BUSINESS IN THE CANADIAN CONTEXT—ADMS 1010

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

We will look at key issues and companies in Canadian business. How has Canada achieved prosperity? How might

we maintain it in a globalized economy? We will examine how our geography, our people and our legal and

political institutions have shaped business and business has shaped government. We will use business case studies

to look at political, economic and legal issues in the Canadian context.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: THE FINE PRINT

Note: Not open to students who have taken AK/ADMS 2410 3.0 or AK/ADMS 2420 3.0 or AK/ADMS 2430 3.0

ALERTS:

Please BE AWARE: Students CANNOT write exams or submit any work for sections that they are not registered in.

Students must confirm the correct section within the first two weeks of class.

The instructor/course director has NO AUTHORITY to enroll students into the course. Please direct all registration

questions to the main office of the Administrative Studies (http://www.yorku.ca/laps/sas/index.asp ). DO NOT

contact the instructor/course director in these matters.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

You will know how Canada’s business culture and laws have evolved, what are the forces that contribute to the

failure and success of Canadian business, and the issues facing business in Canada today.

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REQUIRED COURSE TEXT / READINGS

Joe Martin. Relentless Change: A History of Canadian Business. University of Toronto Press, 2010

Immigration Canada. Discover Canada. 2007.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/index.asp

Students will be expected to read and discuss current Canadian business issues and events. These can be found in

sources such as The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, the Toronto Star, the National Post, CBC.ca, CTV.ca and

Canadian Business magazine.

Links to good sources for global business and economic news can be found in the Business Section of Google News.

EVALUATING YOUR PERFORMANCE

1. FINAL EXAM 35%

2. MIDTERM TEST (WEEK 7) 30%

3. TWO QUIZZES (WEEK 5 AND WEEK 10) 25%

4. BEST TWO OF THREE IN-CLASS PROJECTS (WEEK 3, WEEK 8 AND WEEK 11) 10%

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EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION

Week 1: Introduction

GOALS FOR WEEK 1

You will know how I will manage the course, what the expectations are for students, how to

succeed in the course.

You will also know the topics and theories we will cover in greater depth later in the course.

o Porter’s Diamond of National Competitiveness

o Porter’s 5 Forces

o Stern Model

You will begin to consider the roles that government and business play in the Canadian

economy.

Required readings

Relentless Change, pp. 1-14

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/index.asp Please read the

section on Canada’s history.

http://www.phschool.com/curriculum_support/online_world_desk_reference/login.cfm

Please log in with your first name and email address. Enter the password “onlineworld”.

Then click on Canada. Then click on Economics, World Rankings, etc.

Supplemental Readings:

Stern Diamond: http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/NC/B0/B56/146MB56.html

Porter Diamond: http://www.businessmate.org/Article.php?ArtikelId=49

Porter 5 forces: http://hbr.org/2008/01/the-five-competitive-forces-that-shape-strategy/ar/1

Week 2: THE CANADIAN CONFEDERATION AND CANADIAN INSTITUTIONS,

CURRENCY AND BANKS

GOALS FOR WEEK 2

You will know the early history of Canada and how the country was founded to supply greater

resources to European nations.

You will understand the nature of the Canadian Confederation and the economic powers of the

Canadian state.

You will understand the role of banking in the development of a nation and of currency in

managing its economy.

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You will be able to apply the Stern Model to Canada’s early history.

READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

Case: Relentless Change, Bank Act of 1871, pp. 20-37

James Powell. A History of the Canadian Dollar. “Currency Reforms 1841-1871” History of the

Canadian Dollar The chapter you want is Currency Reforms (1841-71).

WEEK 3: CANADA EXPANDS—AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURING

Case: The Massey Harris Company, pp. 60-78

SETTLEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT—FOREST TO FARMLAND

THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURING

PROTECTIONISM AND THE NATIONAL POLICY

GROUP PROJECT 1

Goals for Week 3

You will understand the importance of the rise of two industries: agriculture and manufacturing

in 19th century Canada.

You will understand the roles of business and of government in creating a national identity.

You will understand the advantages and disadvantages of protectionism.

READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

Civics Canada Online Textbook

Agriculture in Canada

Manufacturing in Canada

Statscan Information on Manufacturing

Stuff to know on Trade Policy: Go look up these words. Know them!

Generic: Tariffs, Mercantilism

Canadian historical: National Policy, Reciprocity Treaty

There's material all over the web about these topics. You don't need to be a trade

economist and learn them in depth. Just know what they mean and be able to talk

about them sensibly. Trade policies determine a lot of what firms can do successfully.

Case: Relentless Change, Massey Harris Company, pp. 60-76

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WEEK 4: CNR—THE GOVERNMENT IN THE ECONOMY Case: Relentless Change: Wars, Depressions and Dynamic Growth, pp. 79-94 AND CNR, pp. 100-

117

THE RAILROADS

KEYNESIANISM AND THE DEPRESSION

QUIZ 1

Goals for Week 4

You will understand the ways in which the Canadian government traditionally intervenes in

markets and its reasons for doing so.

You will understand the importance of infrastructure (e.g. railroads) in the Canadian economy.

You will understand how other issues (e.g. a military draft) influence economic policies.

You will be familiar with the concepts of Keynesianism in Canada.

You will be able to describe a crown corporation, its purposes and its limitations.

You will able to describe the pressures to privatize crown corporations

READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

The CNR http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006655

Keynes in Canada http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004289

The Depression in Canada

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0003425

Social Welfare in Canada

Crown Corporations in Canada

http://www.canadianstudies.ca/NewJapan/institutions.html

Rasmussen's slides on Crown Corporations

Railways in Canada

CN today

WEEK 5: AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY Case: The Canadian Automobile Industry, pp. 120-136

How did the Canadian government first support this dominant industry? What were the costs

and benefits? What can it tell us about business and government today?

Manufacturing and FDI

The role of the auto sector in the Canadian economy

History of US Canada trade and investment

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Goals for Week 5

The Auto Industry

You will understand the importance of the auto industry in Canada.

You will be able to identify the positive and negative potential of Foreign Direct Investment in

Canada.

You will understand the advantages and disadvantages of open trade policies.

You will be familiar with the key economic and political trends in the Great Depression in

Canada.

READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

The Auto Industry—Canadian Encyclopedia

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000412

http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/trade_agreements/topics/326/

Foreign Ownership of Canadian Companies A Wikipedia article!

Foreign Investment in Canada

Great Depression in Canada

Photos of the Great Depression in Canada

Government of Canada's ppt on Auto Sector

WEEK 6: THE MIDTERM

WEEK 7: THE RISE OF THE CANADIAN CONSUMER AND CANADIAN RETAIL Case: Eaton’s and Simpson’s-Sears, pp. 140-157

INCREASING PROSPERITY AND THE ROLE OF CONSUMERISM IN THE CANADIAN ECONOMY

Goals for Week 7

You will understand the role of the retail industry in Canada.

You will understand the transition of the Canadian economy post WW2 to a consumer driven

economy.

You will understand the nature of competition and you will be able to use Porter’s 5 forces

model of competition.

You will be able to discuss the rise of women as economic agents in Canada.

You will be able to understand and comment on issues related to the globalization of retail in

Canada.

We will discuss midterm results

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READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

Competition: The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy by Michael E. Porter

History of Women in the Canadian Workforce

Retail Council of Canada

http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/business/topics/377/ ,

WEEK 8: THE BANK OF CANADA: FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, LAWS AND POLICIES

IN CANADA Case: The “Cone Affair’, pp. 181-199

Group project 2

Goals for Week 8

You will understand the rationale for central banks and the history of the Bank of Canada.

You will know what monetary policy is and why it matters.

You will understand contemporary issues such as the Resource Curse, Dutch disease, the

possible breakup of the Euro and the role of monetary policy in economic stimulus.

THE FOUNDING OF THE BANK

History

THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE BANK

Why monetary policy matters

David Olive on James Coyne

US Federal Reserve Bank and Politics

WEEK 9: CANADIAN MINING—THE CASE OF INCO Case: A New World at Inco, pp. 200-220

Goals for Week 9

You will understand the concepts of monopolies, oligopolies, and market concentration.

Understand the role of management in facing global competition.

You will be able to discuss the role of labour unions in the development of Canadian business.

You will understand the issue of natural resource development and First Nations rights and the

nature of special interests that could impact future development of these resources.

You will understand the importance of FDI in the resource industry.

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READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

Canadian Suppliers of Mining Goods and Services, pp. xiii-xv. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms-smm/busi-

indu/pdf/minegs-eng.pdf

Nickel (click “Continue to the Document”)

Ontario's Mineral Wealth (click “Continue to the Document”)

Overview

Mining Watch

Nice history of mining in Canada To download the pdf, you need to copy this URL into your browser. IT doesn’t

hyperlink! Download the pdf and you're good to go.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/webarchives/20071124182753/http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/pdf/hist-e.pdf

The industry association

How First Nations negotiate with mining companies Inco and Voisey's Bay

How much is left? A really interesting interactive page that tells you how much is left of critical natural resources.

Check out the minerals (orange in the time line).

WEEK 10: OIL IN ALBERTA

REQUIRED READINGS: Case: Canada’s Black Gold, pp. 221-239, Oil Sands, pp. 318-339

QUIZ 2

Goals for Week 10

You will understand the meaning of creative destruction and the economic impact of new

energy forms and technologies.

You will understand the concepts of vertical (and horizontal) integration.

You will understand how climate change is affecting the oil industry.

You will understand the forces which are moving Canada’s economic centre to the West and its

meaning for the rest of Canada.

NATIONALISM AND REGIONALISM

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/energy_production/topics/378

http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/events/issues_nep.html

History of the petroleum industry in Canada

Stories in the news: It seems there is a debate in the US over whether importing oil from

Alberta is a bad idea. National Geographic Magazine and the Tar Sands A couple of years ago,

NG published a critique of the tar sands. It created a lot of debate. Check it out.

Profile of the Oil Industry in Canada

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History of the Oil Industry in Canada

Impact of Oil on Regional Disparity in Canada

Oil and NAFTA

Environmental Concerns

Need for Regulation or Deregulation

WEEK 11: WINE IN CANADA

Case: The Challenging Years, pp. 243-260 AND Wine Industry, pp. 265-283

GROUP PROJECT 3

Goals for Week 11

You will understand the importance of free trade and the transition to a globalized economy in

Canada.

You will be familiar with the topics of free trade, NAFTA, protectionism, The Bretton Woods

Institutions (WTO/GATT, World Bank, IMF), trade wars, comparative advantage (Ricardo, Smith

and Hume) and supply management in Canada.

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) AND NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA)

READINGS (TO BE DONE PRIOR TO CLASS):

http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/trade_agreements/topics/536/

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0003054

More readings to follow.

History of the Wine Industry in Canada

Profile Today of the Wine Industry in Canada

Review of Protectionism

Role of Free Trade Agreements

Key Stumbling Blocks to Global Free Trade

Comparative advantage

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WEEK 12: CONFEDERATION LIFE AND RBC

CASE: CONFEDERATION LIFE, PP. 286-301 AND RBC, PP.303-317 AND CONCLUSION, PP. 340-355

Canadian Financial institutions A Government of Canada explanation.

Goals for Week 12

Financial services

You will understand the financial services industry, one of the key industries of any country.

You will understand the complex relationship between ‘non predatory government’ and the

financial system.

You will explore the issue of diversification – product/geographic.

You will be able to identify and discuss the impact of strategic decisions on companies

Profile of the Financial Services Industry in Canada

Canada’s Financial Service Industry Compared to US

Role of the government in managing risk

A Case of the merging of Canadian Banks.

RISK, CONCENTRATION AND REGULATION IN CANADA’S FINANCIAL INDUSTRIES

Course review for final exam

RELEVANT UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS Deferred standing may be granted to students who are unable to write their final examination at the scheduled time or to submit their outstanding course work on the last day of classes. In order to apply for deferred standing, students must register at http://apps.eso.yorku.ca/apps/adms/deferredexams.nsf. Followed by handing in a completed DSA form and supporting documentation directly to the main office of the School of Administrative Studies (282 Atkinson) and add your ticket number to the DSA form. The DSA and supporting documentation must be submitted no later than five (5) business days from the date of the exam. These requests will be considered on their merit and decisions will be made available by logging into the following link http://apps.eso.yorku.ca/apps/adms/deferredexams.nsf. No individualized communication will be sent by the School to the students (no letter or e-mails). Students with approved DSA will be able to write their deferred examination during the School's deferred examination period. No further extensions of deferred exams shall be granted. The format and covered content of the deferred examination may be different from that of the originally scheduled examination. The deferred exam may be closed book, cumulative and comprehensive and may include all subjects/topics of the textbook whether they have been covered in class or not. Any request for deferred

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standing on medical grounds must include an Attending Physician's Statement form; a “Doctor’s Note” will not be accepted. DSA Form: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/pdf/deferred_standing_agreement.pdf Attending Physician's Statement form: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/council/students/documents/APS.pdf The deferred examinations for the Fall 2012 term shall be held in the period January 25 – 27 2013. Academic Honesty: The Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies considers breaches of the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty to be serious matters. To quote the Senate Policy on Academic Honesty. The Policy on Academic Honesty is an affirmation and clarification for members of the University of the general obligation to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty. As a clear sense of academic honesty and responsibility is fundamental to good scholarship, the policy recognizes the general responsibility of all faculty members to foster acceptable standards of academic conduct and of the student to be mindful of and abide by such standards. Suspected breaches of academic honesty will be investigated and charges shall be laid if reasonable and probable grounds exist. Students should review the York Academic Honesty policy for themselves at: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=69 Students might also wish to review the interactive on-line Tutorial for students on academic integrity, at: http://www.yorku.ca/tutorial/academic_integrity/ Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy: The grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) shall be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class, and, under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course. Note: Under unusual and/or unforeseeable circumstances which disrupt the academic norm, instructors are expected to provide grading schemes and academic feedback in the spirit of these regulations, as soon as possible. For more information on the Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy, please visit: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=86 In-Class Tests and Exams - the 20% Rule: For all Undergraduate courses, except those which regularly meet on Friday evening or on a weekend, tests or exams worth more than 20% will not be held in the two weeks prior to the beginning of the official examination period. For further information on the 20% Rule, please visit: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=141

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For further information on examination scheduling and other important dates, please refer to: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/index.htm Reappraisals: Students may, with sufficient academic grounds, request that a final grade in a course be reappraised (which may mean the review of specific pieces of tangible work). Non-academic grounds are not relevant for grade reappraisals; in such cases, students are advised to petition to their home Faculty. Students are normally expected to first contact the course director to discuss the grade received and to request that their tangible work be reviewed. Tangible work may include written, graphic, digitized, modeled, video recording or audio recording formats, but not oral work. Students need to be aware that a request for a grade reappraisal may result in the original grade being raised, lowered or confirmed. For reappraisal procedures and information, please visit the Office of the Registrar site at: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/grades/reappraisal/index.htm Accommodation Procedures: LA&PS students who have experienced a misfortune or who are too ill to attend the final examination in an ADMS course should not attempt to do so; they must pursue deferred standing. Other students should contact their home Faculty for information. For further information, please visit: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/exams/deferred/index.htm Religious Accommodation: York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all members of the community, and making accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents. For more information on religious accommodation, please visit: https://w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.woa/wa/regobs Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities The nature and extent of accommodations shall be consistent with and supportive of the integrity of the curriculum and of the academic standards of programs or courses. Provided that students have given sufficient notice about their accommodation needs, instructors shall take reasonable steps to accommodate these needs in a manner consistent with the guidelines established hereunder. For more information please visit the Disabilities Services website at http://www.yorku.ca/cds/ York’s disabilities offices and the Registrar’s Office work in partnership to support alternate exam and test accommodation services for students with disabilities at the Keele campus. For more information on alternate exams and tests please visit http://www.yorku.ca/altexams/ Please alert the Course Director as soon as possible should you require special accommodations.

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

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Final course grades may be adjusted to conform to Program or Faculty grades

distribution profiles.

The Senate Academic Standards, Curriculum and Pedagogy (ASCP) provides a Student Information Sheet

that includes:

York's Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures / Academic Integrity Web site

o Access/Disability

o Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants

o Religious Observance Accommodation

o Student Code of Conduct

Additional information:

Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

Alternate Exam and Test Scheduling

Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy

The link to the Information sheet is broken. You can find these policies at

http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/index-policies.html.

The Senate Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy stipulates that (a) the grading scheme (i.e. kinds and

weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks

of class, and that, (b) under normal circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall,

Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for ‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in

all courses prior to the final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade.

• "20% Rule"

No examinations or tests collectively worth more than 20% of the final grade in a course will be given during the

final 14 calendar days of classes in a term. The exceptions to the rule are classes which regularly meet Friday

evenings or on Saturday and/or Sunday at any time, and courses offered in the compressed summer terms.

• Services for Mature and Part-time Students

The Atkinson Centre for Mature and Part-time Students (ACMAPS) maintains and strengthens York University’s

ongoing commitment to welcome and to serve the needs of mature and part-time students. For further

information and assistance visit: http://www.yorku.ca/acmaps

Last modified: Aug. 29, 2012

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