1. 1
MGG 199
Corporate & Individual Social Responsibility
Fall 2016
COURSE INFORMATION
Classes meet three times a week: 50 minutes each
Location, Days & Times: TBD
Number of credits: 3
Instructor: Debora Grossman, Clinical Assistant Professor
Office Phone: 645-5208
Secretary’s Phone: 645-3261 (Sharon Cosentino)
Email: dmg33@buffalo.edu (Note: email is the best way to contact me)
UBLearns Web Site: ublearns.buffalo.edu
Office: Jacobs 215C
Office Hours: 3 hours per week, TBD
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is when management decides to “do good for society”. In other words, companies
use some of their profits towards initiatives that benefit society. Some initiatives that are focused on include improving
the environment, donating to charities (locally & nationally), and assisting community programs. These Corporate Social
Responsibility actions obviously benefit our society. But, they also benefit corporations as more and more customers
expect companies to act socially responsible. Satisfied customers can often mean more profit. We will examine specific
examples of CSR. What has been successful? What has been unsuccessful? We will also debate why companies
participate in CSR. Is it more socially-oriented or profit-oriented? Does that really matter as long as our communities
and our world benefit? Furthermore, we will discuss social responsibility on an individual basis and how you can
improve our society as a student, right now.
In addition, this course will help freshmen students make the transition to higher education. College-level skills,
including oral and written communication, study skills, time management, and library skills will be emphasized. These
critical skills will help ensure the success of students during their freshman year, as well as their entire college career.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
Text: Kotler, Lee, Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing the Most Good for Your Company and Your Cause, Wiley, 2004.
Workbook: Doran, Customized Version of Keys to Corporate & Individual Success, Prentice Hall, 2000. (Customization
includes: Time Management; Reading & Studying; Note Taking & Writing; Listening, Memory & Test Taking;
Communications Skills).
Additional Readings As Assigned: Students can expect to read current articles from national publications regarding
Corporate and Individual Social Responsibility. Articles will come from many sources, but the three main periodicals will
be the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg’s Business Week and New York Times. These articles will be posted on UBLearns
and/or handed out in class as hard copies.

2. 2
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Having completed this course, students will be able to:
Course Learning Outcome Maps to the Following
Program Outcomes /
Competencies:
Delivered through the
Following Instructional
Method(s):
Student Achievement
Assessed with the Following
Method(s)/Assignments:
1. Think critically using
multiple modes of
inquiry.
UBGE, SUNY Critical
Thinking, MSCHE Critical
Analysis and Reasoning
Lectures, assigned
readings, interactive
discussion
Reflection paper, journal
writing, class participation,
2. Analyze disciplinary
content to identify
contexts, learn fresh
perspectives, and
debate and discuss
problems in the field.
UBGE, SUNY Information
Literacy
Lectures & class work,
(specifically week 10, as
well as others), assigned
text and periodical
readings & interactive
discussion
Class participation, reflection
paper, journal writing, blog
3. Understand and apply
the methods of close
reading, note taking,
analysis, and
synthesis.
UBGE, SUNY Critical
Thinking, MSCHE Critical
Analysis and Reasoning
Lectures & class work
(specifically week 7), &
assigned readings,
activities
Journal writing, Midterm
exam, final exam
4. Recognize and debate
ethical issues and
academic integrity in
a variety of settings.
UBGE, MSCHE Values,
Ethics, & Diverse
Perspectives
Lectures & class work
(specifically week 10),
assigned readings &
interactive discussion
Class participation, Periodical
reading discussions, &
journal writing, blog
5. Demonstrate
proficiency in oral
discourse and written
communication.
UBGE, SUNY Basic
Communication, MSCHE
Oral and Written
Communication
Lectures & class work,
(specifically week 3) &
Interactive discussion
Two presentations, class
participation & debate,
reflection paper, journal
writing, blog
6. Develop essential
research and study
skills such as time
management.
UBGE, SUNY Information
Literacy
Lectures & class work
(specifically weeks 4 &
7), assigned readings,
workbook activities and
guided research
Library skills workbook,
journal writing (specifically
Journal #5), Class
Participation
7. Utilize the eportfolio
for at least one
assignment.
UBGE, SUNY Information
Literacy, MSCHE
Technological
Competency
Lecture instruction on
requirements & the
posting of materials
Reflection paper
8. Understand the
academic
expectations
pertaining to
studentship at the
University at Buffalo
and to higher learning
at a research
university.
UBGE Lectures & class work
(specifically week 3, as
well as others),
assigned readings
(especially Doran) &
research
Journal writing, Midterm,
Final exam, reflection paper,
blog

3. 3
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
QUIZZES
There will be five online quizzes throughout the semester. Due dates will be provided one week prior.
EXAMS
There will be two exams: a midterm and a final. No makeup exams will be scheduled unless satisfactory documentation
proving an unavoidable circumstance is submitted. An unavoidable circumstance is defined as a documented medical
emergency or a documented family emergency.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
You are required to complete two oral presentations during your recitations. The first will be a general introduction to
yourself: your name, where you are from, why you have chosen to attend the University at Buffalo, and anything else
you would like to share within the time limit (two-to-three minutes). This can be as simple as your favorite movie and
why, your favorite book and why, your job experience, your family, anything you consider unique about yourself, or
anything else you care to share with the class. The second oral presentation will be a brief description of what your
individual social responsibility goals are as a student and the steps you will take how you will to achieve these goals (five
minutes).
COURSE BLOG
You are required to engage with your classmates outside the classroom via a blog. You will be responsible for
submitting 2 original posts to the blog in reference to material such as, text book readings, periodical readings and
anything else you read that may be relevant to the course. You then must submit 2 responses to your classmates’ posts.
REFLECTION PAPER /E-PORTFOLIO PROJECT
This paper will reflect what you have learned about Social Responsibility on an individual basis. You are required to
write a three-to-five page paper (double-spaced) that applies this learning to your life. You should first consider how
you have already participated in individual social responsibility activities, perhaps in high school. Explain how you will
use your past activities as a launching pad for your future activities. The second part of the paper will explain what you
plan to do as an act of social responsibility while you are at UB and the steps you have taken or will take to achieve the
goals. If relevant, discuss people and/or companies that have inspired you and how they have done so. The third part of
the paper is opinion-based and you must explain your reasoning. How important is it to you to participate in social
responsibility? If it was not required in this class, would you participate in social responsibility? Do you believe it is your
responsibility or somebody else’s responsibility to help/improve society/your community/the world? If not your
responsibility, than whose responsibility? Explain your reasoning.
Your reflection paper must be posted in your E-Portfolio. If you have pictures and/or other visuals of your past or future
individual responsible actions, it will be beneficial to include them in your paper for the E-Portfolio.
JOURNAL WRITING
You are required to complete seven journal entries. Each journal entry will be about one one-to-two typed pages
(double-spaced.) The journal entries will vary in topic are listed on the course schedule with specific due dates. The
seven topics are listed here briefly. 1. Your experience with first 2 weeks of college, such as specific adjustments you
have had to make, positive and negative experiences. 2. Keep a calendar for one week. Analyze this calendar & your
time management skills. How do you schedule things: phone, paper, “in head”? How did that work for you? Any
changes/improvements that you are going to make? Did the Doran reading help you improve you time management
skills? If so, how? 3. How did you apply your reading and studying skills learned in Doran assigned for this week (Kotler,
Chapter 5). Did you make any changes in how you usually study? If so, what changes? 4. Write about the research you
conducted for your relevant periodical search. How did you conduct it? Did you face any obstacles and how did you
overcome? What two articles are you using for Journal #5? 5. Brief summary of 2 periodical articles that you
researched re: corporate and individual social responsibility. Compare and contrast the two. 6. Initial thoughts on

4. 4
individual responsibility, research ideas on how you will determine what to do while you are UB. 7. Overall thoughts &
opinions about this course, Positive comments, Constructive criticisms, Recommended changes, if any.
LIBRARY SKILLS WORKBOOK
The Library Skills Workbook is a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students. It takes about two hours to
complete. You will receive an email message (from the library) with your score one week after you submit your
answers. If you miss more than 6 questions, you will be required to do the Retake Test. To complete the Library Skills
workbook, follow the instructions at http://ublib.buffalo.edu/.
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION/CLASS RULES
1. Regular class/recitation attendance and participation are required to succeed in this course. To participate,
students are expected to be prepared for class/recitation. Questions and comments must be relevant to the
topic at hand.
a. Any excused or unexcused absence from either recitation or lecture will have a negative impact on your
grade. (There will be a five-point deduction for the first absence. Multiple absences will result in a full-
letter grade deduction.)
b. TA’s will record attendance. Students will be expected to follow the seating chart and be seated in their
assigned seat for lecture. You will be assigned your seat on the first day. The chart will be posted under
“course information” on UBLearns. Any special request for seating assignments based on special
learning or physical needs should be emailed to your instructor before the end of the first week of class.
c. If you are not in your assigned seat after five minutes from the start of class, you will be marked absent.
d. Attendance will also be taken during your recitation. Recitations will revolve almost entirely of class
participation, including debate, review of readings and assignments, as well as discussion of material
presented during lectures.
2. You are expected to be on time. Class starts promptly. You should be in your seat and ready to begin class at
this time. Packing up your things early is disruptive to others around you and to your instructor. Arriving to
lecture or recitation late (or leaving early) will have a negative impact on your grade.
3. Classroom discussion should be civilized and respectful to everyone. It should also be relevant to the topic we
are discussing.
4. Turn cell phones and other electronic devices off during lecture and recitation.
CLASS CANCELLATION/EMERGENCY PLANNING
Reference the university website for cancellations/delays due to weather or other unforeseen events:
http://emergency.buffalo.edu/campus-weather-alerts.html
GRADING POLICY
Reference can be made to: http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/grading/explanation.shtml#incomplete
The specific grading policy for this class is provided in the following tables:
Grading:
Points Assessment / Assignment
20 Attendance: Lectures & Attendance/Participation Recitations
30 2 Peer Introductions (Oral presentations): first & last recitation (10 points for first, 20 points for last)

5. 5
80 Reflection paper
70 Journal writing (7 journal entries = 10 points each)
50 Quizzes (5 quizzes = 10 points each)
100 Midterm Exam
150 Final Exam
S/US Blogs
S/US Library Skills Workbook
500 Total Points
Course Grades:
Grade Points
A 460-500
A- 450-459
B+ 440-449
B 410-439
B- 400-409
C+ 390-399
C 360-389
C- 350-359
D+ 340-349
D 310-339
D- 300-309
F 299 & below
If you miss a letter grade cutoff, please do not email me to ask that I change your grade. I will sympathize with you, but I
cannot change the grade. With 12 different possible letter grades, there will always be people near a grade cutoff. No
course grades will be adjusted unless there is a bookkeeping or numerical error.
A grade of “I” (incomplete) can be issued to students who are unable to complete the course due to some type of
unforeseen medical or family emergency. Students may only be given an “I” grade if they have a passing average in
coursework that has been completed and have well-defined parameters to complete the course requirements that could
result in a grade better than the default grade. Prior to the end of the semester, students must initiate the request for
an “I” grade and receive the instructor’s approval. Assignment of an “I” grade is at the discretion of the instructor.
Additional information about University grading policies is available at
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/grading/explanation.shtml
EMAIL GUIDELINES
1. Once in a while, emails with important class-related information will be sent to your UB email address. If you do
not routinely use your UB account, you must access it and follow the directions to have your emails forwarded
to your preferred email address. You are responsible for all announcements made through email and/or posted
on UBLearns.
2. The best way to contact your instructor(s) is via email. As a general rule, your emails will be answered within 24
hours. However, please allow for 48 hours for an answer to your email. If you wait until the last minute to
contact an instructor, it is unlikely that he/she will respond back to you in time. You need to plan your
assignments in advance.

6. 6
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Academic integrity is a fundamental university value. Through the honest completion of academic work, students sustain
the integrity of the university while facilitating the university's imperative for the transmission of knowledge and culture
based upon the generation of new and innovative ideas.
 Reference to the university undergraduate policy:
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/policies/course/integrity.shtml
ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES
If you have any disability which requires reasonable accommodations to enable you to participate in this course, please
contact the Office of Accessibility Resources, 25 Capen Hall, 645-2608, and also the instructor of this course. The office
will provide you with information and review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accommodations. Additional
information is available at: http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/ods/

7. 7
COURSE SCHEDULE
The course schedule is provided on the following pages.
All assigned readings must be completed before the date they are listed.
THE ENTIRE COURSE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN REVISED TO SHOW WEEKS, WITH NO SEPARATION BETWEEN LECTURES AND
RECITATIONS (EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW).
Lecture Week Topics
1
--Introduction to course, policies, expectations
--Oral presentations Part 1
2
--Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility: What is it? What is it its role in
the world? Brief history and trends today.
--Library Skills Workbook Kick-off
--Reading: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 1, The Case for Doing at Least Some Good, pp. 1-21
--Online Reading: Library Skills Workbook Instructions
--Finish Oral Presentations, Part 1
--Any questions about Library Skills Workbook?
3
--How effective communication is beneficial to Company Social Responsibility
--Importance of effective communication, both written and oral
--Examples of effective, as well as ineffective communication, both written and oral
--Communications expectations during & after college
--Reading: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 2, Corporate Social Initiatives, pp. 22-48
--Journal Assignment Kick-off

8. 8
--Due: Read & Complete Activities In Doran, Chapter 8, Effective Communication
--Class Discussion of Activities
--Due: Journal #1. Tell us about your first two weeks of college, such as specific
adjustments you have made; positive & negative experiences.
--Discussion of how you applied writing skills from lecture #3 and Doran book for
Journal writing #1; were they helpful tips? If so, why? If not, why not?
4
--Six Options for Corporate Social Responsibility
--Reading: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 3, Corporate Cause Promotions, pp. 49-80
--Due: Reading & Activities in Doran, Chapter 3, Time Management
--Class Discussion of Activities & Journal Assignment Due in Week 5
--Tips for Effective Time Management and Common Pitfalls
5
--Six Options for Corporate Social Responsibility—continued with specific examples
--Reading: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 4, Cause-Related Marketing, pp. 81-113
--Due: Journal #2. Analysis of your calendar & time management for past week;
how do you schedule things: phone, paper, “in head”? ; how did that work for you?
Changes you are going to make.
--Student Discussions of individual time management, what worked, what didn’t
6
--McDonald’s Corporate Social Responsibility Actions
--Readings: 3 Current Periodical articles, TBA
--Due: Reading & Activities in Doran, Chapter 5, Reading & Studying
--Class discussion of activities

9. 9
7
--Discussion of Corporate Social Responsibility Actions Occurring NOW
--Reading: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 5, Corporate Social Marketing; pp. 114-143
--Due: Reading & Activities in Doran, Chapter 7, Listening, Memory, and Test Taking
--Discussion of activities
--Due: Journal #3. How did you apply your reading and studying for readings
assigned this week (Kotler, Chapter 5). Did you make any changes in how you
usually read and study? If so, what changes?
8
--Hewlett-Packard Corporate Social Responsibility Actions
--Review for midterm exam
--Midterm exam will be scheduled for a Friday night during week 8
--Due: 2 Periodical Readings TBA & Discussion of articles
--How to conduct your own periodical research with UB Library
9
--Ben & Jerry’s Corporate Social Responsibility Actions
--Reading: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 6, Corporate Philanthropy, pp.144-174
--Due Journal 4: Write about the research you conducted and how you did it. Did
you face any obstacles and how did you overcome? What 2 articles are you using
for Journal #5?
--Class discussion: did students have different methods of conducting research?
What periodicals did each student look at?
10
--McDonald’s Corporate Social Responsibilty Actions
--Class discussion of McDonald’s actions. What would you do if you were
McDonald’s management? How have your feelings changed (if, at all) about

10. 10
McDonald’s and being a customer of McDonald’s? How does McDonald’s maintain
a set of ethics and integrity while participating in CSR?
--Debate: Do you “trust” when companies participate in Corporate Social
Responsibility? Are they just doing it for improved profits or do they really care
about improving our communities/world? Does it even matter?
11
--Individual Responsibility
--Reading: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 7, Employee Volunteering in the Community
--Class discussion: Your thoughts on individual responsibility. Informal
presentations on what you have done in the past that represents individual
responsibility (volunteering, donating funds, etc.)
--Due: Journal 5. Brief summary of 2 periodical articles that you researched re:
corporate and individual social responsibility. Compare and contrast the 2.
12
--Teamwork & its importance for successful corporate social responsibility
--Kotler, Chapter 8, Socially Responsible Business Practices, pp.207-234
--Teamwork in-class activity: Discussion of what will you do for individual social
responsibility
--Social responsibility on an individual basis: Volunteering (experiential learning) on campus)
--Due: Journal #6. Initial thoughts on individual responsibility, research ideas on
how you will determine what to do
13
--No class-Thanksgiving Recess

11. 11
14
--Ethics and its role in social & individual responsibility
--Readings: Kotler/Lee, Chapter 9, Twenty-five Best Practices for Doing the Most
Good for the Company & the Cause, pp.235-261
--Peer Introductions: Part II
--Due: Reflection Paper
15
--Summary of course "take-aways"; Review for final exam
--Peer Introductions: Part II
--Due: Journal 7; Overall thoughts and opinions about class; Positives, negatives,
recommended changes, if any.
16
--Final Exam, date & time TBD
--Reminder: Library Skills Workbook must be completed by end of semester.