Business Ethics Syllabus

Transcription

1 Business Ethics Syllabus Business Ethics, Phil207 Tuesday and Thursdays, 9:30-10:45am, 102 O Connell 3 credit hours; no prerequisites Dr. Wm Mark Smillie, Associate Professor Office Hours: 9:00-10:00, MW; 3:00--4:30, MWTh and by appointment 142 St Charles Hall msmillie@carroll.edu Ph: Coursepage: go to moodle2.carroll.edu (moodle2 button on students page) READING MATERIALS Deni Elliot. Ethical Challenges: Building an Ethics Toolkit Authorhouse: ISBN: New Saints Shoppe. Required text. This is an introduction to ethics and ethical thinking, which includes twenty activities to help you understand ethics. I chose this book because it offers an interactive approach to get everyone thinking, and because it stresses the very basics of ethical action values, the nature of responsibility, the difference between ethics and other practical considerations, the nature of systematic moral analysis, the basics of moral life and growth. Al Gini and Alexei Marcoux. The Ethics of Business: A Concise Introduction. Rowman and Littlefield, ISBN: New, Saints Shoppe. New, short and sweet introduction to Business Ethics that focusses on establishing a few good principles that would create ethical action in business. Various. Several articles about business ethics that are available for you on Moodle. You are responsible for accessing these and printing out a copy for class. Page1 COURSE DESCRIPTION How should a person who wants to act ethically do business? Does ethics even have a place in business activity? To answer these questions, and we shall consider the nature and goals of ethical activity itself, as well as whether business activity requires ethical activity. The

2 focus promises to be very personal in identifying virtues that make business possible, we identify the habits that individual people doing business (all of us!) must develop in order to do business ethically. We are also interested in understanding how these virtues should actually be practiced in the midst of competitive business activity. Specific issues we shall consider include the importance and nature of trust, the role of honesty, reasons for personal self-control, and how the market can be a setting of justice. We shall aim to be realistic about these questions realistic about business but as realistic about ethics too! STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Students taking this course will learn to Identify ethical elements required for business activity Develop and broaden their understanding of how ethical activity within business Develop habits of critical 1 analysis of philosophical ideas and positions Develop a tolerance for ethical disagreement and ambiguity. Disclaimer: 1) Students may vary in their competency levels on these abilities. 2) Students can expect to acquire these abilities only if they honor all course policies, attend class regularly, complete all assigned work on time and in good faith, and meet all other course requirements and expectations. GRADED COURSE REQUIREMENTS Article and chapter analyses: The purpose of our class meetings is to converse about the readings. One-page (no more/no less) summaries of selected articles or chapters are assigned throughout the semester to encourage your preparation for class. These are due prior to the class in which the article/chapter is discussed. No late assignments will be accepted. At the end of semester, two lowest scores will be dropped. (Business) Ethics at the Movies (Ethical Reviews). One review of movie from the approved list of business ethics movies, presented to the class in a pechka-kuchka style power-point presentation. These are graded on the following three areas: (1) following the pechkakuchka style (20 slides, set to automatically advance every 20 seconds, slide content pictorial and avoiding excessive text) 10 points; (2) plot summary (not more than half the presentation, coherent ) 10 points; (3) ethical analysis (relevant, sophisticated, complex consideration of issues, reasonable and justified reactions from speaker) 20 points. Turn a printed out copy of just your slides (use handout option in print command, six slides to a page) either at your presentation, or in pdf format on Moodle. Presentations: Group assignments, instructions to follow. Presentations during the last week of semester. Page2 Tests and Exams. There will be a midterm and a final exam. These tests will cover the material in the texts and covered in class sessions. The final is cumulative. 1 Critical as used in philosophy means to carefully take apart, examine, try to understand and to make better. It isn t a way of being negative about things.

3 Weighting System Article analyses: 35% At the Movies: 15% Presentation: 25% Midterm Exam: 10% Final Exam: 15% Final grade calculation: All points earned for each type requirement will be added according to the specified weight, to total 100. Letter grades for the course will be assigned as follows. (You can track your grade throughout the semester on moodle.) Percentage points Grade A B C Percentage points Below 60 P/F Grade. Grade D F D (60) PREVIEW OF CLASS ACTIVITIES As already mentioned, the purpose of our class meetings is to talk about, examine and understand the readings. Sometimes you will be required to turn in a summary of the class reading prior to class. However, at all times, you are still expected to read the assignment and come to class prepared to discuss it. Philosophical readings can be challenging and the point is not to skim them quickly before class, but to try to think through them and with them. Give yourself enough time to do this. Take notes on the reading as you read; try to identify main points, and most importantly, the arguments provided to support those points. Note areas that you don t understand; write down questions and even your feelings as you read. Try to formulate a response to the arguments that you find do you agree, disagree? Completely or partly? I recommending not highlighting in your book at all: underline in pencil, write notes in the margins, and later summarize in outline notes of your own. And always bring your book to class! Talking: Maybe the most important part of a philosophy class is talking. Talking is thinking; you are encouraged to talk because I want you to think, and it is too easy to not think when we just keep everything inside. Many of you might find talking in class unusual, awkward, difficult, scary, or even embarrassing. One thing to remember is that all of us have the same fears. Everyone should try to challenge themselves to speak just a little more than they would have on their own (even if your voice shakes). I hope that we all will get used to talking with each other in class, and will do my best to make talking in class safe for all of us by learning how to express disagreement with respect and tact. COURSE POLICIES Page3 Attendance and Tardiness Regular attendance is a college policy (see College Catalogue, pg 40). I keep attendance regularly and expect to be informed if some legitimate excuse keeps you from attending class. Students missing more than nine class sessions may be asked to drop the class. Tardiness is disruptive to other members of the class, so please be on time!

4 Late exams/assignments: Assignments are considered late if they are turned in after 5:00 of the day they are assigned. Late assignments will be penalized one half a letter grade for every day they are late. Missed exams may be retaken at the ARC within one week of the exam date. (Students must make their own arrangements with the director of the ARC, and then inform me of their scheduled makeup date.) Students having good reasons for missing a deadline or test should contact me in advance of the deadline. Good reasons include documented medical reasons, documented court obligations, and athletic team commitments, family emergencies. Deadlines will be reset to mutually agreed times in these situations. Academic Honesty Carroll College s policy on Academic Integrity is stated in both the CC Catalogue and in the Student Handbook. The policy reads: Students at Carroll College are expected to have high standards of integrity. Any student who cheats or plagiarizes on examinations or assignments, falsifies college records, or fails to give requested academic information on admission documents is subject to dismissal or other appropriate disciplinary action by the College. Students violating the policy will be referred to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Please see these publications for the correct procedures to follow if you have questions concerning the conduct of this class or the grading procedures (other than a final grade). Plagiarism is an act of fraud and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is both stealing someone else s work and lying about it. It includes the following Turning anyone else s work (including other students ) as your own Copying without giving credit (including copying from the internet) Not putting quotations in quotation marks Incorrectly identifying the source of a quotation Plagiarism also includes copying the sentence structure of a source, even if you changed words, and copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not. All suspected cases of plagiarism will be investigated, and where verified, will be penalized; the penalty can be a severe as immediate failure in the course. If you are unsure about whether some actions constitute plagiarism, please ask me. Campus support services If you believe that you may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, please contact Kevin Hadduck, in order to discuss your specific needs and to determine a reasonable accommodation plan. You may contact Kevin Hadduck in the Academic Success and Disability Services Office, Borromeo Hall, Room 118 (phone: x4504; khadduck@carroll.edu). Page4

5 BUSINESS ETHICS COURSE CALENDAR 2011 Page5 DATE Aug 28 Aug 30 Sept 4 Sep 6 Sep 11 Sep 13 Sep 18 Sep 20 Sep 25 Sep 27 CLASS SUBJECT/ASSIGNMENT Introduction to the Course. What is business? What is ethics? Reading assignment: The ethics of business, chs 1-2; Ethical Challenges, Introduction and Chapter 1, pgs Writing assignment: write a summary of Ethics of Business, Ch 2 due before class. What is ethics, Continued. Reading assignment: Ethical Challenges, Chs 2-3, pgs We will discuss the activities in class. Ethics in Business. Reading assignment: The Ethics of Business, chapter 3, pgs Writing assignment: write a summary of Ethics of Business, Ch 3 due before class. The Good life as the goal of ethics. Reading assignment: Aristotle on the Good Life (Moodle), Epicurus on Pleasure (Moodle) and Advice from Aristotle by James O Toole (moodle). In class: Video on virtue ethics. Writing assignment: write a summary of one of these articles due before class. Is it possible to find ethics in business? Reading assignment: The Ethics of Business, chapter 4, pgs Finding Ethics in Business: Reading assignment: Ian Maitland, Virtuous Markets: the market as a school of the virtues and Bill Shaw, Sources of Virtue [Available on moodle] Writing assignment: write a summary of Maitland due before class. Business values or not: is greed good? Reading assignment: Solomon Schimmel, Greed [avail on moodle]. In class: We will watch and discuss a video called Is Greed Good. Writing assignment: turn in a summary of the video by Sept 23. Trust and Truth. Reading assignment: Chapter 5 of The Ethics of Business. Oct 2 Lying in Business. Reading assignment: Is it ever right to lie? There s no lying in Baseball (Wink, wink) [On Moodle]. Writing assignment: write a summary of one of these articles due before class. Oct 4 Test #1 Oct 9 Oct 11 Oct 16 Oct 18 Midsemester Break Truth in Advertising. Video presentation. Advertising and consumer manipulation? Reading assignment: The Dependence Effect and The Inconclusive Ethical case Against Manipulative Advertising. [On moodle]. Writing assignment: write a summary of one of these articles due before class. Competition and Self-Control. Reading assignment: Chapter 6 of The Ethics of Business. Edward Garcia, The Winner-Take-All Game.

6 DATE Oct 23 Oct 25 Oct 30 Nov 1 Nov 6 Nov 8 Nov 13 Nov 15 Nov 20 Nov 27 Nov 29 Dec 4 Dec 6 Dec 10 CLASS SUBJECT/ASSIGNMENT Writing assignment: write a summary of Chapter 6 due before class. Bluffing in Business Reading assignment: Is Business Bluffing Ethical? Does it pay to Bluff in Business? Writing assignment: write a summary of one of these articles due before class. Sales ethics. Reading assignment: The Ethics of Sales. [on moodle]. Loyalty. Reading assignment: Chapter 7 of The Ethics of Business. Writing assignment: write a summary of Chapter 7 due before class. Justice and Fairness: Respect for Persons. Reading assignment: The Ring of Gyges. Respecting the Humanity in a Person. Justice Ruins the Market [on moodle]. Writing assignment: write a summary of one of these articles due before class. Shopping at Walmart: Is it ethical? Reading assignment: Is it Ethical to Shop at Walmart. The Real Facts about Walmart. In class: viewing video. Writing assignment: write a summary of Is it Ethical to Shop due before class. Shopping at Walmart: Is it ethical? Discussion day. Work-Life Balance. Reading assignment: Chapter 8 of The Ethics of Business. Leisure, the Basis of Culture. Writing assignment: write a summary of Chapter 8 due before class. Big Business. Reading assignment: Chapter 9 of The Ethics of Business. Writing assignment: write a summary of Chapter 9 due before class. Big Business. Reading assignment: TBA Nov 22--Thanksgiving Break Good Leaders. Reading assignment: Chapter 10 of The Ethics of Business. Writing assignment: write a summary of Chapter 10 due before class. Group Presentations Group Presentations Final Day: Presentations, surveys, review for final Final Exam: 8:00-9:45pm (Mon). Final is Cumulative Disclaimer: The above schedule, policies, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances or by mutual agreement between the instructor and the students. Page6 GENERAL Every student must log onto Moodle ASAP (see Students page on Carroll website) and enroll in this course. The moodle site includes copies of this syllabus, and other reading assignments not available in the book store. All written assignments should be submitted on moodle. All assignments will be graded on moodle go there to view your grade and comments from the instructor. The moodle grade book is my grade book for this course;

7 all your grades will be recorded there. (If something is incorrect or missing, you should contact me.) The moodle calendar is the official calendar for the course as well it will include reading assignments as well as other assignments. All students should practice good manners in class and show civility to all. A positive attitude is appreciated and a professional demeanor should be the baseline. This includes such things as remaining alert (and awake!) in class, respecting and never interrupting others, limiting private conversations, and keeping phones and pagers off. In team or group situations, students should cooperate with their team members and obtain their input when working on group exercises and projects. Most group work involves a required peer assessment of each individual s contribution to the group. Absolutely no electronic devices are allowed during exams, and this includes cell phones and laptop. Laptops are allowed at other times during class, with the expectation that you are using them to participate in the class and not as a distraction. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR I am an associate professor in the Philosophy Department. I received a B.A. from Thomas Aquinas College (CA) in 1983; a Ph.D. in 1992, from the University of Notre Dame. I have taught at Notre Dame, Merrimack College (North Andover, MA), North Shore Community College (Danvers & Lynn, MA), Allentown College, (Center Valley, PA), the University of Indiana at South Bend, and Bethell College (Mishawaka, IN). I teach various philosophy courses here at Carroll including Philosophy of Human Nature, Business Ethics, Bioethics, Environmental Ethics, and Medieval Philosophy. My research interests are in Medieval Philosophy, especially the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, and applied ethics. I have given papers/presentations on: Catholic Identity, St. Thomas on God s Omnipotence, End of Life Decision-Making, using technology in the classroom (including Moodle). I ve been married 26 years and have eight kids (including a Carroll grad, class of 2008!). I am involved in various community organizations in Helena and enjoy visiting historical sites, hiking, photography, building things from time to time (and even house remodeling). Page7