PUA 450: Business, Government and Society

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Instructor:

Raymond E. Foster, MPA

 

Course Description:

This course introduces the learner to theories and concepts in the relations between business, government, and society. Concepts to be examined include models of business and government relations, business ethics, social responsibility, government regulation, and global forces shaping the government and business environment.

Learning Results:

• Describe the organizational chart of the government of the United States;
• Explain the structure and design of public organizations charged with regulating the business and economic environment;
• Explain concepts and related public administration and management jargon;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the main theories of business ethics;
• Summarize and apply the main theories of business-government relations; and,
• Compare and contrast government regulations of business throughout U.S. history.

 

Source Material:

Steiner, J. & Steiner, G. (2006) Business, Government and Society: A Managerial Perspective. 11th Edition, McGraw-Hill, ISBN No. 0071198997

 

Expanded Descriptions of Assignments

Forum Participation
Through the forum you will be able to participate and establish a dialogue with other learners in this course as well as other courses being taught by your instructor. To receive full credit for participation you must answer each discussion question and respond to at least one other learner/student in the same discussion question. Minimally, you will complete two posts on the forum during each module for a total of eight postings (four original, four responses). Links to the specific questions are on each module page.

Public Service Ethical Dilemma Issue Paper
The Institute for Local Government (ILG) has an analysis of 40 Public Service Ethical Dilemmas (their website is hyperlinked off the course website). Browse them and select one. Compare and contrast what your text book (primarily chapters five through eight) says about social responsibility and ethics against the ILG’s analysis of the dilemma. Prepare a 4-6 page essay on your analysis. Your work should be academically formatted, including appropriate citations to the book or the ILG dilemma; and, whatever independent research you choose to conduct.

Link to The Institute for Local Government

Group Project Paper and Panel Discussion
Learners will be organized by group. Describe an instance of government intervention at the local level. Local newspapers, city council meetings and city websites are a good source for issues. At a minimum address: 1) the rationale for intervention; 2) identify and analyze all the stakeholders (especially the group the intervention was attempting to protect); 3) how was the intervention accomplished (was there a new committee, reviewing authority, regulation, law, etc); 4) how does the local intervention fit with state and federal efforts; 5) identify any unintended consequences; and, 6) draw conclusions and make recommendations. Your group paper should be 8-10 pages in length. Your group should be prepared to conduct a 30 minute panel discussion on the intervention.
 

General Written Work Guidelines
All papers are must be scholarly in nature. Superior work with follow APA format (if you would like to use another academic format please discuss it with the instructor). However, at a minimum, it is expected that learners will use: 12PT font, double space, one inch margins and proper citing/sourcing. Moreover, assignment page counts do not include title, abstract, reference pages, etc.

Ethical Conduct
Learners should be aware that there are severe consequences for violations of academic ethical conduct. Primarily, we are concerned with cheating and plagiarism. Learners who are determined to have cheated or committed plagiarism will face disciplinary action as identified within UI&U regulations. For additional clarification of cheating and/or plagiarism, refer to the UI&U Catalog for policies regarding Academic Integrity. Each paper submitted in this course must be original work. Recycling papers from previous courses is considered academic dishonesty.
 

Learning Evaluation:
Grading:
Participation 10%
Website Review 10%
Discussion questions 30%
Issue Paper 25%
Group Project 25%
Semester Total 100%

 

A	90-100%
B	80-89%
C	70-79%
U	69% and Under

 

 

 

 

Download a copy of the Course Syllabus