Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model
4.8
98 ratings
Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model
University of Michigan
About this Course
Successful decision making is based on three key pillars: strategy, law and ethics. After taking this course you will be able to use a practical framework based on these three elements to make successful business, personal and leadership decisions.
This course opens with an example of a leadership decision: President Barack Obama’s strategic decision to capture or kill Osama bin Laden. The course then shows how the three elements can be used to prevent a tragedy when making a personal decision.
The rest of the course focuses on making successful business decisions. In essence, to achieve business and career success, you must create value (strategy) and manage risk (law) in a responsible manner (ethics).
Because the Law Pillar plays a central role in the three pillar model, the course includes practical legal briefings (with many examples) on the key elements of business success. Specifically, the course shows you how to:
• attract the best employees,
• develop successful products,
• create new business models,
• protect intellectual property,
• create contracts that achieve business goals, and
• use dispute resolution processes that improve business relationships.
Using a global perspective, the course also provides an introduction to international business culture for learners from the United States, and an introduction to the U.S. business culture for learners from outside the U.S.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
Welcome to Making Successful Decisions through the Strategy, Law & Ethics Model!
This course will enable you to use the Three Pillar model to manage business risk and create value in an ethical manner. You will also be able to use the model when making personal decisions. After completing this introductory module, you will understand the course goal and game plan.
2 videos (Total 28 min), 6 readings
6 readings
How to Succeed in this Course10m
Help us learn more about you!10m
Earning a Course Certificate10m
About the Professor10m
Syllabus10m
Suggested Readings10m
2
Section
Use the Three Pillar Model for Personal, Leadership and Business Decisions
In this module you will learn the basic structure of the Three Pillar model and the importance of thinking globally in today’s business world. You will also learn a practical decision making tool that you can begin to use immediately for personal and business decisions. Suggestion: The videos are viewed by learners from around the world. English is not the primary language for many of these learners. As a result, when shooting the videos I have attempted to speak in a slow and deliberate manner. If English is your native language, I recommend that you increase the speed to at least 1.25x.
8 videos (Total 79 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
Use the Three Pillars for Business Decisions8m
Recognize the Gap Between the Strategy Pillar and the Law Pillar14m
Close the Gap: Become a Legally Savvy Leader5m
Course Organization and a Practical Decision-Making Tool8m
Develop a Global Mindset13m
Understand Litigation from a Global Perspective13m
Beware of the Impact of “Discovery” on Your Daily Work8m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
3
Section
Use Employment Law to Attract and Retain the Best Business Talent
Your ability to attract and retain the best employees is essential to business success. This requires an understanding of employment law. The videos in this module cover two of the most important and controversial areas of employment law: the ability of a business to fire employees and sex discrimination. After watching the videos, you will be able to manage employment risks in these areas, while also attracting the best talent to your business.
8 videos (Total 73 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
Understand Wrongful Discharge Law: US vs Other Countries6m
Beware of Exceptions to the Employment at Will Rule9m
Manage Your Wrongful Discharge Risks8m
Manage Your Defamation Risks11m
Understand Anti-Discrimination Laws and Sexual Harassment10m
Manage Sex Discrimination Risks: A Case Study10m
Value Creation: Attract and Retain the Best Talent11m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
4
Section
Meet Your Customers’ Needs: Transform Product Liability into Product Innovation
In a fast-changing world, your ability to develop new products is an important source of competitive advantage. The videos in this module provide you with methods for managing product liability risks. You can use these same methods for consumer research and new product development.
12 videos (Total 106 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
12 videos
Understand Your Risks from Negligence and Strict Liability7m
Recognize the Business Liability Risks That Arise From Actions of Employees8m
Manage Your Risks Caused by Employee Torts: A Cell Phone Example7m
The “Two Hats” You Wear When Dealing with Product Liability7m
Exercise Care When Giving Warranties5m
Override the Implied Warranties That Accompany Your Products11m
Understand the Dramatic Impact of Strict Liability on Your Business10m
Balance Risk and Benefits When You Design Products5m
Create a Corporate Veil to Manage Your Product Liability Risks12m
Use a Product Safety Team to Minimize Your Product Liability8m
Use Your Product Liability Process to Create Value Through New Product Development11m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
5
Section
Create Business Opportunities Through Government Regulation
Government regulation plays an important role in determining the success of businesses around the world. In this module you will learn how to manage government regulatory risk by shaping the law and through compliance. You will also learn how to create business opportunities by anticipating regulation (the Regulatory Frontier Strategy) and by developing business models based on gaps in regulation (the Regulatory Gap Strategy).
5 videos (Total 47 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
5 videos
Beware of the Government’s Administrative Process6m
Use These Strategies and Tactics to Influence Development of the Law13m
Focus on Compliance and the Fifth “P” of Marketing to Manage Regulatory Risk4m
Value Creation: Use the Regulatory Frontier Strategy and the Regulatory Gap Strategy to Develop New Products and New Business Models13m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
6
Section
Use Your Intellectual Property to Create Shareholder Value
Whether you are an entrepreneur starting your own business or a manager in a major international corporation, intellectual property is one of your key business assets. In this module, guest lecturer Susan Kornfield, a leading intellectual property lawyer, will explain how to create, protect and use your intellectual property in the US and internationally. The module is divided into the four key areas of intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents. Although these areas can be technical and complex, she brings them to life with many fascinating examples. Each of the four sections concludes with a summary of a lawyer’s perspective on intellectual property (which tends to focus on risk management) and a business perspective (which focuses on value creation).
12 videos (Total 188 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
12 videos
Understand How Trademarks Affect Your Business Success15m
Build Your Brand with These Types of Marks15m
Avoid These Trademark Problems17m
Decide When to Use Copyright Protection14m
Use Lessons from “The Social Network” and Other Examples15m
Know When Your “Fair Use” of Copyrighted Works is Allowed15m
Use This Checklist of “Reasonable” Efforts to Protect Your Trade Secrets19m
Understand How Trade Secret Rights Arise15m
Use These Key Lessons to Create and Protect Your Trade Secrets13m
Use the Power of Patents to Protect Your Discoveries and Inventions15m
Understand the Seven Step Process Before Deciding to Obtain a Patent22m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
7
Section
Develop Contracts that Create Value for Both Sides
Successful contracts are the key to value creation for businesses. This module provides a contracting checklist of the key elements anyone in business should understand when negotiating contracts. These elements are necessary to minimize risk by creating a “perfect” contract. However, because a legally perfect contract can also be harmful to business success, the module also covers how to focus your contracts on business objectives and how to visualize contract terms to increase your understanding.
7 videos (Total 73 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
Understand International, Business, and Personal Perspectives on Contracting5m
Know the Sources of Contract Law10m
Enter into an Agreement13m
Include Consideration and Determine Legality8m
Avoid Traps from Contract Writing Requirements16m
Focus Your Contracts on Business Objectives for Value Creation17m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
8
Section
Use Dispute Resolution Processes for Value Creation
This module focuses on the processes that you will use to resolve disputes and build relationships that are key to business success. Short videos demonstrate arbitration and mediation processes. The module includes discussion of practical management tools you can use immediately to manage risks relating to business disputes: a corporate pledge, screens, contract clauses, and online resources. The module also shows you how to dispute resolution for value creation, including using the power of apology and a life goals analysis.
9 videos (Total 104 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
9 videos
Prevent Business Disputes11m
Understand ADR Concepts8m
Use These ADR Management Tools8m
Resolve Your Disputes Through Arbitration20m
Resolve Your Disputes Through Arbitration (Conclusion)9m
Resolve Your Disputes Through Mediation23m
Resolve Your Disputes Through Mediation (Conclusion)8m
Closing Thoughts: Create Value and Build Relationships through the Power of Apology and a Life Goals Analysis11m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
9
Section
Create and Lead an Ethical Business
This module focuses on the Ethics Pillar of decision making by addressing three questions that are important to your career success: (1) What decision-making process should you use when facing an ethical dilemma? (2) What guidelines should you consider when analyzing the dilemma? (3) How can your best serve as an ethical leader in you organization? In answering these questions, the module shows how you can use the Law Pillar and the Strategy Pillar to embed ethical standards into your business and create an ethical organization.
4 videos (Total 37 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
4 videos
Use This Process When Making Ethical Decisions6m
Consider This Checklist of Guidelines When You Face Ethical Dilemmas14m
“Walk the Talk”: How to Lead an Ethical Organization10m
2 readings
After completing this module, you will be able to:10m
Suggested Readings10m
1 practice exercises
Show What You Know20m
10
Section
Final Examination
This module includes the final examination, including both the relevant instructions and honor code.
2 readings, 1 quiz
2 readings
Final Examination: Instructions and Honor Code10m
Post-course Survey10m
1 practice exercises
Final Exam40m
4.8
83%
Top Reviews
By AJ•Aug 4th 2016
Mind blowing. Though i was somewhat aware of these aspects of Strategy, Law & Ethics, but were pleasantly enlightened by the course material that had organised my thoughts more clearly. Thanks a ton.
By JM•Mar 28th 2017
Really interesting and useful. The modules covers a wide range of subjects regarding ethics, law and strategy issues. You can get tips and skills to put into practice in
Instructor
George Siedel
Williamson Family Professor of Business Administration and Thurnau Professor of Business LawAbout University of Michigan
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
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