Lesson correlates with National Business Education Association National Standards for Business Education, 1995, Reston, Virginia.
· Standard IV.  Ethics ... Achievement Standard: Describe the environmental factors that define what is considered ethical business behavior.
 
Level 3 (Secondary) - Performance Expectations: Identify groups to whom international companies are responsible.
American Responsibility

 
TIME REQUIRED:
60 minutes
 
RECOMMENDED GRADE:
Grades 9-12


 
MAJOR CONCEPTS:
 Understanding the responsibilities for American-based companies
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
 Students will
· identify the major groups in the United States to which American enterprises are accountable;· identify the major groups outside the United States to which American enterprises are accountable when they conduct business internationally; and,· identify social and political conflicts faced by American enterprises when they conduct business internationally.

Key Terms:
boycott
ethical standards
home country
host country
issues
multinational enterprises
social responsibility
 
MATERIALS:
· One copy of Handout #1 for each student
 
RATIONALE:
 As the world becomes more internationally integrated, students need to understand the additional responsibilities that American-based enterprises have when conducting business internationally.To further understand the global connection, American-based enterprises must identify the responsibilities needed to conduct business in foreign countries.Students should develop an understanding of these responsibilities, both in the United States and in foreign countries by American-based enterprises.
 
PROCEDURE:
 1. Develop a glossary of terms for the key terms above.
2. Discuss the accountability by American-based enterprises to United States citizens, including environment, social, etc..
3. Identify American-based enterprises that have had problems in foreign countries brought about due to product failure or lack of concern for product name, for example, Chevrolet Nova in Mexico ... “nova” means “no go”.
 
EVALUATION: Close the lesson by having each student develop a Code of Conduct to help guide the actions of an American-based enterprise as it conducts business in the United States.  Use Handout #1 as a guide sheet.  Students must select an American-based enterprise and identify the products marketed by that company.Have each student further develop the Code of Conduct to include guidelines to conduct business in a foreign country.  Use Handout #1 as a guide sheet.  Using the same American-based enterprise used above, select a foreign country for that enterprise to set up business.
 
AUTHOR:
  Gary Schepf, Nimitz High School, Irving, TX.
 
EDITORS:
Les Dlabay, Lake Forrest College, Wildwood, IL.
Robert Ristau, Eastern Michigan University (ret.), Ypsilanti, MI.

 
 
 
 
 

Click here to download Microsoft Word version of the plan including handouts.