Syllabus:  Ethics (BUAD 5304 – SA01) Fall 2009 Fridays.

6 p.m. until 10:10 p.m. meeting in room 112 of  WBU – SA main bldg.

 

  1. Instructor: J. H. Shields, M.A., J.D.  (Office hours: by appointment.)
  2. Work phone: 210-260-8946 (10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Mon. – Fri.).

Email: johnhshields@gmail.com

  1. Description of course: in-depth investigation of conditions and characteristics of ethical and effective management, including assessment of leadership styles within the context of a Christian value system; analysis and development of ethical reasoning with application to a variety of business situations.
  2. Prerequisites: see academic catalog.
  3. Textbook: Ferrell et al., Business Ethics, 7th edition (2008), Houghton Mifflin.
  4. Other resources: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes; etc.
  5. Attendance requirements: (a.)When arriving to each class meeting, each student shall sign-in on the official class sign-in sheet. For any arrival after 6:10 p.m., such student shall write the time of arrival next to his or her name on the sign-in sheet. For any departure prior to 10:00 p.m., such student shall write the time of departure next to his or her name on the sign-in sheet. (b.) Any student who misses 25% or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of “F” in the course. With 11 class meetings, 3 absences will constitute 25%. Three late arrivals or three early departures or a combination thereof may, at the discretion of the instructor, count as one absence. A student, who misses three or more class meetings, disqualifies herself/himself from taking the final exam.
  6. Outcome competencies: recognize business ethics terms, issues, theories, and frameworks important to organizational ethical decision-making; clarify and refine boundaries of student’s personal ethical framework and modus operandii; identify stakeholders, their interests and related ethical issues; understand the inter-relationship between ethics and social responsibility; gain threshold proficiency (oral and written) in relating ethical issues and controversies to moral philosophy, work group influence, corporate culture, and social responsibility; identify means to resolve ethical disputes in business; examine consequences of unethical and ethical business decisions; objectively listen to and evaluate the thought processes and ethical differences of others; understand dynamics of corporate governance and corporate culture.
  7. Course requirements: (a.) “expert panel” presentation - students will sign-up for one “expert panel” presentation of information, concepts, and issues in one chapter of the text (chapters 2-10); the instructor shall serve as moderator of the panel; panel members should anticipate and prepare to answer adequately questions from classmates and instructor regarding anything in that chapter; panelists should also expect to argue for and against any opinions or value judgments expressly or impliedly presented in that chapter;

                                    (b.) case study presentation – each student will choose one of the eighteen case studies in part five of the text for individual reading, analyzing, and critiquing; each student will utilize the “legal brief”  format in his or her written presentation (two pages plus endnotes and bibliography, including articles from WSJ, NYT, Forbes, etc.); each student will individually present the legal brief orally to the class without reading verbatim; the student should prepare to present the main assertion, supporting facts, reasoning, and how it relates to chapters 2 - 10; students who choose case studies 1-9 need not turn-in their written legal brief until September 25; spelling, grammar, and syntax are important;

(c.) exams – both a mid-term exam and a final exam will be

administered; the final exam will cover the entire course.

 

10. Evaluation of student work:   20 points – “expert panel” presentation

                                                      10 points – legal brief presentation orally

                                                      20 points – written legal brief on case study

                                                      50 points -  exams (25 + 25)

                                                        2 points -  proof of evaluation submitted

                                                     102 points = total possible.

 

11. Grade Scale: A = 90 – 100; B = 80 – 89; C = 70 – 79; D = 60 – 69; F = < 60.

 

12. “It is University policy that no otherwise-qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University. Students should inform instructor of existing disabilities at first class meeting.”

 

13. Non-issuance of an unsatisfactory performance notice shall not immunize a              student against a grade of “C”, “D”, or “F” in this course.

 

14.  Calendar of regular class meetings:

 August  21 - syllabus; sign-up for expert panel & case study; chapter 1  lecture by instructor; Enron: Smartest Guys in the Room (dvd).

            August 28  – chapter 2 expert panel; case studies 1-3.

Sept.    4 – chapters 3 & 4 expert panels; case studies 4-5.

Sept.   11 –  expert panel chapter 5; case studies 6-9; outline of legal    brief due.

            September  18  - Mid-term Exam;

Sept. 25– return mid-term exams; expert panel chapter 6; case study 10    (written & oral); written legal briefs (c.s. 1-9) due.

            Oct.    2 – expert panel chapter 7;  case studies 11 & 12.

Oct.    9 -  expert panel chapter 8; case studies 13 & 14.

            Oct.  16 – expert panel chapter 9; case s. 15 & 16; guest interviewee.

Oct.  23  - expert panel chapter 10; case studies 17 & 18; final deadline for all assignments other than final exam (including proof of evaluation);

             October 30 - Final Exam (cumulative).