Syllabi: Summer 08 - Spring 09DPLS 774 Spring 2009 Leadership and ResilienceDPLS 722 Spring 2009 Quantitative Data AnalysisDPLS 701sp09 Organizational TheoryDPLS 703sp09 Global Systems and Policy AnalysisDPLS 728sp09 Dissertation Scholarship and Conceptual FrameworkDPLS 747sp09 Leadership & Classical EthicsDPLS 748sp09 Leadership and Feminist EthicsDPLS 756sp09 Leadership and Psychology
DPLS 759sp09 Leadership and Economics
DPLS 772sp09 The Invitation of LeadershipDPLS 773sp09 Portraits of Women and LeadershipDPLS 776sp09 Leadership, Authenticity and HospitalityDPLS 705fa08 Leadership and Social JusticeDPLS 706fa08 Leadership and DiversityDPLS 747fa08 Leadership and Classical EthicsDPLS 772fa08 Leadership and the Common GoodDPLS 775 Spring 09 Leading ChangeDPLS 700fa08 Leadership TheoryDPLS 708fa08 Leadership, Restorative Justice, and ForgivenessDPLS 720fa08 Principles of ResearchDPLS 718fa08 Ways of KnowingDPLS 723fa08 Qualitative Research: Theory and DesignDPLS 730fa08 Proposal SeminarDPLS 722su08 Quantitative Data AnalysisDPLS 773su08 - Leadership & SpiritualityDPLS 723su08 - Qualitative Research Theory and DesignDPLS 720su08 Principles of ResearchDPLS 745su08 Leadership and Personal EthicsDPLS 713su08 Leadership & LawDPLS 701su08 Organizational TheoryDPLS 774su08 The Art and Practice of DialogueDPLS 728su08 Scholarship and Dissertation FrameworkDPLS 700su08 Leadership TheoryDPLS 730su08 Proposal SeminarDPLS 775su08 - Leadership, Discernment, and VocationDPLS 703su08 - Global Systems and Policy AnalysisDPLS 730 Spring 09 Proposal Seminar

DPLS 759sp09 Leadership and Economics

Leadership and Economics DPLS 759
Spring 2009                            3 Credits

  

Professor: David Whitfield, Ed.D.
Office Hours:  By appointment
Home Phone: 360.866.9794
Room: Tilford 108
Class Day & Times:  Saturdays   8 - 12
Class Dates:  Jan. 17, 31; Feb. 14, 28; Mar. 7, 21; Apr. 4, 18

Course Description

Economics is the study of how societies produce and distribute the material world—one definition.  The application of economic principles to the solution of current problems or issues with emphasis on capitalism and economies in the Americas, plus economies in a global context will be the focus.   It looks at specific current problems or issues as indicated in this syllabus. Emphasis will be on the consequences of human actions, specifically, the actions of leaders at both macro and micro levels.  Included will be a theory of the consequences of choices, costs of choices, and their implications on U.S. and other economies.  This course also looks at the long term effects of acts or policies: economic, monetary, trade, fiscal, foreign, and strategic, and the consequences of said policies.  Finally, it will examine the criticality of economic fallacies as they relate to the economic survivability of the American economy, and how those fallacies affect other economies.

Required Texts

 1.      Hawken, P. (1994). The ecology of commerce: A declaration of sustainability.  NY: HarperCollins.  [ISBN: 0-88730-655-11]

2.      Klein, N. (2008). The shock doctrine: The rise of disaster capitalism. New York: Metropolitan Books.  [ISBN: Paperback or Hardback]

3.      Peterson, P. G. (2004). Running on empty: How the democratic and republican parties are bankrupting our future and what Americans can do about it. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. [ISBN: 0-312-42462-0]

4.      Rough, J. (2002).  Society’s breakthrough! Releasing essential wisdom and virtue in all the people. Bloomington, IN: 1st Book Library  [ISBN: 0-7596-9168]

Course Objectives

1.      Introduce the concept that comprises basic economic literacy;
2.      Explore, critique, and document current problems or issues as they relate to the survivability of the US as an economic power;
3.      Discuss the meaning and consequences of shock doctrine and disaster capitalism;
4.      Present major economic ideological perspectives to illuminate policy debates: oil, genetically engineered food, greed, plus;
5.      Explore the concepts of “poverty” in the United States and other geographical areas;
6.      Discuss the different types of policy: fiscal, trade, economic, etc.;
7.      Help strengthen your analytical skills and communications skills through course readings, written assignments, class discussions, and presentations;
8.      Explore the relationship between war and economics; and,
9.      Explore the effects of human action, specifically leader behavior, decisions related to economic matters; and,
10.  Discuss the ecology of commerce, its implications on sustainability, survivability, ecological economics, economic systems, etc.

Course Requirements

a.       Read the texts and other relevant material to improve your economic literacy.
b.      Select at least one of the current economic problems, e.g., “Worms in America’s Apple,” and produce a scholarly paper, with history, statistics, implications, and suggested solutions; complement your sources with the texts and journal articles.  See paper requirements below.
c.       Choose an economic topic/issue, link up with at least two other class members and make a presentation to the class.  See note below on Group Presentations.
d.      Finally, participate in class discussions to contribute to understanding of reading material and current economic events in the US and the world at large.

Evaluation:  Final Grade will be based on

 ·         Written assignments  

·         Group presentations

·         Class Participation  

 Please Read This Before You Start Writing

Select at least one of the “Worms”/issues below

  1. For Paper #1, using ideas and concepts from Society’s breakthroughs! Releasing essential wisdom and virtue in all the people (Rough), write a scholarly paper indicating the history, statistics, implications, suggested solution (s) for economics in general and for society in particular of the “Worm” you choose. This may be a part of your group presentation.  Using APA, your paper will not exceed 12 double-spaced, pages, not including references. Scholarly papers have an introduction, a body, conclusions, recommendation/solutions, and references.  30%

 *      Apathy/Complacency

*      Mediocre School Systems

*      Continuous Discrimination

*      Functional Illiteracy

*      Innumeracy

*      Deficit—How many trillion?

*      Hegemony

*      Terrorists

*      Corporate/Other Graft

*      AIDS

*      Corporate Greed

*      Fiscal Policy

*      World War II Thinking

*      Drugs

*      Immigration

  1. Read one book on economics—this may include Running on Empty (Peterson), or The ecology of commerce: A declaration of sustainability (Hawken), or a relevant book of your choosing—written for laypersons. Produce a scholarly critique (paper) to include thesis, comparing and contrasting at least two economic policies (e.g., foreign, domestic, fiscal), implications (economic, educational, social, political, etc.) and one economic theory. Your paper will not exceed 12 double-spaced pages, not including references.  30%

  1. Group Presentations, not to exceed 25 minutes:  This is a scholarly presentation consisting of handouts, PowerPoint, or whatever tools you deem necessary.  The presentation will either be for a decision, persuasion, informational, with at least one “Take-Away.”  You may use one of your papers as a basis for the presentation. 25%

NOTE:  As part of Class Participation: (a) please prepare three (3) 2-page, double spaced papers on an economic topic/issue: include data/statistics, information, stories, etc.  Include in your discussion leadership implications. Be prepared to share with the class for discussion; (b) Plus, at least 4 class summaries, meaning that after each class of your choosing (unless requested by instructor), e-mail the instructor a 1- to 2-page summary (high points) of the class(es) of your choice. (c) participate in Blackboard discussions as the class progresses. Expect 2- to 3-minute impromptu writing exercises, in class.  15%

 Video:  “The Corporation,” as time permits

Spring 2009

Readings

Topics

Deliverables

Jan 17

Study texts and outside materials

Introduction/Overview

Contributors to economic theory

 
Jan 31

Study texts and outside materials

What is “economic well being”?

First 2-page paper on economics issue due

Feb 14

Study texts and outside materials

Deficit

Foreign Aid

Fiscal Policy

Feb 28

Study texts and outside materials

Oil Market

War vs. Economics

First Scholarly Paper

Mar 7

 Study texts and outside materials

Coffee

Genetically Engineered Foods

Second 2-page paper on economics issue due

Mar 21

 Study texts and outside materials

Diamonds

Poverty

Immigration

Start Group Presentations

Third 2-page paper on economics issue due

Apr 4

 Study texts and outside materials

Trade

Human Capital: Illiteracy, Innumeracy

Apr 18

 Study texts and outside materials

Summary, Wrap-up, Q&A

Evaluations

Second Scholarly Paper

Fourth 2-page paper on economic issue due

Reading List

Anonymous. (2004). Imperial hubris: Why the west is losing the war on terror. Washington, D. C.: Brassey’s, Inc. ISBN: 1-57488-849-8 (alk.paper)

Berman, K. & Knight, J. (2006). Financial Intelligence: A manager’s guide to knowing what the numbers really mean. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

 Bennis, W., Spreitzer, G. M., & Cummings, T. G. (2001). The future of leadership: Today’s top leadership thinkers speak to tomorrow’s leaders. San Francisco, CA:  Jossey-Bass.

 Callahan, G. (2002).  Economics for real people: An introduction to the Austrian school. Auburn, Alabama: The Ludwig von Mises Institute.

 Chomsky, N. (2003. Hegemony or survival: America’s quest for global dominance. New York: Metropolitan Books.

 D’Aveni, R. A. (2001).  Strategic supremacy: How industry leaders create growth, wealth, and power through spheres of influence. New York, NY: The Free Press.

 Derber, C. (2002). People before profit. New York, NY: Picador.

 Drucker, P. F. (1999). Management challenges for the 21st century. New York: HarperCollins.

 Fialka, J. J. (1997).  War by other means: Economic espionage in America. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.

 Hazlitt, H. (1979). Economics in one lesson: The shortest and surest way to understand basic economics. New York: Three Rivers Press.

 Heilbroner, R. & Thurow, L. (1998). Economics explained. New York, NY: Touchstone

 Hoffman, R. E., Schwartz, M. S. (2001). Business ethics: Readings and cases in corporate morality, Fourth Edition.  Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

 Kotlikoff, L. J. & Burns, S. (2004). The coming generational storm: What you need to know about America’s economic future. London, England: The MIT Press.

 Levitt, S. D. & Dubner, S. J. (2005). Freakonomics: A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. New York, NY: William Morrow

 Marable, M. (2002). The great wells of democracy: The manning of race in American life. New York: BasicCivitas Books.

 Nanus, B. (1992). Visionary leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

 Peterson, P. G. (2004). Running on empty: How the democratic and republican parties are bankrupting our future and what Americans can do about it. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

 Rosen, R., Digh, P. Singer, M. & Phillips, C. (2000). Global literacies: Lessons on business leadership and national cultures.  New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

 Schiller, B. R. (1989). The economics of poverty & discrimination. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice-Hall.

 Tapscott,D. Ticoll,  D. (2003). The naked corporation: How the age of transparency will revolutionize business. New York, NY: Free Press.

 Toffler, A. & Toffler H. (1995). Creating a new civilization: The politics of the third wave. Atlanta, GA: TurnerPublishing, Inc.

 Yergin, D. & Stanislaw, J. (2002). The commanding heights: The battle for the world economy. New York: Simon & Schuster.

 Zakaria, F. (2003). The future of freedom: Illiberal democracy at home and abroad. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

 The 9/11 Commission report: Final report of the national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States (2004). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company