BUSINESS ETHICS 22-MGMT-715 Spring 2015 Credit Hours: 2 Dr. Ratee Apana (apanar@uc.edu) Office: 511 Lindner Hall Office Hours: Wednesdays 2-3 or by appointment.. Telephone: 556-7074 Communication Policy: Students are encouraged to contact me anytime via email or phone. A response will be given within 24-48 hours except on weekends. SEMINAR OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: This seminar is designed to help participants: 1. Understand the principles of moral decision-making in global business, 2. Understand the concept of corporate social responsibility, 3. Identify the trade-offs that face an ethical manager, 4. Understand how competitive advantage maps on to corporate social responsibility. 5. Other objectives of the seminar include: -Exposing participants to the leading thinkers in ethics and corporate responsibility -Exposing participants to recent corporate examples of the challenges in this area. COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: to acquire a basic and clear understanding of philosophical ethics to acquire an ethical framework, so as to attack moral problems critically and comprehensively to get experience in presenting and evaluating arguments in both oral and written formats to examine and discuss competing positions on a range of issues facing business and society COURSE MATERIALS: The required course material is a course packet containing items from the Harvard Business School and Darden Publishing available at www.study.net (see Student Instructions on Black Board). You may also purchase these individually. COURSE STANDARDS: The primary objective of this seminar is to develop a basic understanding of the challenges related to business ethics and corporate social responsibility facing a manager in a global market.
The course format is pragmatic and action-oriented. Participants are exposed to the state-of-the-art conceptual models and obtain hands-on experience in using these models to analyze some of the best cases that are available today. This \ class meets s e v e n times this semester Spring 2015. Classroom activity will include lectures, video lectures, instructor-led discussions, group presentations and group discussions. We will rely on open, in-depth discussions of the assigned topics. Active participation in class and regular attendance are important determinants of the value delivered in this seminar. Students are expected to have previously read and prepared the assigned materials for each class and should be ready to present their thoughts in class. Preparation should include written notes that identify the major themes in the material, list the salient points, and provide quick reference to critiques and questions. Students may be called on to brief the class on their assessment of issues, discuss their analysis of the reading, debate issues, role-play managers in the case, act as outside consultants on the problems, or to participate in short written exercises related to the topics or the cases. Attendance is always critical component for achieving success in any course. Please make sure you have read through the participation grade policy for the class. Grade Standards Class Participation 15% Quizzes/mini assignments 10% Critical Review Report - 20% Case Analysis Report - 20%) In-class Assignment 20% Case Analysis (group presentation) 20% Total 105% (5 extra credit points) CLASS PARTICIPATION (Unstructured and structured) The class participation portion of your grade is designed to build your skills in effective, interactive, professional discourse. In addition to reading material for the class, you will be pre-assigned readings that you are required to analyze or summarize in class. In addition to reading and internalizing the assigned reading material, a good way to be mentally prepared for this activity is to answer the questions: (1) what is the central theme of this case/reading? (2)What insight about ethics did I gain from this case/reading? (3) How does this reading contribute to my learning in this course? In week 6, each course participant is required to submit a 1-page self-evaluation of his / her class participation. This self- evaluation will include: -An overall score on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 10 (Excellent) reflecting your evaluation of your participation over the quarter. -The score you assign yourself should be governed by the following standards: Occasionally prepared for class, no participation score 6.5 to 7.5 Consistently prepared, all readings covered, minimal or no participation score 7.6 to 8.5 Consistently prepared, occasional participation, focus on facts of case/reading 8.6 to 9 Occasional participation, focuses on analysis, takes a position and supports it 9.1 to 9.5 Consistent participation, comprehensive analysis 9.5 to 10 -A qualitative summary describing the nature of your participation and an assessment of its value and contribution to the specific session in which you participated. We will try to maintain the highest professional standards in our class discussions: show concern and care for your fellow-students; avoid aggressive monopolization of air time. Your self-evaluation sets the stage for my evaluation
of your class participation. The final score that you earn for class participation will be based on your self-evaluation and my evaluation of your performance in class. (Please scroll down this document to view all 4 attachments) Attachment 1 At the end of the course all course participants are expected to print the blank Class Participation Self Evaluation form (see Attachment 1 at the end of this course syllabus) fill it out and submit a filled-in hard copy to the instructor. Apart from unstructured Class Participation which each individual is invited to do by simply raising his/her hand and contributing to the class proceedings in a meaningful way, this course features structured class participation. Attachment 2 The Instructor will call on specific individuals to summarize and analyze specific pre- assigned readings or cases as listed in Attachment 2. Needless to say your performance in the structured Class Participation is dependent on your doing the appropriate reading before you come to class. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS: TWO WRITTEN REPORTS Each course participant is responsible for submitting two written reports one Critical Review Report and one Case Analysis Report. Critical Review Report Select an item from the list of Required Readings in Attachment 3 and write a Critical Review based on guidelines provided in Attachment 4 What is a Critical Review? The item selected must be one that is different from the article that was assigned to you for class participation. Case Analysis Report: Select an item from the list of Cases in Attachment 3 and analyze the case according to the guidelines for each case given to you on Blackboard.. This analysis can be but is not restricted to the same case that you have presented in class. IN-CLASS WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT Week 3 you will view the video case A decent factory and complete the In-class Assignment in Attachment % QUIZ/ MINI ASSIGNMENTS There may be quizzes/assignments on readings, cases and classroom material, if the instructor finds that students are not adequately prepared.. A list of readings and the schedule will be posted on Black board. Assignments could include short submissions or posting on discussion board. Details will be posted on Black board for you. GROUP PRESENTATION: Case presentation schedule is available under class schedule. Choose a case other than the one you are preparing for your case analysis. Form groups of two for the case presentations. Time 25 minutes. You may use role plays and material from outside the case to augment your ethical positions. Please give the audience e-copies of your PPT a day before the presentation.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND CLASS STRATEGY The class approach to course delivery is demanding because we are covering a lot of material in a short time. In order to manage the workload effectively you must first identify and read the Reading or Case you have been assigned in Attachment 2. If you are assigned a Reading this is an indication that you will be called on to explain /present your Critical Review before the instructor opens up the topic to the rest of the class for discussion. If you are assigned a case, this is an indication that you willed be called on to explain/present your analysis of the Case before the instructor opens up the topic to the rest of the class for discussion. Please submit your case analysis report one week after you have presented to the class. PREREQUISITES & DROPS: You are expected to have successfully completed all the courses that are listed in the college bulletin as prerequisites. If you do not meet these requirements you should drop the course immediately in order to add a substitute course. If you do not voluntarily drop, you may be administratively withdrawn from the course and you may be unable to add a substitute course. You may drop this course with a "W" any time before Session 2. No drop requests will be signed after this date. REQUIRED COURSE MATERIAL: The required course material is a course packet containing items from the Harvard Business School and Darden Publishing available at www.study.net (see Student Instructions on Black Board). REQUIRED READING: (1) You are expected to read and analyze each case and reading before class starting in week 2. Each reading or case will be addressed in class according to the tentative course schedule provided below. (2) You are expected to read any other material assigned by the instructor IMPORTANT: (1) You are expected to maintain copies of all papers, assignments, and projects that you turn in for evaluation. Please turn it in on Blackboard. You are also responsible for maintaining copies of any graded work that is returned during the quarter. You should keep these copies until the final grades are posted. (2) It will not be possible to offer make-up sessions for individuals who miss video segments shown in the classroom.
COURSE SCHEDULE FOR CLASS 3 March- 25 April Wed 6-9:50 Day Topic Case 4 March Snow day 11 March Syllabus. What is Ethics? Reading discussions Right versus right decisions Brief discussion on Siemens Corporate social responsibility. 18 March Holiday Mar16-22 spring break http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lri 6R8Ghnzg&index=5&list=PL4AE76B23 5A9EB6FE 25 March Moral theories of Ethics;(Instructor) How unethical are you? Ethics basic framework : 1 April Decent Factory, class assignment Reading: Blind spot ethics at work Reading: Strategy and society 8 April Ethical leadership Why good leaders do bad things Barclays and the Libor scandal (instructor) Fighting corruption at Siemens Black Rhino http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y pwwlgr6js0&list=pl4ae76b235a 9EB6FE Blood Bananas Chiquita Disability accommodations and promotions at Bunco. Finger huts pricing strategy - UV1861 Darden - 15 April Principles of bio medical ethics Ethics of professionalism video 22 April Culture and Ethics Whistle blowing Group think Wrap up. Abeline paradox Ethics of Offshoring: Novo Nordisk and clinical The Meat packing factory UV 6763. Evergreen enhancement James Bowman and Cooper tree capital in China Kitchen Best
ATTACHMENT 1 CLASS PARTICIPATION SELF EVALUATION NAME: This self-evaluation should include: -An overall score on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 10 (Excellent) reflecting your evaluation of your participation over the quarter. -The score you assign yourself should be governed by the following standards: Occasionally prepared for class, no participation score 6.5 to 7.5 Consistently prepared, all readings covered, minimal or no participation score 7.6 to 8.5 Consistently prepared, occasional participation, focus on facts of case/reading 8.6 to 9 Occasional participation, focuses on analysis, takes a position and supports it 9.1 to 9.5 Consistent participation, comprehensive analysis 9.5 to 10 YOUR SCORE: Qualitative summary of your participation This score will be converted to 15%.
ATTACHMENT 2 Structured Class Participation Assignments NOTE: The table below simply identifies the individuals who will be called on in class to discuss the specific reading/case assigned to them. You will be called on individually. You may be asked different questions, but they will all pertain to the assigned reading/case. This table will be filled in with names during the first session. Instructor will lead some of these cases. Names of Course Participants assigned: Name of Student Case 1 Case 2 Reading 1 Reading 2 Unassigned Cases will be instructor led Fighting corruption at Siemens HBR case Kitchen Best Four Principles of Biomedical Ethics Reading: Blind spot ethics at work Barclays and Libor scandal Disability accommodations and promotions at Bunco James Bowman and Cooper tree Strategy and society: the link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility Culture and ethics Blood bananas What is ethics an introduction to ethics. (Instructor on first day) How unethical are you Finger hut Ethics of Offshoring The Meat packing factory UV 6763 Darden. Evergreen enhancement Black Rhino Ethics basic framework Ethical leadership Why good leaders do bad things
ATTACHMENT 3. BUSINESS ETHICS 715 2015 2015 LIST OF REQUIRED READINGS This list of required reading materials is posted for you on Blackboard under the tab Syllabus and Overview. We have no Text. Please look under the tab Course Documents and your schedule for a week by week, listing of readings and cases for the week as well as the questions you will prepare to aid you in your case analysis. You need to purchase most readings and cases. Non HBR readings and or Cases are available as a course pack from Study.net. This link contains the instructions for getting the Reading Materials from www.study.net MGMT 701: Business Ethics - Apana (Spring 2015) Study.net will not provide you with any HBR cases or readings. These must be purchased by you separately. Details posted for you on Black Board. The below items are available at study.net Ethics of Offshoring: Novo Nordisk and Clinical Trials in Emerging Economies James Bowman and Cooper tree Capital in China The Black Rhino Evergreen Enhancement Fingerhut's Price Strategy The Meatpacking Factory Kitchen Best: Ethics When Doing Cross-Boundary Business in Southern China The below Items are available through HBR How (un) ethical are you? (R0312D) HBR Ethics: A Basic Framework (307059) HBR Strategy and Society: The link between competitive advantage and corporate social responsibility (R0612D) HBR Principles of bio ethics HBR Fighting corruption in Siemens HBR (5112089) Barclays and Libor Scandal HBR (5313108) These readings are posted for you on Black board and need not be purchased. Corporate social responsibility (on Black board) Ethics and culture (on Black board) Why good leaders do bad things (on Black board) Just Good business (on Black board) Abeline paradox (on Black board) Various case lets (handed in class) The roots of unethical behavior at work (Black board)
ATTACHMENT 4 Business Ethics 715 2015 What is a Critical Review [based on http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/critrev.html] The critical review is a writing task that asks you to summarize and evaluate a text. Writing the critical review usually requires you to read the selected text in detail and to also read other related texts so that you can present a fair and reasonable evaluation of the selected text. What is meant by critical? At university, to be critical does not mean to criticize in a negative manner. Rather it requires you to question the information and opinions in a text and present your evaluation or judgment of the text. To do this well, you should attempt to understand the topic from different perspectives and in relation to the theories, approaches and frameworks in your course or relate the topic to your personal experience in the workplace. What is meant by evaluation or judgment? Here you decide the strengths and weaknesses of a text. This is usually based on specific criteria. Evaluating requires an understanding of not just the content of the text, but also an understanding of a text s purpose, the intended audience and why it is structured the way it is. What is meant by analysis? Analyzing requires separating the content and concepts of a text into their main components and then understanding how these interrelate, connect and possibly influence each other. Structure of a Critical Review Format: In this course your critical review can be less than but should be no more than 3 pages long, single-spaced, margins no more than 1, font no larger than 12 font. Introduction: The length of an introduction is usually one paragraph for an article review Include a few opening sentences that announce the author(s) and the title, and briefly explain the topic of the text. Present the aim of the text and summarize the main finding or key argument. Conclude the introduction with a brief statement of your evaluation of the text. This can be a positive or negative evaluation or, as is usually the case, a mixed response. Critique: The critique should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of the strengths, weakness and notable features of the text. Remember to base your discussion on specific criteria. Good reviews also include other sources to support your evaluation (remember to reference). You can choose how to sequence your critique. Here are some examples to get you started: Most important to least important conclusions you make about the text. If your critique is more positive than negative, then present the negative points first and positive last. If your critique is more negative than positive, then present the positive points first and the negative last.
If there are both strengths and weakness for each criterion you use, you need to decide overall what your judgment is. For example, you may want to comment on a key idea in the text and have both positive and negative comments. You could begin by stating what is good about the idea and then concede and explain how it is limited in some way. While this example shows a mixed evaluation, overall you are probably being more negative than positive. In long reviews, you can address each criterion you choose in a paragraph, including both negative and positive points. For very short critical reviews (one page or less) where your comments will be briefer, include a paragraph of positive aspects and another of negative. You can also include recommendations for how the text can be improved in terms of ideas, research approach; theories or frameworks used can also be included in the critique section. Conclusion: This is usually a very short paragraph. Restate your overall opinion of the text. Briefly present recommendations. If necessary some further qualification or explanation of your judgment can be included. This can help your critique sound fair and reasonable. References: If you have used other sources in your review you should also include a list of references at the end of the review. In this course we assume that most of the other sources in your review are your personal experiences: it is acceptable to submit a review without any references.
A Decent Factory Business Ethics 715 In-Class Assignment Name: Introduction With the new wave of globalization unleashed after 2000 it is not uncommon for manufacturing as well as service companies to have supply chains that extend across the globe. Nokia is one such company and A Decent Factory is a video-case that takes you inside Nokia as the senior management decides to employ a consultant to conduct a supplier audit. Watch the video case in class on Nov14 and write a memo to your CEO explaining the significance of suppler audits, especially for a company that has a global supply chain. Identify specific challenges that you expect Your Company will face and make specific recommendations to overcome these challenges. You are encouraged to use any conceptual frameworks introduced in class to complete this assignment but your memo need not be restricted to classroom material. Please be sure to address the following: Issues -What responsibility (if any) does a company bear for the conduct of its suppliers? Is the company responsible for unsafe, unsanitary working conditions in a supplier factory that is 8000 miles away? -In the video-case, Nokia was selected to be one of the companies included in an ethical fund a mutual fund made up of the stocks of companies that are well-known for their commitment to ethical decisions. Should every company behave as if it were on this select list of Ethical Companies? -Keeping two sets of books seems to be common practice in China. How do you address this issue if you have operations in China? -What if the double books are used to hide under-age workers and workers who are paid less than the minimum wage? Are double books unacceptable by definition or are they unacceptable only when they are used to cover up illegal or immoral acts?
MEMO Date: To: Jane Q. CEO From: (Your Name): Subject: Ethical challenges of a global supply chain, analysis & recommendations SUBMISSION DEADLINES & CLASS STRATEGY The class approach to course delivery is demanding because we are covering a lot of material in a short time. In order to manage the workload effectively you must first identify and read the Reading or Case you have been assigned in Attachment 2. If you are assigned a Reading this is an indication that you will be called on to explain /present your Critical Review before the instructor opens up the topic to the rest of the class for discussion. If you are assigned a Case this is an indication that you