Leaders and managers are accountable to shareholders, they are economically, financially, and legally responsible for what happens with their organizations.  Ethical and social responsibility is similarly ascribed to those in charge.  The course covers how an organization’s values and actions affect internal and external constituencies.  It introduces reasons to promote responsible behavior on the part of organizations, and their employees.  Students study real-world dilemmas and gain experience analyzing competing positive values, choosing among fully legal options, and navigating the grey area that frequently surrounds key management decisions.  Studying classical cases of business failures will alert students to the ethical steps needed to protect young ventures and the consequences of failing to act ethically in the ongoing conduct of commerce.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Develop a framework, through the study of various ethical concepts and cases, to employ ethical decision-making as a tool across multiple domains.
2. Examine underlying assumptions, as well as the implications of behaviors of both individuals and organizations through a lens of ethical and social responsibility.
3. Conduct analyses that apply and integrate relevant ethical concepts to various cases.
4. Explore ethical dilemmas and questions toward the development of individual ethical perspectives that will inform future managerial decision-making.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week.

Week 1: Unit 1 – Introduction to Ethics in Business

Week 2: Unit 2 – Ethics in Accounting

Week 3: Unit 3 – Ethics and Environmental Concerns

Week 4: Unit 4 – Ethics in Finance

Week 5: Unit 5 – Ethics in the Law

Week 6: Unit 6 – Ethics in Marketing

Week 7: Unit 7 – Ethics in Management

Week 8: Unit 8 – Ethics in Corporate Planning

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Introduction to Ethics in Business

• Post an introduction in the Course Forum
• Read through the Course Syllabus
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Complete the Sustainability Module (located in the LRC)
• Take the Sustainability Student Experience Survey
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Respond to the Portfolio Activity

Unit 2: Ethics in Accounting

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 3: Ethics and Environmental Concerns

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Prepare to participate in the Group Activity

Unit 4: Ethics in Finance

• Peer assess Unit 3 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Participate in the Group Activity
• Respond to the Portfolio Activity

Unit 5: Ethics in the Law

• Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Continue to work with your groups
• Respond to the Portfolio Activity

Unit 6: Ethics in Marketing

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete and submit the group paper

Unit 7: Ethics in Management

• Peer assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete and submit the Sustainability Student Experience and Impact Post Survey

Unit 8: Ethics in Corporate Planning

• Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Respond to the Portfolio Activity
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation