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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "BUS 301"
COURSE NAME: "Business Ethics"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Summer Session II 2016
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Pamela Harris
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MTWTH 2:00 PM 3:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
M-F 11-1, or by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course considers some of the most important ethical issues in business today. Students will examine such issues as businesses’ responsibilities to shareholders, workers and consumers, the pros and cons of a "free market," the challenges raised by globalization and environmental destruction, the idea of "ethical" consumption, and the particular dilemmas faced by Western businesses working in foreign countries. Issues will be studied through a selection of contemporary cases, arguments, and broader theories, along with much class discussion, with the aim of helping students develop a familiarity with the issues and the ability to discuss and defend their own opinions.
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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, and business's place within them, and its political role in shaping them;
-rich repository of ethical discussions, giving greater context to market values and decisions;
-ability to engage in sophisticated 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 | Farrar, Strauss, Girous | 978-0374532505 | | | | | |
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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, look alive, pay attention, listen to others and participate. | 10% |
| midterm examination | Essay exam - Thursday, July 23 | 20% |
| Research paper | 1400-1600 word paper in response to a question determined in consultation with me. | 30% |
| 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 (unless there are gross disparities in the respective contributions). | 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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Most material is available on Moodle. Password: BUS301sum15.
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Section
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Focus
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Main Readings and Topics
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I - July 5, 6
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Business, Ethics and Society
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•Sandel, Justice, chs. 1-2
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II - July 7, 8
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Markets and Morals
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• Sandel, “How Markets Crowd Out Morals” (Boston Review, 2012); see also Justice, ch. 4 (Markets and Morals)
• Prostitution Debate
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III - July 11, 12
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Fairness and Justice: Individual, Society and Community
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• Sandel, chs. 3, 6 (Libertarianism, Rawls)
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IV- July 13, 14
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Corporate Social Responsibility
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• Friedman, "The Social Responsibility of Business"
• Drucker, "Social Impacts and Social Problems"
• UN Global Compact and Ruggie Framework
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V - July 18, 19, 20
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Workers and Employees |
Employee and worker rights, international human rights, discrimination, bullying and harassment; garment and electronics |
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V- July 21, 25
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Midterm Review and Examination
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VI- July 26, 27
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Consumers
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•Freudenberg, Kilbourne
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VII- July 28
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Environmental Resources: energy, automotive and chemical industries
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• Bowie, "Morality, Money and Motor Cars"
• Keefe, “Reversal of Fortune” and Aviv, "The Scientist Who Took On a Leading Herbicide Manufacturer"
• Klein, This Changes Everything
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VIII- Aug 1, 2
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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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IX- Aug 3
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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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X- Aug 4
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Business, Politics and Public Virtue
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 5
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FINAL EXAMINATION
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