American Business Culture 4219-SE014
The course will consist of 3 basic modules:
1. The Cultural Roots of the American Business Model
The dimensions of culture and their manifestations in US business:
icons, symbols, practices
2. The Images of American Business and the American Businessman
From community man to new manager. Profiles of major American business figures, their distinctiveness and impact on American culture. Businesswomen and the masculinity of American business.
3. Selected economic and business issues in the context of the US society and culture:
Dominating economic doctrines
Free market vs. government (regulation vs. deregulation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, lobbying)
US companies, industries and major economic institutions
Economic inequality issues (income, poverty, wages and compensation, wealth, mobility)
The specificity of the US labor market, social policy and labor movement.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course students will have:
• basic knowledge that will allow them to:
o understand the cultural underpinnings of the American business model
o recognise the institutional structure of American business
o be familiar with a number of important historical and contemporary figures of American business and economics
o be familiar with dominating economic doctrines and major differences between them
• skills that will allow them to:
o place current U.S. economic events/processes/developments in a broader social and cultural context
o identify and interpret cultural underpinnings of U.S economic events/processes/developments
o compare American business culture with other national/regional business cultures
• competences that will allow them to:
o recognize the importance of cultural differences in approach to business
o be prepared to work in American and international business environment
o understand the dominant traits of American business culture
Assessment criteria
The final grade will be based on:
1. The result of mid-term project based predominantly of assigned readings and class discussions. It will require creativeness and understanding of discussed topics. With the emphasis on understanding! Only positive or neutral grade. Positive grade raises final grade by 1, neutral by 0.
2. The result of final test summarizing the whole course: lectures, readings, assigned movies, class discussions - a format of multiple choice questionnaires and True or False statements. Most questions will check your comprehension rather than memory.
Structure of the final grade:
70% - the result of the final test +0/05/1 (depending on the result of the midterm project)
30% - active class participation (discussions, presentations)
Bibliography
Selected parts:
Bell D. The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism
Bellah R (ed.) The Habits of the Heart
Frank T. One Market Under God
Friedman M. Capitalism and Freedom
Fukuyama F. Trust
Hall, E. T. and Hall M.R. Understanding Cultural Differences
Harrison L.E., Huntington S. P. eds. Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress
Lessig L. Republic, Lost
Livesay H.C. American Made. The Men Who Shaped the American Economy
Merton R. Social Theory and Social Structure
Micklethwait J. and Wooldridge A. The Company.
Putnam R. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
Rand, A. The Atlas Shrugged
Rand A. The Virtue of Selfishness
Smith A. The Wealth of Nations.
Weber M. The Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism
Tocqueville A. Democracy in America
FILMS (selection):
INSIDE JOB (2010) dir. Ch. Ferguson
• The Rockefellers (2007) History Channel series
• Inequality for All (2013) dir. J. Korbluth (in-class screening of fragments if time allows)
• There Will Be Blood (2008) dir. P. T. Anderson
• Mad Men (2007- ) dir. M. Weiner, AMC cable TV series
• North Country (2005) dir. N. Caro
• Social Network (2010) dir. D. Fincher
• The Corporation (2006) dir. Abbott and Achbar
• Wall Street (1987) dir. O. Stone
• American Psycho (2010) dir. M. Harron
In addition, a selection of articles and movies as well as a number of quality sources of primary statistical data available in the internet will be indicated.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: