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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "BUS 301-2"
COURSE NAME: "Business Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Pamela Harris
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
MW 9-11, TTH 3-4
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The pursuit of profits is an important value, but may interfere with the respect for other values, such as: the protection of the environment, social justice, workplace equality, the rights of workers, human dignity, health and safety, and the good functioning of the market as a whole. This course will explore these other values, in the context of philosophical ethical doctrines, to assess how they may limit or support the values and ends pursued by the profit motive. We will examine different views of social justice (utilitarianism, rights/freedom, fairness) and different principles of individual and collective morality. We will explore cases in which core business values are put to the test by rival demands, and engage in moral reasoning to empower business leaders/actors seeking to fulfill their duties to the firm and its stakeholders, as well as to the local society and the larger world.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
1. Business, Ethics and Society: introduction to ethical theory
2. Markets and Morals
3. Fairness and Justice
4. Corporate Social Responsibility
LIMITS ON THE EXPLOITATION OF/ETHICAL DUTIES TO:
5. Workers and Employees
6. Consumers
7. the Environment
ETHICS, LAW AND POLITICS
8. Political Influence, Regulation, Corruption
9. Privatization
10. Business, Politics and Public Virtue
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students should come out of the class with a:
-mastery of the basic concepts of ethical theory;
-critical understanding of different visions of social justice;
-rich repository of ethical discussions, giving greater context to market values and decisions;
-ability to engage in moral reasoning in the business environment;
-acute sense of the challenges facing specific industries in being "good" social and market actors.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Business Ethics and Ethical Business | Robert Audi | Oxford | 978-0-19-536910-6 | HF 5387.A825 | | | | |
| Justice | Michael Sandel | Farrar, Strauss and Giroux | 978-0-374-18065-2 | JC 578 .S25 | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Final Examination | Essay exam | 30% |
| Class Participation | Come to class, be prepared, pay attention, listen to others and participate. | 10% |
| Online forum contributions | You will be expected to post at least one short paragraph on the relevant Moodle forum by 1.30 p.m. on the day of each class. You will receive the full (100%) grade for this assessment simply if you post on time for each class. You may miss two posts without excuse, more than that will count against your grade for this assessment. | 10% |
| midterm examination | Essay exam | 20% |
| Research paper | 1400-1600 word paper in response to a question agreed with me . | 20% |
| Group Presentation | Groups will present the fruits of their research into a specific topic. Each member of the group will receive the same presentation grade. | 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 co
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:
Class participation, for which attendance is an basic component, is worth 10% of your final grade. After 2 unexcused absences, this part of your grade will start to suffer.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Week
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Focus
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Assignments
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I (Jan 14,16)
II (Jan 21, 23)
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The Role of Business in a Free Democracy; ethical theories
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• Audi, chs. 1,4
•Sandel, Justice, chs. 1-2, 5 (Doing the Right Thing; Utilitarianism; Kant)
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III (Jan 28, 30)
IV (Feb. 4, 6)
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Markets and Morals
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• Ciulla, ch. 6, “Is Everything For Sale?”• Sandel, ch. 4 (Markets and Morals); see also “How Markets Crowd Out Morals” (Boston Review, 2012)
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V (Feb. 11, 13)
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Fairness and Justice
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• Ciulla, ch. 6, Who Gets What and Why?
• Sandel, chs. 3, 6 (Libertarianism, Rawls)
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VI (Feb. 18, 20)
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Corporate Social Responsibility
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• Audi, chs. 2-3
• Friedman, The Social Responsibility of Business
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VII (Feb 25, 27)
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Midterm Review and Examination
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VIII (March 4, 6)
IX (March 11, 13)
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Workers and Employees: employee rights, international human rights, gender and work-life balance; garment industry
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• Audi, ch. 9
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X (March 25, 27)
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Consumers: food industry
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• Audi, ch. 6
• Food Inc.
• Bittman, Food Matters (1-67) or Pollan, Omnivore's Dilemma, chs. 4-7.
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XI (April 1, 3)
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Environmental Resources: energy, automotive and chemical industries
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• Audi, ch. 5
• McDonough, Cradle to Cradle
• Keefe, “Reversal of Fortune”
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XII-XIII (April 8, 10, 15)
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Corruption: financial industry, pharmaceutical industry
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• Audi, ch. 7
•Cassidy, How Markets Fail
• Inside Job (film); Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room (film)
• Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics Issue on Institutional Corruption and the Pharmaceutical Industry
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XIII (April 17)
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Privatization: prisons, military
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• ACLU report on prisons (2011)
• Cotton, Hired Guns : Views about Armed Contractors in Operation Iraqi Freedom, ch. 3.
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XIV (April 22)
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Business, Politics and Public Virtue
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• Packer, Change the World, New Yorker, May 27, 2012
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XIV (April 24)
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Final Review Session
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