ELLIS MGMT 391 Managing for Sustainability SYLLABUS F12

7/31/2019 ELLIS MGMT 391 Managing for Sustainability SYLLABUS F12

1/8

MGMT 39100: Managing for Sustainability (23188)

Fall 2011

10:50

12:05BUS 204

Instructor: Dr. Aimee Dars EllisOffice: Park Center (BUS) 425Office Phone: 607.274.1449Department Phone: 607.274.3117Email: [email protected]: doctordarzyFacebook: http://goo.gl/6ZnIg(class page)

Office Hours: T/Th 1:00-2:30 and by appointment

REQUIRED

Chouinard, Y. 2005. Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a ReluctantBusinessman. New York: Penguin Press.

Most of your readings will be available on Sakai. Please check frequently to keep up to date Cases to be ordered online (http://web.hbr.org/store/index.php) - $6.95 each - TBD You are responsible for monitoring the class website on Sakai. Important

announcements, reminders, and extra credit opportunities, as well as your grades, will bposted there.

RECOMMENDED:A student subscription to Business Week, Fortune, or Wall Street Journal.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Course DescriptionThis course examines the challenge of maintaining sustainable business strategies while meeting the needs ofvarious stakeholders. Will investigate various models of business sustainability and how to integratesustainability concerns into managerial functions. Prerequisites: MGMT 20600 or equivalent. 3 credits. (S,E)

Course SummaryIn this course, we will discuss the major sustainability issues facing businesses and organizations. Some of the

questions we will discuss include: What are some drivers of sustainability within businesses? How do businesses communicatetheir sustainability efforts? What can employees, customers, and those outside the organization do to effect change? What are somesuccessesand failuresbusinesses have had regarding sustainability from which we can learn?We will study examples froma range of businessesfrom Fortune 500 firms, to non-profit organizations, to small family-owned businesses.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

Discuss the social environmental challenges facing business today; Identify current trends in green management practices; Offer a range of sustainability initiatives to reduce firms environmental impact; Outline historic environmental management successes and failures;
http://goo.gl/6ZnIghttp://goo.gl/6ZnIghttp://web.hbr.org/store/index.phphttp://web.hbr.org/store/index.phphttp://goo.gl/6ZnIg


2/8

2 Describe the role of business stakeholders in influencing a firms environmental policies; Apply critical thinking to analyzing social and environmental challenges and the role of business in

addressing those issues.

COURSE REQUIREMENTSCourse FormatThis course is a highly interactive course that demands your advancepreparation and participation. You are

expected to be familiar with the assigned readings before class. We will use discussions, interactive lectures,experiential exercises, self-assessments, cases, and team work to explore the topics of the course.

AttendanceStudents at Ithaca College are expected to attend all class sessions and are responsible for any work missedduring absences from class (i.e, check the course website for announcements and get a copy of notes from aclassmate). Please notify me by email as soon as possible if you will be absent from class. Excused absencesinclude religious observations, verifiable illnesses, college-authorized activities (e.g., athletic events, musical

performances), court appearances or the death or serious illness of a family member . Job/internship

interviews, undocumented illnesses, and any other reason for missing class

not listed above do not count as excused absences. In the unfortunate case of the death

or serious illness of a family member, students should contact Student Affairs and the Assistant Dean. Youmust provide written documentation for all excused absences. Class begins promptly at the scheduledtime. If you arrive even one minute late or leave early, you will receive an unexcused absence. You may also bemarked absent if you sleep during class, use electronic devices (e.g., cell phone, laptop, iPad) outside ofdesignated exercises, act disruptively, or leave the classroom for any purpose.

According to Ithaca Colleges attendance policy, instructors may penalize students for excessive absences. Astudent is allowed THREE unexcused absences in this class which meets two times per week. Excessiveunexcused absences (>3 unexcused absences from this class which meets twice per week) will result in a tenpoint reduction of your final course grade for each unexcused absence greater than three.

Should you miss a class session, it is your responsibility to obtain any and all class material you might havemissed, including hand-outs, quizzes, assignments, general course information, and so forth. Please note thatsome examination material will only be delivered during class sessions and may not appear in your text. Yourfailure to attend even one class could directly result in a lower test score.

Sustainability in the ClassroomIn this course, we want to model positive sustainable behavior. Consequently, we will use as little paper aspossible. Unless otherwise noted, all assignments should be submitted by Sakai. I will do my best to providehandouts online rather than distributing hard copies in class. I am welcome to additional suggestions that willmake my courses more eco-friendly.

Communication/EmailYou are responsible for checking the course websiteregularly for announcements andhandout materials. I suggest doing this several times a week if not daily. In addition, Ioccasionally communicate with students via your IC email address. If you use a differentemail account, make sure your IC email address is forwarded. If you do use IC email, makesure your box does not exceed the storage limit. When sending me an email, please makesure you include MGMT391and a description in the subject line (e.g., MGMT391:Question about Homework Assignment #1). Emails not following this format may be discarded withoutbeing read. If you send me an email, I will reply within one business day. If you do not receive a reply, either Idid not get your email or it did not follow the correct formatting. In that case, please resend.


3/8

3Most questions regarding the course, exams, and homework assignments can be found in the syllabus or on thecourse website. Using I didnt know as an excuse for anything in this course means that you were not payingattention!

Academic HonestyThe School of Business expects the highest level of ethical behavior from its students, both in the classroomand in their future careers. Therefore, students should be familiar with the Standards of Academic Conduct

(including Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty), described in the Student Handbook, as these policies will bestrictly enforced by the School of Business. As stated in the handbook, it is the responsibility of the student toconfer with the instructor if there is difficulty distinguishing between acceptable behavior and academicmisconduct. In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academicmisconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and fail to report it.Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountableif they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism. Depending on the severity of the offense, penalties forplagiarism range from a zero on the plagiarized assignment to a lower final grade or even an F in the courseand/or referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs. Your homework assignments may be electronicallyreviewed through Turnitin or other software to detect plagiarism.

Grading PolicyYou do not automatically receive full credit for an assignment simply by turning it in. Grades are based on thefollowing criteria:

A= exceptional work, extremely impressive, insightful, near flawless in terms of contentand presentation

B= above the expectations of the assignment, but has room for improvement in terms ofcontent and/or presentation

C= meets the obligations of the assignment but lacks sufficient attention to content andpresentation

D= does not meet obligations of assignment and lacks insufficient attention to contentand presentation

F = unacceptable level of effort for the assignment

Remember: I do not give you a grade. You earn your grade.

PROGRESS

TRACKER

MaximumPoints

Your Score

Written Assignments 400Midterm 100Final Exam 150Business Sustainability Project 250

Professionalism 100TOTAL 1000

Grade DistributionA = 930-1000A- = 900-929B+ = 870-899B = 830-869B- = 800-829C+ = 770-799

C = 730-769C- = 700-729D+ = 670-699D = 630-669D- = 600-629F < 600


4/8

4

Your scores on exams and homework will be posted on the course website as soon as they are available. Pleasemonitor your performance to ensure you are exerting the effort required to meet your academic goals. I encourageyou to utilize all the resources available to you to help you succeed in this course, including attending my officehours, reading the textbook in advance of class, completing online study exercises, submitting homework to thebest of your ability, and studying sufficiently for exams.

Preparing for Class

Textbook materials and any other readings assigned for a scheduled class period are to be carefully read and studiedBEFORE coming to class on that day. It is critical that you do the reading in advance to succeed in this course andget the maximum benefit from the class activities. Your ability to make quality contributions to class (and thereforeyour professionalism grade) hinges on reading and preparing for class. You should maximize your time by usingactive reading techniques (see resources on the course website).

Business Sustainability AuditIn small groups of 4-5 students, you will be working on a hands-on sustainability project in which your team selectsa business to audit for its sustainability practices, creates an audit form, conducts the audit, and provides a set ofrecommendation to the client organization. The grade for this project will be determined both through thewritten paper your team submits as well as your teams performance on the end-of-semester presentation.

ExamsTwo announced exams will be required in this course. They may contain any combination of true/false, matching,multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and brief essay questions. To do well on exams in this course, youneed to read the chapters, attend class, and study (more than just the night before a test)! Material on the examcomes from the textbook, lectures, videos, and in-class exercises. Questions will focus on the application ofconcepts discussed in class rather than on rote memorization. You are responsible for all text, reading, and Sakaimaterial even if we have not discussed it in class. Once an exam begins, you may not leave the classroom. Pleasefinish conducting any necessary business before an exam starts. If you are late to an exam, you will not be allowedto take it.

Make-up ExamsMake-up Exams are not allowed except in the case of unusual circumstances, with documentation,and must be negotiated in advance. Students taking make-up exams may not receive the same examthat was given during the regularly scheduled test administration, and it may be composed entirely ofshort answer/essay questions. If a makeup cannot be arranged and/or taken, the instructor has theright to assign a grade as lowas "zero" for the missing mark or to substitute a students grade on thecomprehensive final exam for the missing test score.

Written AssignmentsWritten homework assignments appear on the syllabus and are indicated by the notation HW. Detailed guidelinesfor all written homework assignments will be posted on Sakai. Follow instructions provided in the written guidelinescarefully; failure to do so may result in a deduction of points. All homework assignments must be submitted to

receive a passing grade in the course. If you have questions about an assignment, contact me. I am more thanhappy to explain expectations for assignments. Most assignment guidelines include a grading rubric that shows howyour work will be assessed.

As business students, you must practice professional standards of writing. To this end, all written assignments mustmeet minimal standards in regards to spelling, punctuation, format, and basic grammar. Mistakes of this sort makereaders question your basic competence and have negative consequences for career advancement. The followingerrors will affect your grade on written assignments: 1) Misspelled words, 2) Sentence fragments, 3) Run-onsentences and comma splices, 4) Mistakes in capitalization. 5) Errors in punctuation, 6) Errors in verb tense orsubject/verb agreement, 7) Failure to cite source, 8) Lack of consistency in format, and 9) Other style or grammar


5/8

5

issues.Written assignments with three errors on any one page or three pages with two errors per page willbe reduced by 10%. Additional errors can lower your grade further and could result in a failing grade. Youare responsible for producing a document that meets acceptable standards of writing. Many of these errors can bedetected by proofreading your document before submitting it. These minimal standards are quite reasonable forcollege-level work. If you have trouble expressing your ideas in writing, please contact the colleges writing center.

Unless specified otherwiseall homework assignments should be submitted through Sakai. Unsolicited hard

copies of homework will not be graded. It is your responsibility to ensure your assignments are correctlyuploaded. Technical difficulties, formatting errors, or incorrect file uploads are

not a valid excuse for late submissions. If you are having difficulty using Sakai, visit officehours or go by the Information Technology Services desk.

Late AssignmentsYou are urged to submit all assignments on time in the format specified in the assignment guidelines. Forall delayed assignments there will be a penalty of 25% of the maximum grade you could have earned onthe assignment. Any submission received more than 3 calendar days after it is due will earn no credit.

ProfessionalismStudents are expected to behave professionally in the classroom. Not only are you expected to be civil andcourteous to the instructor and other students, you should give complete attentions to the class and respect yourclassmates and instructor bynot speaking while others are speaking or during video segments. You should notwork on assignments for other classes, read the paper, do puzzles, send text messages, get up from your seat, playon Facebook or engage in other activities during class time. All cell phones must be off, and laptops/iPads/etc.should only be used during designated exercises. I strongly discourage you from using your laptop or iPad to takenotes; the Internet is too tempting. Additionally, having a screen in front of you detracts from your ability to fullyparticipate and engage in this interactive course. However, if you chose to take notes electronically, you must sign a

laptop contract. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a reduced professionalism grade.

Your professionalism score is based on participation in class discussion, active involvement in class

activities, and professional deportment during class. An essential component of a successful career in businessis the ability to articulate your opinions and thoughts via discussion, and class participation gives you a safeenvironment in which to practice these skills.

What kinds of things are included in active participation/contribution?

Raising and answering questionsSharing ideas, observations, and personal experiencesPointing out relevant factsGenerating potential solutionsRelating and synthesizing ideas of others

Pointing out relationships to earlier discussionsHelping others develop their views and ideasConnecting class material to current business news

You will be evaluated based on the quality of your participation after most class sessions. Points are deducted fordisruptive comments and poor class citizenship, for example, excessive tardiness, side-discussions, texting, non-sanctioned computer use, doing work for other classes or organizations, and other violations of professionalconduct.


6/8

6

During the semester, if there is evidence that students are not reading and preparing for class, unannounced (pop)quizzes on the readings may be administered.

Time Requirements

To perform successfully in the course, students should expect to spend 9-10 hoursper week onthe course outside of class time. Each students time spent will depend upon study habits, personalefficiency, reading speed and comprehension abilities, as well as writing ability. If students do not havesufficient time to devote to the course, they may wish to consider taking the course during a time orterm when this time commitment can be made.


7/8

7

FALL 2012

INFORMATION & LINKS FOR STUDENTS

THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT ITHACA COLLEGE

Attendance Policy: http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70202.htm#7020214

Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty: http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70104.htm#7010401

Important Dates to Remember: http://www.ithaca.edu/registrar/calendars/

Students with Disabilities: "In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with

Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case-by-casebasis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Support Services and provide appropriate documentation to the

College before any academic adjustment will be provided." For more information please click on the following link

http://www.ithaca.edu/acssd/

Class Cancellations: The professor/instructor will post class cancellations via sakai or have an email notification sent via

their administrative assistant. Signage will be posted on the classroom door.

Your Mental Health and Stress: Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive

worry, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance. The source of

symptoms might be strictly related to your course work; if so, please speak with me. However, problems withrelationships, family worries, loss, or a personal struggle or crisis can also contribute to decreased academic performance.

Ithaca College provides a Counseling Center to support the academic success of students. The Counseling Center provides

cost-free services to help you manage personal challenges that threaten your well-being.

In the event I suspect you need additional support, I will express my concerns and the reasons for them, and remind you of

resources (e.g., Counseling Center, Health Center, chaplains, etc.) that might be helpful to you. It is not my intention toknow the details of what might be bothering you, but simply to let you know I am concerned and that help, if needed, is

available.

Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to dofor yourself and for your loved ones.

Reminder

I strongly suggest that you NOT use a laptop or tablet in class, but if you feel youmust you need to submit a signed laptop/tablet contract to Dr. Ellis before bringingyour laptop or tablet to class.
http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70202.htm#7020214http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70104.htm#7010401http://www.ithaca.edu/registrar/calendars/http://www.ithaca.edu/registrar/calendars/http://www.ithaca.edu/acssd/http://www.ithaca.edu/acssd/http://www.ithaca.edu/acssd/http://www.ithaca.edu/registrar/calendars/http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70104.htm#7010401http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70202.htm#7020214


8/8

8

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE(subject to changecheck Sakai regularly)

Week Date Topic Reading Assignments (also check SK)1 8/30 Introduction to Course Syllabus2 9/4 The Natural World SK 9/5Last day to add/drop

9/6 Business and the Environment SK Student Information Form (P)

3 9/11 SK Current Event or PotS (P)Team Roster & Charter (BSA)

9/13 Stakeholders and Stakeholder Management SK4 9/18 Environmental Regulations SK Stakeholder Analysis HW (50)

9/20 Sustainability and Business Strategy SK Team Proposal (BSA)5 9/25 Case Case Analysis HW (50)

9/27 Corporate Culture and EnvironmentalPhilosophy

SK; YC-Culture

6 10/2 SK Application Exercise HW (50)10/4 Green Buildings SK S&T (P)

7 10/9 Sustainability, Leadership, and HR SK; YCHR &Mgmt

10/11 SK Application Exercise HW (50)8 10/16 Midterm Exam Team Update 1 (BSA)

10/18 No classFall Break SK9 10/23 Social and Environmental Reporting SK

10/25 Case Case Analysis HW (50)10 10/30 Green Product Design and Packaging SK; YC - Design S&T (P)

11/1 Case Case Analysis HW (50)11 11/6 Green Marketing and Operations SK; YC-

Production11/7Last day to withdrawS&T (P)Team/Instructor Conferences (BSA)

11/8 SK Application Exercise HW (50)12 11/13 SK Team Update 2 (BSA)

11/15 Field Trip or Guest Speaker SKTHANKSGIVING BREAK

11/17-11/2513 11/27 Topic by Student Vote SK

11/29 Topic by Student Vote SK Application Exercise HW (50)14 12/4 Topic by Student Vote SK

12/6 Student Presentations BSA Written Report15 12/11 Student Presentations

12/13 Student Presentations16 Final ExamThursday, 12/20

4:30-7:00 pm

YC = Let My People Go SurfingSK = Sakai readingsBSA = Business Sustainability Audit (Team Project)P = Professionalismbring to class

Readings should be completed before the class for which they are assigned.

Documents

ELLIS MGMT 391 Managing for Sustainability SYLLABUS F12