Overview
You will write a short reflection paper. The paper should be based upon i) the related assigned readings and class lecture/discussion on the topic preceding the debate; ii) relevant ethical considerations; and iii) the content of the in-class debate. The intention for this reflection is for you to integrate across these various materials and for you to critically think about the policy issues involved.
Your reflection should include a discussion of your own position on the policy and must make specific references (by name) to the debaters and their in-class arguments. You should primarily reflect on what your initial position was and whether the debate reinforced your position, flipped it, or modified what arguments/evidence you use to support it.
Formatting Guidelines, Submission, & Due Dates
Each reflection should be no more than three pages, double-spaced. Its margins should be 1 inch on all sides, and the font should be 10-12 points. There is no need to conduct any outside research, but if you are referencing material from additional reading you have done, then please cite it via footnote.
DEBATE RESOURCES:
RESOLVED: CEOs of publicly traded corporations should speak out on socio-political issues of concern to their employees.
The affirmative team will need to argue in favor of this proposition, with the negative team arguing against it. All students should complete the essential background reading below, as well as at least one reading from the affirmative side and one reading from the negative side. The participants in the debate should complete all of the below readings, as well as their own further research on the topic.
Essential Background Reading: “The New CEO Activists.” Harvard Business Review; limited free views available here (so be sure to save/print): https://hbr.org/2018/01/the-new-ceo-activists
Additional Background from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/publications/double-edged-sword-ceo-activism site.
Readings on the Affirmative Side
- From Mark Benioff (CEO/founder of Salesforce and early CEO activist writing in the New York Times): https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/14/opinion/benioff-salesforce-capitalism.html
- From Edelman (a leading global public affairs consultancy): https://www.edelman.com/post/ceo-activism-taking-risks-to-build-trust
- From Management Science (skim to understand research findings): https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4971
Readings on the Negative Side
- From Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogertrapp/2023/07/14/how-activist-ceos-can-pick-how-and-where-to-make-a-stand/
- From Harvard Business School (via Forbes India): https://www.forbesindia.com/article/harvard-business-school/what-are-the-limits-of-ceo-activism/48101/1
- From UCLA’s Anderson School of Management (includes a link to underlying research, which you can skim): https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/ceos-risk-alienating-customers-with-high-profile-activism
USE THE PDF I HAVE ATTACHED WITH MY NOTES FROM THE DEBATE. Use these notes and take whatever original and final stance that you want. Let me know if you have any questions. NO USE OF AI TO WRITE.