People, Planet and Profit
We will examine the role of business in society today, focusing on the triple bottom line perspective. The triple bottom line perspective calls on modern businesses to broaden their goals beyond economic targets alone and to consider the organization's social and environmental impact as well. In order to be sustainable, an organization must be economically viable, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly. Readings and assignments will provide students with exposure to all three elements of the triple bottom line
Examples of course topics include, but are not limited to (explicit tie to PACS 1 topics in parentheses)
- What's a business for?
- What does it mean to be a sustainable business? (Civil Society, the Natural World and the Environment)
- Corporate social responsibility in the 21st century (Civil Society)
- What is business's responsibility to the global community? (Citizenship and the State)
- Are there global standards for competition? (Citizenship and the State)
- The ethics of strategy (Civil Society)
Reading assignments for the course will be taken from a variety of sources, including excerpts from textbooks, the academic press, and the popular press. Students will be graded on the basis of two short written article critiques or case analyses during the semester, one major term paper due at the end of the semester, at least two oral presentations, and participation in class discussion.
