BBA 380 Management for Environmental Sustainability and Durable Competitive Advantage THE BBA PROGRAM

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1 GENERAL INFORMATION Semester: Fall 2015 Day / Time: Wednesdays 5:30 7 pm Room: Credit: 3 Credit Hours Professor: Lisa Herrmann, MBA, MEd Office Hours: By Appointment Phone: lisa.herrmann@nau.edu THE BBA PROGRAM BBA Mission Statement: To provide excellent business management and related higher education for working adults throughout Arizona with and in-depth focus on core business competencies within a global context. BBA Vision Statement: To be a premier provider of Baldrige-Quality business management and related higher education with an emphasis on value and accessibility. BBA Learning Objectives: We will train our graduates to: (1) Communicate business information professionally; (2) Recognize and solve business problems in an ethical manner; (3) Analyze and utilize financial information; (4) Work well in diverse teams, including virtual settings. BBA Values: We value: Visionary and innovative leadership; Lifelong student, faculty & organizational learning; Ethical and socially responsible behavior; Creating and improving excellent quality & value personal and societal; Diversity of people and ideas. 1

2 COURSE PREREQUISITES Junior Status or higher and ENG 105 COURSE/CATALOG DESCRIPTION An introduction to the pros and cons of environmentally friendly business practices and management strategies. Introduces the ways in which those practices and strategies can be utilized to develop competitive advantage and increase the profitability and sustainability of a business. Topics include strategy formulation, environmentalism, environmental regulation, environmental management and sustainable development. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: A) Critically evaluate the concept of environmental sustainability and explain how it serves as the basis for most environmentally oriented management practices. B) Recognize and discuss the impact business activity can have on the environment (and viceversa), the consequences of this impact on the competitive position of the firm and its profit potential, and the ethical issues raised by that impact. C) Differentiate between strategies for the use of environmental resources and effectively articulate the costs and benefits of policies and practices regarding the use of these resources. D) Recognize the potential environmental risks inherent in various products, services and processes, and formulate effective solutions to reduce those risks. E) Develop environmentally sensitive strategies for a variety of regulatory, political, technological, and competitive conditions. COURSE STRUCTURE / APPROACH This is a blended learning course, with online components required. Connectivity to the Internet is the student s responsibility. Instruction will focus on reading assignments, homework assignments, analytical problem solving, writing exercises, and n class lecture, discussion and activities. A focus of the course is to improve the student s analytical and writing skills. Students are encouraged to use the online writing center for their writing assignments at nauyuma.writingcenter@nau.edu. You will find a useful Online Writing Lab at This is a structured course with time sensitive reading assignments, assignments, quizzes, writing assignments, exercises, and exams. Homework assignments, quizzes, writing assignments, web exercises, and exams are open book and open notes and may be taken anywhere and anytime prior to the scheduled deadline. The expectation and requirement is that all work submitted is the work of the student. The deadlines will be strictly adhered to. It is the student s responsibility to meet the scheduled deadlines. If a deadline is missed without a reasonable excuse, you will receive a 0 for that assignment or assessment. There are no make-up assignment or assessments. Only very serious matters will be considered a reasonable excuse and must be cleared with me prior to the deadline of the assignment or assessment. 2

3 This course is divided into three modules. Module 1 is designed to increase your awareness of sustainability issues. Module 1 covers 4 weeks and includes reading assignments, online assessments and a short essay. Module 1 aligns with course learning outcomes A, B, C and D. Module 2 more deeply explores the implications of sustainability concerns to business management. Module 2 covers 6 weeks with reading assignments, online assessments and two small-group reports, including in-class presentation. Module 2 aligns with course learning outcomes A, B, C, D, and E. Module 3 applies learning through strategic planning for business management addressing sustainability concerns. Module 3 covers 6 weeks with reading assignments and a final paper with a brief in-class presentation. Module 3 aligns with course learning outcomes A, B, C, D, and E. COMMUNICATION Please feel free to contact me by with any questions or concerns you may have. I will respond to s no later than 2 working days, not counting weekends, holidays, or scheduled breaks. You may use the Bb discussion board to share comments and items of interest with the class. Tweeting with a shared hashtag for the class is also encouraged. Student activity on the discussion board and Twitter will be considered when determining student contributions and professionalism. GRADING TURNAROUND EXPECTATIONS Assignments, quizzes, exams will be graded as soon as possible but no later than eight days after the assignment or assessment is due (not counting holidays or scheduled breaks). For example, if a writing assignment is due on Tuesday, you will receive the grade and feedback no later than the next Wednesday. Some assessments (exams) are graded immediately. You will know your grade when you finish the assessment. However, the completed assessment will not be available for your review until after the assessment deadline has passed. REQUIRED READINGS AND COURSE MATERIALS The Green to Gold Business Playbook: How to Implement Sustainability Practices for Bottom-Line Results in Every Business Function, by Daniel C. Esty & P. J. Simmons. Pub. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., ISBN Hardback; also available in Kindle edition. Not available in paperback. Additional articles and reading materials as assigned. Note: ( The Green to Gold Business Playbook is available through the campus bookstore and through most bookstores. Natural Capitalism is downloadable for free, through Bb and elsewhere.) 3

4 EVALUATION TOOLS Evaluations of student performance will be conducted by the following means of assessment: Three quizzes, one short essay, two reports prepared in small teams, one team presentation, one exam, and one final paper with a short individual presentation. The learning outcomes will be achieved if the student passes the course requirements with a grade of C or higher based on the grading scale below. Grading Procedures: 900-1,000 points... A points... B points... C points... D points... F Course Requirements: 1. Gateway Quiz (by Sept. 4) points 2. Quiz 1 (by Sept. 22) points 3. Essay (by Sept. 29) points 4. Quiz 2 (by Oct. 6) points 5. Small Team Analysis (by Oct. 13) points 6. Partner Presentation (prepared by Oct. 27) points 7. Exam (by Nov. 13) points 8. Final Paper (by Dec. 14) points 9. Brief Individual Presentation (on Dec. 16) points 10. Demonstrated Professionalism throughout course period points Total 1,000 points (Professionalism will be identified through contributions both in and out of class, positive attitude, and good time management. Superior professionalism can serve to provide extra credit points) 4

5 Week Bachelor of Business Administration Program Class date 1 2-Sep 2 9-Sep 3 16-Sep 4 23-Sep 5 30-Sep 6 7-Oct 7 14-Oct 8 21-Oct 9 28-Oct Online Activity COURSE SCHEDULE* Due date Assessment Pre-Reading for next week Playbook Chapt. 2 and other week's folder Gateway Quiz 4-Sep readings folder Playbook Chapt. 1 & 4 and other week's folder readings folder Quiz of readings, activities Playbook Chapt. 3 & 5 and other week's folder and Chapters 1, 2 & 4 22-Sep readings folder Paper - Why Should Playbook Chapt. 6 & 7 and other week's folder Business Care? 29-Sep readings folder Quiz on readings, activities week's folder and Chapters 3, 5, 6 & 7 6-Oct readings folder week's folder Small Team Analysis 13-Oct readings folder Assigned chapter from Playbook 8- week's folder 17 and other folder Partner Presentation slide week's folder deck and notes due 27-Oct readings folder week's folder Partner Presentations 28-Oct readings folder Read two remaining Playbook Chapt. from 8-17 and other readings folder 10 4-Nov week's folder Partner Presentations NO Exam on readings, 11 CLASS week's folder activities and Chapters Nov Nov week's folder NO 13 CLASS week's folder 14 2-Dec week's folder 15 9-Dec week's folder Final Paper 14-Dec Dec Mini Presentations 16-Dec Playbook Chapt. 18, 19, 20 and other readings folder Playbook Chapt 21, 22, 23 and other readings folder readings folder readings folder *The schedule and assignments are subject to change at the discretion of the instructor or the university. 5

6 Assigned readings are listed for the week prior to the class session for which they are to be completed. Activities, both online and in class, discussions and assessments for any given week are designed with the understanding that the readings for that week, listed as Pre-reading in the prior week, are already completed. Failure to keep on track with the readings will severely impede your ability to participate appropriately and demonstrate proficiency. Quizzes and Exam must be completed by midnight on the date specified and will not be available after the deadline. The Gateway quiz covers the information on the syllabus, introduction to the course shell, and the "Start Here!" Module. Quiz 1 will cover all the material, activities, class discussion, and readings for weeks 1, 2 and 3. Quiz 2 will cover all the material, activities, class discussion, and readings for weeks 4 and 5. The exam will cover all the material, activities, class discussion, and readings for weeks Paper Why Should Business Care? : This paper should synthesize all that you have covered in weeks 1-4. You must complete this assignment by the deadline as indicated in the course schedule. It will not be available after the deadline. Full and detailed instructions are available in BbLearn. Small Team Analysis: This report will be submitted as a single paper from one individual on the team to which your have been assigned. This assignment is due by the deadline as indicated in the course schedule. It will not be available after the deadline. Full and detailed instructions are available in BbLearn. Partner Presentations: Presentation materials, in the form of slides and notes, must be submitted in PDF version as an assignment by the deadline as indicated in the course schedule. It will not be available after the deadline. The in-class presentation will be made by your partner team on one of the two dates specified. Full and detailed instructions are available in BbLearn. Final Paper: This paper should synthesize al that you have covered in this class. You must complete this assignment by the deadline as indicated in the course schedule. It will not be available after the deadline. Full and detailed instructions are available in BbLearn. Mini-Presentation: Nothing needs to be submitted for this assignment other than the final paper noted above. However, on our final class day, I would like each student to share thoughts from their final paper for the rest of the class, focusing on unique areas of their synthesis, and how they see applicability for their career. My assessment of these short presentations will comprise a portion of my overall grade for the final paper. Full and detailed instructions are available in BbLearn. 6

7 COURSE POLICIES Assignments submitted as a requirement for some other class may not be submitted for an assignment in this class. All assignments must be original work of the student, properly referenced, and must be specific work for this class. All work is to be submitted in the appropriate professional style and format (APA). All assignments must be turned in on the due dates specified in the syllabus. Late work will not be accepted unless there are extreme circumstances that are unexpected and unavoidable. Students are responsible for making sure they have assignments and handouts (which are available in BbLearn) and turn in assignments on time through BbLearn. This is an blended online course. Computer literacy is assumed and connectivity is the student s responsibility. Have a back-up plan for accomplishing course requirements. Take exams early so computer or connectivity issues do not pose problems with meeting course requirements. Exams and assignments may not be made up unless arrangements to do so are made in advance or the reason is extreme, unexpected, and unavoidable. Proper tone and attitude in all communications including in class and online s and discussions is required to maintain the professional atmosphere that reflects higher education. This class will be a success for you and others if you take the responsibility for your own learning and then make sure that you share your learning and experiences with the other participants in the class. This is your unique opportunity to display, practice, assess and improve your own learning and leadership. Get in the habit of checking frequently and viewing announcements for new information and reminders. While it may be occasionally necessary for a student to miss class due to personal extenuating circumstances or professional obligations, these events do not relieve students from course responsibilities. Students are expected to notify the instructor if they will be absent from the class. A university education aims to expand student understanding and awareness. Thus it necessarily involves engagement with a wide range of information, ideas and creative representations. In this course of college studies, students can expect to encounter and critically appraise materials that may differ from and perhaps challenge familiar understandings, ideas, and beliefs. Students are encouraged to discuss these matters with faculty and the class. NAU POLICY STATEMENTS: Please review the following policy statements established by the University and the link to the student handbook for University Policies You will find information about plagiarism and student conduct. Plagiarism and dishonest student conduct will not be tolerated in this course. 7

8 Do you know what plagiarism is? It is using the words OR ideas of another author without giving credit to the original author. Plagiarism is dishonest and a serious violation of intellectual honesty and integrity. Therefore, in preparing all your written work, you must cite each reference source used and give proper credit for data, an idea, quotation, or finding. You must cite the source of words OR ideas from a reference source. There must be a short reference to the source in the text and the full citation in your Works Cited at the end of your work (APA style is required.) If you are using a quotation, i.e., citing the exact words from an outside source, that quotation MUST BE IN QUOTATION MARKS otherwise you are guilty of plagiarism. If you put another author s ideas into your own words, quotation marks are not required but you must nevertheless insert a citation revealing the author and source of the material. This applies to written work submitted as part of the required activities as well as the writing of your research report. Failure to cite the source of referenced data and material is a violation of professional ethics and NAU policy. Furthermore it may be a violation of copyright or other intellectual property laws. Therefore, the instructor cannot accept material that contains plagiarism or lacks proper citations of material drawn from other sources. Any reports failing to meet these standards will be returned are subject to the full range of consequences described in the student handbook (from a zero on the assignment to expulsion from the university). 8