Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "ETH/BUS 301-2"
COURSE NAME: "Business Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Teresa Triglia
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: One previous course in Philosophy or Junior Standing. Co-requisite: EN 110
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines some of the most important ethical issues in business today, such as businesses’ responsibilities to workers, consumers, and investors, the pros and cons of “free markets,” the challenges posed by environmental damage and automation, the ideas of “social” responsibilities and “ethical” consumption, and the special dilemmas faced by multinational businesses. Issues will be studied through a selection of contemporary cases, issues, arguments, and approaches, along with much class discussion, with the aim of helping students to develop a familiarity with the issues and debates and their ability to discuss, reflect on, and defend their own ethical views.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course is divided in four parts and within each part, we will analyze various case studies:

Part 1: An Overview of Business Ethics

The Importance of Business Ethics

Stakeholder Relationships, Social responsibility, and Corporate Governance

Part 2: Ethical Issues and the Institutionalization of Business Ethics

Emerging Business Ethics Issues

Part 3: The Decision Making Process

Ethical Decision Making

Individual Factors: Moral Factors and Philiosophies

Part 4: Implementing Business Ethics in a Global Economy

Developing and Effective Ethics Program

Ethics Leadership

Cases

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1) Increase your awareness of the mutual ethical responsibilities existing between the contemporary business organization and its internal/external stakeholders

2) Analyze relevant cases along with positions and arguments regarding them

3) Analyze and emply broader theoretical approaches, concepts and debates in business ethics

4) Develop informed, reasoned positions regarding these issues and cases

5) Explain and analyze course material orally and in written form, both individually and in teams

6) Enable you to become critical of a powerful institution - Business - of which you are a part so that you can help to create positive change

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Class Participation	Classes will involve a mixture of lectures, seminar discussions, group presentations, and other activities. The emphasis will be on helping you to develop your own opinions and arguments and your ability to discuss them with others, as well as your understanding of the materials, issues, and relevant ethical concepts and arguments. Your active involvement in discussions and other class activities, based on adequate preparation outside class, is therefore essential.	10
Mid Term	Closed Book	25
Case Studies/ Analysis Papers	For each chapter covered in the textbook, a relevant case will be assigned which will require the preparation of a short written analysis paper on questions posed and a discussion in class. In addition to the textbook cases, other cases will assigned.	30
Final Exam	Closed Book	25
Presentations	Students will be asked to research, analyze and present a topic assigned in class.	10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

COURSE OUTLINE

Topics	Class Activities	Readings
Introductions
Introduction to: course, instructor, students, ethics	· Explain course structure & its purpose · Review topics & expectations · Teacher introduction · Student introductions using ice breaker · Complete Personal/Professional self-assessment Profile · Case: Uber Hits a Bump in the Road · Case: Zidane’s Last Red Card (A)	Chapter 1 of textbook: The Importance of Business Ethics Case 2 of textbook: Uber Hits a Bump in the Road HBP Case: Zidane’s Last Red Card (A)
Stakeholder Relationships, Social Responsibility & Corporate Governance
Define stakeholders, identify issues in social responsibility and importance of corporate governance measures	· Review chapter 2 materials · Case: Starbucks Venti Social Responsibility and Brand Strategy	Chapter 2 of textbook: Stakeholder Realtionships, Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance Case 6 of textbook: Starbucks Venti Social Responsibility and Brand Strategy
The Decision Making Process
Discuss framework for ethical decision making, using ethical decision making models, and normative considerations	· Review chapter 5 materials · Case: Lululemon: Turning Lemons into Lemonade	Chapter 5 of textbook: Ethical Decision MakingCase 12 of textbook: Lululemon: Turning Lemons into Lemonade
Mid Term Exam & Student Presentations
	MID TERM EXAM · Case: Brunello Cucinelli Student Presentations	HBP Case: Brunello Cucinelli
Moral Philosophies and Values
Discuss moral philosophies and application to ethical decision making, white collar crime, and other individual factors in business ethics	· Review chapter 6 materials · Case: The Volkswagon Scandal: An Admission to Emission Fraud ·	Chapter 6 of textbook: Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies & Values Case 1 of textbook: The Volkswagon Scandal: An Admission to Emission Fraud
Developing and Effective Ethics Program
Discuss the need for organizational ethics programs, codes of conduct, systems to monitor and enforce ethical standards	· Review chapter 8 materials · Case: POM Wonderful: Crazy Healthy!	Chapter 8 of textbook: Developing and Effective Ethics Program Case 4 of textbook: POM Wonderful: Crazy Healthy!
Ethical Leadership
Discuss requirements and benefits of ethical leadership, organizational culture, employee empowerment and leadership styles	· Review chapter 11 materials · Case: Enron: Not Accounting for the Future	Chapter 11 of textbook: Ethical Leadership Case 20 of the textbook: Enron: Not Accounting for the Future

Wrap-up discussion and final case study	· Review materials for final exam · Case: The Fall of the Fabulous Fab Student Presentations	HBP Case: The Fall of the Fabulous Fab

	FINAL EXAM

This schedule is subject to change.