouraged to read or listen to the news of your choice. Ideas:  The Wall Street Journal, Economist, New York Times, Washington Post, Apple News, NPR in any format…DO NOT GET YOUR NEWS OFF OF FACEBOOK OR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.  THEY ARE NOT REGULATED FOR ACCURACY. 

 

GRADING:

Class Participation

 

6%

SWOT Analysis

 

7%

Flip the Class

 

7%

The Great Recession

 

7%

Groups Vs. Teams

 

2%

Women Raising Capital

 

7%

3 Midterm Exams

 

52%

Mike’s Bikes Simulation

 

12%

Total

 

100%

Extra Credit

 

Up to 2% if you complete all 3 assignments.

 

EXTRA CREDIT: (EXTRA 2.0%)

Extra credit may be obtained of up to 2% percentage points. There are 3 assignments offered:

  1. (one time only) by attending an event sponsored by one of the organizations below and writing a 2-page reflection paper on the implications for Contemporary Business. You have the entire quarter to attend one of these events. 
  • Career Nights: Remarks from Executive Professors and Student guest about their careers. TBD
  • SCU Brand4U: register at scu.edu/business/scubrand4u TBD
  • CIE (Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (www.scu.edu/cie)
  • Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education
  • Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
  • Center for Science, Technology, and Society
  • Civil Society Institute
  • Either of the Business Fraternities
  • Other Campus Talks and Presentations
  • Extra Credit assignments offered up during class
  • TED talk
  • Documentary
  1. Linked-In Assignment
  2. Listen to a Wall Street earnings call and write a 2-page paper on what you heard and learned.

FINAL GRADE:

All results and final grade will be calculated on a percentage basis and then converted to letter grades

Letter to Numerical (percentage) Grade Equivalents

A   94/100

C   73/76

A-  90/93

C-  70/72

B+ 87/89

D+ 67/69

B   84/86

D   63/66

B-  80/83

D- 60/62

C+ 77/79

F   <60

CLASS PARTICIPATION: (6% of Your Grade)

There will be several group assignments and exercises.  Missing meetings deprives you and your fellow classmates of a complete learning process.  Participation is important and will account for 6% of your grade.  Do not let this sneak up on you. There are no wrong answers in this course.  Having the courage to contribute shows real leadership ability. Showing up to meetings on time is all part of your positive participation.  Every group assignment requires a Peer Evaluation where you will have the opportunity to grade your classmate.  Your feedback is private between you and me only.  I take what you say seriously.

This participation is graded on a scale from 1-4.  Please see below for detail of grade.  Per the criteria described on the self –evaluation sheet, everyone will be expected to grade themselves and their team members for all group assignments.  (With the opportunity for the Instructor to modify the score up or down.) 

Score Criteria
0 ·      Absent
1

·      Present, not disruptive

·      Demonstrates little or infrequent involvement in discussion

·      Shows up late on a regular basis

·      Falls asleep during class
2

·      Demonstrates adequate preparation … knows basic fact but does not show evidence of trying to interpret or analyze them

·      Does not contribute to discussion, but contributes to a moderate degree when called on

·      Goes along with behavioral and small group activities
3

·      Demonstrates good preparation knows case or reading fact well and has thought through implications of them

·      Offers interpretation and analysis of case material (more than just facts)

·      Contributes well to discussion in an ongoing way responds to other students’ points, thinks through own points, questions others in a constructive way, offers support and suggestions that may be counter to the majority opinion

·      Demonstrates consistent ongoing involvement

·      Participate actively in behavioral or small group activities
4

·      Demonstrates excellent preparation: has analyzed case or material exceptionally well, relating it to readings and other material

·      Offers analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of case material, e.g., puts together pieces of the discussion to develop new approaches that take the class further

·      Contributes in a very significant way to ongoing discussion keeps analysis focused, responds very thoughtfully to other students' comments, contributes to the co-operative argument-building, suggests alternative ways of approaching material and helps class analyze which approaches are appropriate, etc.

·      Demonstrates ongoing very active involvement.

·      Participates actively in behavioral activities and small groups in class and contributes significantly to own and others' learning in these interactions.  Shows leadership in group activity

 

LIBRARY INFORMATION:

The University Library will be closed through fall quarter 2020. The links below provide important, up to date information about access to library resources and services.

Library and Learning Commons Services Update: Find out what Library resources and services are available to you as a faculty member during remote learning, including digital course reserves and our curbside book pickup services.

 

How to Use the Library for Remote Learning: Directs students to Library resources and services available to them during remote learning, including how to obtain help via chart, email and Zoom.

Create a free Wall Street Journal digital newspaper account.

Create a free New York Times digital newspaper account.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

If you have a documented disability for which accommodations may be required in this class, please contact Disabilities Resources, Benson 216, www.scu.edu/disabilities, as soon as possible to discuss your needs and register for accommodations with the University. If you have already arranged accommodations through Disabilities Resources, please initiate a conversation with me about your accommodations during my office hours within the first two weeks of class. Students who are pregnant and parenting may also be eligible for accommodations. Accommodations will only be provided after I have verification of your accommodations as approved by Disabilities Resources, and with sufficient lead time for me to arrange testing or other accommodations.  For more information you may contact Disabilities Resources at 408-554-4109.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The Academic Integrity pledge is an expression of the University’s commitment to fostering an understanding of—and commitment to—a culture of integrity at Santa Clara University. The Academic Integrity pledge, which applies to all students, states:

I am committed to being a person of integrity. I pledge, as a member of the Santa Clara University community, to abide by and uphold the standards of academic integrity contained in the Student Conduct Code.

Academic integrity is part of your intellectual, ethical, and professional development. I expect you to uphold the principles of this pledge for all work in this class. I will clarify expectations on academic integrity as needed for assignments and exams. If you have questions about what is appropriate on any assignment, please let me know before you hand in work. For more resources about ensuring academic integrity in your work, including the appropriate use of course sharing sites such as Chegg, see this site created by the SCU Library at https://libguides.scu.edu/academic-integrity or

visit www.scu.edu/academic-integrity.

DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT (TITLE IX)

SCU faculty are committed to helping create a safe and open learning environment for all students. If you (or someone you know) have experienced any form of discrimination, harassment or sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking, know that help and support are available, I encourage you seek support and report incidents to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator, Belinda Guthrie, at 408-554-3043, bguthrie@scu.edu. For more information about reporting options and resources at Santa Clara University and in the community, please visit https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/. If you wish to speak with a confidential resource, please visit https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/resources/student/.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS

Santa Clara University does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy or related medical conditions. Absences due to medical conditions relating to pregnancy and childbirth will be excused for as long as deemed medically necessary by a student’s doctor, and students will be given the opportunity to make up missed work. Students needing accommodations can often arrange accommodations by working directly with their instructors, supervisors, or departments. Students needing accommodations can also seek assistance with accommodations from the Office of Office of Accessible Education (OAE) or from the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office. The following link provides information for students and faculty regarding pregnancy rights. https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/resources/pregnancy/pregnancy.

OFFICE OF ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION

If you have a documented disability for which accommodations may be required in this class, please contact the Office of Accessible Education (oae@scu.edu, http://www.scu.edu/oae) as soon as possible to discuss your needs and register for accommodations with the University. If you have already arranged accommodations through OAE, please be sure to request your accommodations through your myOAE portal and discuss them with me during my office hours within the first two weeks of class.

To ensure fairness and consistency, individual faculty members are required to receive verification from the Office of Accessible Education before providing accommodations. OAE will work with students and faculty to arrange proctored exams for students whose accommodations include double time for exams and/or assistive technology. Students with approved accommodations of time-and-a-half should talk with me as soon as possible. The Office of Accessible Education must be contacted in advance (at least two weeks notice recommended) to schedule proctored examinations