Working Syllabus Draft

Business and Professional Ethics

RPH 270

MWF 11:00-11:50 a.m

Fall, 2009

 

Office Hours: Lyon 321
MWF: 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
or by appointment
Phone: 870-307-7351

E-mail: Click on Mailbox to e-mail professor HH01580A.gif (1311 bytes)

Nature and Purpose of the Course:

This is a course in Applied Ethics, that is, a course which examines how ethical theories can be applied to concrete situations and issues.  As a course in the Religion and Philosophy Department, this class will emphasize critical reasoning and analysis in the study of ethical theory and issues.  The aim of this course is to introduce students to basic concepts and theories in philosophical ethics and to apply those concepts and theories to concrete issues and cases in the areas of business.  Students who are concentrating in Environmental Studies will have opportunities to explore issues in environmental ethics.  Since many of the issues of environmental ethics are intimately related to business and economic interests, the overlap between business and environmental ethics  will be an ongoing topic of discussion throughout the course.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to

Text:

Business Ethics Concepts and Cases by Manuel Velasquez

Supporting Website: http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_velasquez_busethics_6/

Requirements:

Grades will be based upon four exams and a final; several case analyses presentations (done with a partner), a 4000-5000 word social responsibility analysis of a Fortune 500 company. [All written work should be printed double-spaced, 12 pt. font, with one-inch margins. I do not mind students going over the suggested page limit as long as what they write is pertinent to the assignment.]
Attendance & Participation
10%
Exam#1
5%
Exam#2
10%
Exam#3
10%
Exam#4
10%
Exam#5
10%
Case Analyses/Presentations
20%
Social Responsibility Analysis or Bio-ethics Issue Analysis and Presentation (Serves as Final)
25%

Grading Scale: A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=0-59

Collaboration: One's ethical reflection about real life issues does not usually occur in isolation from others.  If we are facing dilemmas at our job, in our personal life, or in our social setting, we generally talk about these dilemmas with others.  For that reason, I would hope that students would collaborate with each other as they study for exams and prepare written work and projects for the course. In many cases collaboration will be required in an assigned presentation. However, I do expect that each student will write his or her own final drafts of essays, as well as take his or her own exams. For example, talking together about how to approach an essay, exchanging ideas, etc., is encouraged, but each student will write his or her own work in his or her own words and pledge them in accordance with the Lyon College Honor Pledge.

Case Analyses/Presentations involve two-to-three students working together on an assigned case study. Each analysis should explain to the rest of the class the important ethical issues raised by the case in light of the chapter that the case is related to. Students are encouraged to find updated information pertaining to the case (all the cases in the text are actual). The presentation should take approximately 40 minutes, not including time for interaction with the rest of the class. There is no one set format--students may want to provide a pro/con debate on issues raised by the case, provide a straightforward explanation of what the case entails ethically, or perhaps dramatize an aspect of the case in order to explicate key ethical issues and concepts. See the Guidelines for Case Analysis/Presentation at http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/groups/rph/rph270/caseanalysis.htm .

The essay analyzing the social responsibility of a Fortune 500 company is also fairly open-ended. However, students should read a sample Social & Environmental Assessment Report from the Ben & Jerry's website at http://www.benjerry.com/company/sear/ in order to get an idea of what a social responsibility analysis might look like. In addition, ethical issues raised by practices, investments, etc., of one's chosen company, should be related to relevant concepts and discussions from our book and the class. Students may want to choose which Fortune 500 company early, since when a company is chosen, no one else may do her/his analysis on that company. If the student chooses to analyze a significant bioethics issue, she/he needs to negotiate the topic with me. Whatever topic a student chooses -- business or bioethical -- students must clear the topic with the professor no later than fall break.

Attendance Policy: Every student is expected to attend all classes and turn in all assignments on time. Good attendance is worth 5% of the attendance/participation grade (Good attendance is having no unexcused absences. Normally, an absence is excused only in advance of the absence, and always at the professor's discretion.) Good attendance will, of course, also enhance the student's ability to succeed in the course, whereas multiple absences will almost always cause a student to do poorly on exams. Late assignments will be graded down five points for each day late.

CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS, AND OTHER ELECTRONICS: Cell phones should either be turned off or put on silent or vibrate in class. They should be put away and not visible. Texting during class is not permitted. If you are awaiting an emergency call, then you should sit near the class entrance, and when your phone vibrates, you should quietly exit and take your call in the hallway out of earshot of the class. Students may use computers in class to keep notes only (unless directed by the professor). Listening to iPods or other mp3 or similar players is prohibited in class. Violation of these requirements will adversely affect your participation/attendance grade for the class.

Credit for Economics, Accounting, & Business Majors: This course is designed to meet a major or minor elective at the 300 level for students in Economics, Accounting, and Business. Blanket approval by the college is pending, however, students may petition to have this course approved by completing a petition form and having signed by me and their advisor.

 

Please note: Students seeking reasonable accommodations based on documented learning disabilities should contact the Office of Academic Services at 307-7332.

 

What is Professional Ethics?

Ethics and Business

Ethical Principles in Business

Sept. 19: First Exam due by 11:59 p.m. (log on to Educator after class Sept. 18 to take the exam; students should study the terminology found in the glossaries and be prepared to discuss cases)

The Business System

Ethics in the Marketplace

Oct. 12: Second Exam due by 11:59 p.m. (log on to Educator to take the exam)

Ethics and the Environment

Oct. 27: Third Exam due by 11:59 p.m. (Log onto Educator to take the exam)

Ethics of Consumer Production and Marketing

Ethics of Job Discrimination

Nov. 17: Fourth Exam due by 11:59 p.m. (Log onto Educator to take the exam)

 

The Individual in the Organization