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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "BUS 301-2"
COURSE NAME: "Business Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Pamela Harris
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 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 |
| Justice | Michael Sandel | Penguin | 9780141041339 | JC578 .S25 | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Legal But Lethal | Nicholas Freudenberg | Oxford | 978019993719 | | |
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 11 a.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 issue and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the strongest arguments on both sides, and a creative resolution
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Work at this level demonstrates an ability to provide strong reasons for a certain position. Discussions reflect the student’s own critical assessment, going beyond the simple description of lecture and reference material.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, describing the basic information offered in the lectures and reference readings, but not critically engaging with it.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted, irrelevant points included, or basic errors have been made.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question or demonstrates a lack of basic academic integrity.
-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
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The Role of Business in a Free Democracy; ethical theories (deontological and teleological)
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•Sandel, Justice, chs. 1-2, 5 (Doing the Right Thing; Utilitarianism; Kant)
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II
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Markets and Morals
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• Ciulla, ch. 6, “Is Everything For Sale?,” 624-628 (Aristotle, Smith), 636-645 (Mill, Schumacher)
• Sandel, “How Markets Crowd Out Morals” (Boston Review, 2012); see also Justice, ch. 4 (Markets and Morals)
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III, IV
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Fairness and Justice: Individual, Society and Community
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• Hayek, Constitution of Liberty, 85-102; Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia, 149-164, 167-178, 213-231
• Sandel, chs. 3, 6 (Libertarianism, Rawls)
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V
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Corporate Social Responsibility
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• Friedman, "The Social Responsibility of Business"
• Drucker, "Social Impacts and Social Problems"
• Surowiecki, "Companies With Benefits"
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VI
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Midterm Review and Examination
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VII
VIII
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Workers and Employees
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Employee and worker rights, international human rights, gender and work-life balance; garment and electronics
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IX, X
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Consumers
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Food, fashion and pharma. Advertising ethics |
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XI
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Environmental Resources: energy, automotive and chemical industries
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• McDonough, Cradle to Cradle
• Keefe, “Reversal of Fortune” and Aviv, "The Scientist Who Took On a Leading Herbicide Manufacturer"
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XII
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Corruption: financial, pharma industry
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•Cassidy, How Markets Fail
• Ferguson, "Inside Job" (film); recommended, Gibney, "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
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Privatization: prisons, military, etc.
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• Klein, Shock Doctrine, pp. 283-322, 416-422
• ACLU report on prisons (2011)
• Cotton, Hired Guns : Views about Armed Contractors in Operation Iraqi Freedom, ch. 3.
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XIV
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Business, Politics and Public Virtue
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