COURSE
SYLLABUS
COURSE
TITLE and NUMBER:
Business Ethics, UMGT 338
ACADEMIC
TERM:
Fall, 2004
TIME
and LOCATION:
TEXT:
Perspectives in Business Ethics,
Laura P. Hartman
3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2005
INSTRUCTOR:
Steven L. Zimmer
(504) 309-8337 (Home)
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This
course is designed to: 1) help the student to understand the principles,
concepts, and theories of ethical and moral reasoning in the business context;
2) acquaint the student with the major moral dilemmas facing business and
industry today; 3) enable the student to identify the ethical implications of
corporate and managerial decisions; and 4) hopefully to prepare the student to
more effectively manage the ethical problems that present themselves in the
business world. This will be
accomplished through assigned readings, lectures, class discussion, student
presentations, and the examination of case studies drawn from the text, the
media, student initiative, and the instructor’s personal knowledge and
experiences. Class sessions will be built around subjects drawn from the text
and will consist of a mix of lecture, discussion, student presentations, and
media study.
COURSE
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Business
ethics is a course intended to provide an exposure to the nature of moral
values, the purposes of human existence and an awareness of the various
approaches to moral decision-making. The aim is to appreciate the grounds for
the variety in ethical perspectives while developing a personal and social code
of conduct that enhances life in economic transactions. Four primary purposes guide this
study:
1.
to increase awareness of contemporary ethical issues in business;
2. to explore various types of philosophical reasoning and moral arguments in debates about morally responsible business practices;
3.
to facilitate the development of informed moral perspectives for those involved
in business and corporate life; and
4.
to enhance abilities to develop professional business ethics.
GRADING
Grading
will be based on 100 points as follows:
A
=
94-100
A-
=
90-93
B+
=
87-89
B
=
84-86
B-
=
80-83
C+
=
77-79
C
=
74-76
C-
=
70-73
D+
=
67-69
D
=
64-66
D-
=
60-63
F
=
below 60
CLASS
SCHEDULE AND TEXTBOOK
Dates
Topics, Activities
8/30
Introductions, Syllabus, and Course Requirements;
Case Study
9/6
Labor Day
9/13
Introductions, Syllabus, and Course Requirements;
Definitions and History of Business Ethics
9/20
Ethics and Business Practices
Chapter 1
Approaches to Ethical Theory
9/27
Justice and Economic Systems
American Capitalism
10/4
Corporations and Morality
Chapters 2 & 4
The Professions and Business Ethical Codes
Chapter 3
10/11
Examination, Chapters 1-4, Class
Sessions, and Handouts
Presentation Topics
Due
Journals Due for Review
10/18
Whistleblowing
Chapter 5
Multinational Corporations
10/25
Workers’ Rights and Duties
Discrimination
11/1
Advertising and Marketing
Chapter 6
Trade Secrets
11/8
Insider Trading
Chapter 7
Finance and Accountancy
11/15
Business and Technology
Chapter 8
11/22
Student Presentations
11/29
Student Presentations
12/6
Final Examination,
Chapters 5-8, Class Sessions, and Handouts
(
Journals Due
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND
GRADING
Examinations
(30% of final grade):
There
will be two examinations – each worth 15% of final grade. The first exam will be on
Class
Attendance and Participation (10% of final grade):
There is a direct correlation between good grades and regular class attendance and participation. Everyone is expected to come to each class with one or two questions or comments dealing with the assigned readings for the day. Discussion, questions, and comments will be graded according to thoughtfulness, originality, and level of insight into the topic(s) of the class session.
Class
Presentation (25% of final grade):
Each student will be required to give a presentation to the class based on an approved case study. In addition to making an oral presentation, you are required to submit your presentation in a typed version; although, it may be submitted as an annotated outline. See guidelines following this section.
The
Personal Journal (35% of course grade):
This is a record of your notes on the readings and class session content – lectures, presentations and discussions, specifically including your personal reflections on these ideas. The journals will also include responses to written assignments. See guidelines following this section.
GUIDELINES FOR THE CLASS
PRESENTATION
The CLASS PRESENTATION will
be on a case study and topic of interest to the student, but requires the
approval of the instructor. You may
either choose a story from contemporary items in the news or select a case study
from history that was not presented in the text. If necessary, your instructor will
suggest possible topics. Submit a statement of the topic or case (be
specific as possible) and the sources
you will use which is due at the class session on
In addition to making an
oral presentation, you are required to submit your presentation in a typed
version; although, it may be submitted as an annotated outline. Your presentation must contain an
overview, an analysis, and a response:
The overview will describe
the situation and the context of the case study. The analysis focuses on the
primary moral/philosophical arguments or reasons that might lie behind the
resolutions made of the case -- e.g., utilitarian and deontological
analyses. The response is
your reflection upon the adequacy or supportability of those arguments. Thus,
both research and personal reflections are
involved.
The purpose of the Class Presentation is to: 1) indicate that the student is able to
understand and grapple with the problem; 2)
demonstrate the student’s ability to examine/analyze the moral reasoning
involved; and 3) show the moral supports used for conclusions reached by the
student regarding his/her personal position.
The nature of this research is to enter into internal dialogue on issues in business ethics. Five factors or components will be of interest in your discussion with these issues:
Ø
Analyze
arguments showing reasons given (rules, principles, beliefs) for decision
made by the principals involved;
Ø
Isolate
the central issue(s) you believe at stake in the case;
Ø
Explore
the moral perspective demonstrated or argued;
Ø
Explain
any criticisms you might have of how it was handled and why: was there a lack of
logic or should better reasons have been given or was something overlooked?;
and
Ø
Indicate
your own moral posture giving at least two solid reasons for your
conclusion.
GUIDELINES FOR THE
JOURNAL
THE JOURNAL is your record of the course, its content,
and your learning process. Weekly
journal writing is essential. Use
your journal as your workbook every time you prepare for class, or think about
what happened later. Your major
task in the entries in your journal is to answer two fundamental questions: 1) What did you just read or hear? and
2) What do you think about what you just read or heard? Evaluation of the journal will take
place twice – at midterm and at the end of the term. The evaluation will be based on both a
qualitative analysis (how many entries you recorded) and a qualitative analysis
(the degree of understanding and personal reflection indicated in your entries;
the degree of inquiry, questioning, and thoughtfulness indicated in your
reflections; and completeness.) In
addition, during the course of the semester, you will be given several written
assignments to include in your journal.
You
will have many opportunities for journal entries: Each text chapter, class lectures, the
presentations of your fellow students, reading materials distributed in class
and by e-mail (there will be dozens), your own independent research, current
events of interest to the subject of business ethics, etc. It is virtually impossible to make up
this process later or to cram it into a short period of time at the end. If you do not keep at this task in a
disciplined and consistent manner you will find this course requirement to be a
very unpleasant experience. The
Journal should not be a tedious chore.
In fact, it should act as a study tool to enable you to be successful in
the course. Remember: Your instructor is looking for “you” in
your journal entries -- your thoughts, reactions, bisociations, feelings,
conclusions, etc. -- and not a rehash of what was said or read, except as may be
necessary for context.
Organizing
your journal is important. It is
suggested that you either organize it chronologically or by topic so that it is
clear to the reader what you are writing about, and so that it is easier to
refer to the journal at a later date as a reference. Journal entries must be legible -- if
necessary, journal entries should be typed.
You will submit your
Journal twice: On