We will have two discussion forums during the semester. Both discussion forums will have to be submitted on Canvas.
While classroom discussions are great, some students often feel shy to speak in class and most of our classroom conversations don't allow us to think more deeply about a topic, especially as a response to the opinion of someone else. Therefore, we will use Canvas as an opportunity to think more deeply about some of the topics we will study this semester. These discussions will focus on critical thinking, reflection, and applying the abstract concepts we study in class to answering some more specific and practical questions.
Discussion 1: Success & Happiness (due on Oct 25 at noon on Canvas)
Many people start businesses to make more money. But a greater number of people start new ventures to gain freedom and independence and are even willing to sacrifice a higher salary in order to do what they love every day by being their own boss. This is because for most people money is just a means to achieve a better life. Ultimately, what most people want is a life full of happiness, which is something we intrinsically value.
But what is happiness and how can you achieve it? You may find some of the insights from the science of happiness rather counter-intuitive and surprising.
Read the article by David Futrelle “Can Money Buy Happiness.” Based on the reading, discuss whether money can buy happiness? Make sure to explain the role of relative vs absolute changes in wealth, the hedonic treadmill, and the set point theory. Give examples from the text to support your answer (e.g., what ranks higher on the scale of happiness: health and interesting job or a luxury car and the latest tech gadget and why?).
Next, watch the following video. In the second paragraph, discuss what are the three most important “ingredients” for happiness according to Epicurus? Out of these three ingredients, which is the most important one for you?
In the third paragraph, explain whether you agree with Futrelle and Epicurus? Do you think that money can make you happy? Do material possessions bring you long-lasting happiness or do they often fall short of delivering on their promise to make you happy? Do you think that relative income (comparisons) is more important than absolute income? And do you define money with success?
Finally, find a product that promises happiness through its ads or some of the other factors that bring happiness (for example, like this video). What is this product and how is the company trying to induce people to buy it? Do you believe that this promise can be fulfilled? Do most companies use this type of strategy when advertising their products? Is this a good strategy? What is the problem with this approach according to Epicurus?
Discussion 2: Predictably Irrational (due Nov 3 at noon on Canvas)
At the heart of every great product or marketing campaign is a behavioral secret! In fact, our ability to make logical and rational choices is closely linked to our ability to experience emotions. Making decisions is also the most important job of any entrepreneur. Bad decisions can damage your business and compromise your personal well-being. However, research shows that people have many irrational tendencies (also called cognitive biases).
Understanding the secrets of human behavior can help you not only design more effective and emotionally appealing products through what's called "choice architecture," but also, and perhaps more importantly, help you make better decisions as you go through your own entrepreneurial journey (and life).
Read chapter 1 from Daniel Ariely’s book “Predictably Irrational.” Why is the idea of “relativity” so important to decision-making according to Daniel Ariely? Discuss the “decoy effect” and use one example from his book to support your answer.
Pick a chapter from the book (other than the ones you read already) and summarize it. What was the main lesson here?
Do you agree with Daniel Ariely that we often don’t know our preferences very well which makes us susceptible to manipulation? Describe a time when you made an inaccurate affective forecast when it comes to a product (service) you purchased. Why do you think that you were so inaccurate? Did you learn from the experience and avoid making a similar inaccurate forecast in the future?
How can you use the lessons from this module to design or market your product/service that you proposed earlier in the semester?
DISCUSSION RUBRIC
Here are some ground rules for your discussion prompts (including a grading rubric).
(1) Please start a new tread in the respective discussion for the week.
(2) Each post should be at least 700 words and it’s worth up to 6 points. Please note that this is a general guideline. Some discussions may require longer posts in order to answer effectively the questions posed.
(3) A good discussion post will show evidence that you have worked through the relevant readings, videos, or other materials for the day, spend some time thinking about the issue, and is free of grammatical errors and typos. It should not be a mere repetition of the readings but should add to the discussion by providing new and relevant information or unique perspective. You should strive to present your argument in a coherent, clear, and scientific way. Avoid saying “I feel that this is right” or “This is wrong because I feel this way.” Rather, give substance to your answer by following with “because” and then citing outside relevant resources and statistics. That is, explain to the reader what made you form your belief about the issue — perhaps it was raw data that revealed a trend, or a person who is authority in this area, or you are using an analogy with another issue.
(4) Always cite your sources so that other students can access your information readily. You don't have to include a bibliography at the end, but you can link different articles/websites/videos using a hyperlink (like this one).
(5) You will have to leave at least two comments to the posts of your peers.
About the comments:
(1) Each reply should be at least 100 words and is worth up to 2 points (4 points total).
(2) If a post already has two comments, then choose another post on which to comment.
(3) Your comments should be more than simply praise or a note of agreement. I want you to interact with the claims made in the post, or with the argumentation: Do you agree or disagree, and why? Is the author overlooking something? You might offer further evidence for the author’s views, or else counter evidence. Try to raise at least one useful question for furthering the discussion.
(4) Feel welcome to comment as often as you wish on the posts. For any given forum, I’ll grade your two most substantial comments (that appear to be 100 words or more), but shorter comments are also welcome, and can add immeasurably to the conversation. Thanks!
(5) If you don't have a main discussion post, I will not grade your comments.
GRADING
Length (0-2 pts)
2 = at least 700 words.
1 = at least 500 words.
Content (0-3 pts)
3 = good discussion, helpful and enjoyable to read, and assertions were justified; exhibits clear evidence of having worked through the relevant readings (if any), and incorporates those readings (where relevant), or that you’ve spend some time thinking about the issue.
2 = coherent discussion, possibly with minor problems of organization or understanding; or a failure to make use of class readings; or a failure to move much beyond the mere assertion of one’s opinion.
1 = serious problems in the organization, or evidence that you’ve misunderstood the topic.
Mechanics (0-1 pts)
1 = flawless writing, impeccable punctuation, with neither typos nor misspellings.
0 = presence of typos, misspellings, or poor punctuation.
Comments on Discussion Forum postings
Each comment will receive up to 2 points:
2 = appropriate discussion, relevant to the entry, and helpful (namely, you respond directly to points made in the post, either offering further evidence in support of some claim, or counterevidence against the claim). You raise at least one useful question for furthering the discussion.
1 = comment is helpful, but either too brief (less than 100 words), poorly justified, poorly written, or fails to further the discussion.
0 = comment is inappropriate, or else shows little evidence of having understood the entry, or else is nothing more than a note of praise or condemnation.