COURSE SYLLABUS
BUSINESS ETHICS
MAN4065 – SUMMER A
MAY 11 – JUNE 19, 2015
(Class Number: 53192 & Course ID: 022427)
GENERAL INFORMATION
PROFESSOR INFORMATION
Instructor: Prof. Jaime M. Franco, MBA, MPH, PhD
Office: Adobe Connect Pro Meeting
Phone: (305) 348-2791
Fax: (305) 348-6146
Office Hours: By Appointment
E-mail: Please use Blackboard
course messages
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The application of ethical theory to business management. A review of ethical systems, and examples,
theoretical and practical of institutionalizing ethics in organizations. Case analysis used, and written projects
required. Prerequisite: Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:
1. Analyze corporate conduct through ethical analysis.
2. Analyze sources of ethical conflicts and dilemmas.
3. Assess how ethical theory and insight may assist to analyze contemporary issues in various areas of
modern business, e.g., workplace diversity, consumerism, environmental issues, corporate capitalism,
economic justice, whistle-blowing, to name a few.
4. Assess how to manage ethics in organizations.
5. Clarify and evaluate personal ethics and value systems.
6. Describe and explain what ethics and morality mean in contemporary business.
7. Describe the role of an ethical leader in managing organizational ethics.
8. Describe the role of ethics in contemporary capitalism.
9. Design and implement a global citizenship program.
10. Evaluate and apply various ethical decision-making frameworks in organizations such as deontology,
consequentialism, and virtue ethics.
11. Identify and evaluate ethical practices in organizations.
12. Identify ethics across geographical and cultural borders.
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MAJOR & CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES TARGETED
Management Major Goals:
1. Demonstrate understanding of how to carry out the organizing function of management.
2. Demonstrate understanding of how to carry out the planning function of management.
3. Explain how linking organizational social practices to the community is ultimately advantageous.
CBA Curriculum Goals:
1. Demonstrate analytical skills.
2. Demonstrate ethical understanding and reasoning abilities.
3. Demonstrate multi-cultural and diversity understanding.
4. Recognize domestic and global economic environment of organizations.
5. Recognize ethics in organizations and society.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
There are conflicting views on adult learning--we are very far from a universal understanding of how adults
learn and why or why not they engage with the learning process. Judged by epistemological, communicative
and critically analytic criteria, theory development in adult learning is weak and is hindered by the persistence
of myths that are etched deeply into adult educators' minds (Brookfield, 1992).
Learning opportunities for adults exist in a variety of settings ranging from a formal educational program--just
as this one, to on-the-job (OTJ) training. As an educator with over two decades of teaching experience, I’ve
learned that it is important to acknowledge acquired knowledge and experiences of learners, including their
approach to life-long learning. The most common reason for adults to place themselves in a learning
environment is a life-changing event such as career progression or the desire for self-actualization.
Moreover, once in an optimal environment there are many factors that affect the learning experience. The
optimal learning environment that I seek to foster (not direct) is an environment in which each of you excel and
carefully gather the tools necessary for ethical decision-making. To this end, each student is expected to be
prepared for class and actively participate with a high level of engagement.
The following approaches to learning will be integrated into the course:
Action Learning: students work on real projects or current global ethical dilemmas as a way to learn. Students
work in small groups or teams to take action to address an ethical dilemma and learn from team interactions.
For example, in this course students will work in teams to design a global citizenship program.
Experiential Learning: students operate on the premise that individuals learn best by experience. A good way
to describe this theory is "learning by doing".
Experiential learning thus has the learner directly involved with the content being studied instead of just
thinking and talking about the content.
For example, in this course students will work on identifying a multi-national corporation (MNC) challenged by
a past or present ethical dilemma.
Project-based Learning: students work in small groups to solve challenging problems that are authentic and
often interdisciplinary. Students decide how to approach an ethical dilemma and determine what strategies to
execute.
For example, in this course students will write a paper and present an opinion on an ethical dilemma by using
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an ethical decision-making framework.
Self-directed Learning: it is defined as the process in which individuals take on the responsibility for their own
learning process by diagnosing their personal learning needs, setting goals, identifying resources,
implementing strategies, and evaluating the outcomes.
For example, in this course students will work on an ethics and values clarification exercise.
ASSURANCE OF LEARNING
The College of Business cares about the quality of your education. More on the College's commitment to
Assurance of Learning can be found at the following link:
http://businessonline.fiu.edu/course_addons/Learning_Commitment.pdf
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
POLICIES
Please review the policies page as it contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses
at FIU and additional information on the standards for acceptable netiquette important for online courses.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS/SKILLS
One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy
we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's
operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but
students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to
the "What's Required" page to find out more information on this subject.
This course utilizes the following tools:
1. Blackboard
2. Turnitin
3. Adobe Connect Pro Meeting
For detailed information about the technical requirements, please click here.
ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMODATION
For detailed information about the specific limitations with the technologies used in this course, please click
here.
For more information about Blackboard's Accessibility Commitment, click here.
For additional assistance please contact our Disability Resource Center.
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COURSE PREREQUISITES
This course has a prerequisite(s). Prerequisites: A grade of “C” or higher in MAN3025 or equivalent. For more
information please click here. TEXTBOOK
TITLE – Ethical Theory and Business (9th Edition, 2012)
Authors: Denis G. Arnold, Tom L. Beauchamp, and Norman L. Bowie
Publisher: Pearson Education
PAPER TEXTBOOK ISBN: 9780205169085
ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK ISBN: 0205797199
Click here to buy your textbook online at the FIU Bookstore.
TITLE – Giving Voice to Values: How to Speak Your Mind When You Know
What's Right (12th Edition, 2010)
Author: Mary C. Gentile
Publisher: Yale University Press
PAPER TEXTBOOK ISBN: 9780300181562
ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK ISBN: 0300161328
Click here to buy your textbook online at the FIU Bookstore.
NEWSPAPER (The Wall Street Journal)
1. Go to www.wsj.com/studentoffer to enjoy the student discounted subscription. Then fill in “Your
Personal Information to Create Your Account”.
2. Next you will enter your school information, and you will use the first three digits of the zip code for
FIU Modesto Campus (331) and click on FLORIDA INTNL U for the school name in the drop down
box. Then check for Professor “FRANCO, JAIME”, in the Referring Professor drop box. If he is not
there please enter “Other” and enter his name in the “Specify Other Professor” box.
3. Enter your delivery information and billing information and click submit. **NOTE- if you do not want
the print version you can have it sent to any address, so you can send it to a family/friend, your work
address, or to FIU. The address to send to FIU is:
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th St. – CBC301
Miami, FL 33199
4. If you have any questions, please view the WSJ Orientation YouTube video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG77TI98X88
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EXPECTATIONS OF THIS COURSE
This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for
performance in an online course are the same as for a traditional course; in fact, online courses require a high
degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some
students.
Consistent and regular class participation is required. Moreover, discussion and participation will account for
30% of the final grade in the course. In addition, the following guidelines will be followed:
1. There will be no “extra credit” work to improve grades.
2. No “incomplete” grades will be given for reasons other than well-documented medical emergencies,
personal tragedy, and unavoidable conflicts.
3. No withdrawal from the course will be granted beyond the official FIU deadline even though that deadline
may fall before the exams.
4. University deadlines and regulations will be strictly adhered to in any area of contention or conflict.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO:
• Review How to Get Started, My Welcome Video, and Syllabus located in the course content
• Introduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self introduction in the
appropriate discussion forum
• Read Resources for Students and read and agree to FIU’s Academic Honesty Policies
• Take the practice quiz to ensure that your computer is compatible with Blackboard
• Interact online with instructor/s and peers
• Review and follow the course calendar
• Log in to the course at least 4 times per week
• Respond to discussion boards, blogs, and journal postings within 1 day
• Respond to emails and messages within 1 day
• Submit assignments by the corresponding deadline
THE INSTRUCTOR WILL:
• Log in to the course multiple times per day and per week
• Respond to discussion boards, blogs, and journal postings within 24 hours
• Respond to emails and messages within 8 hours
• Grade assignments within 5 days after the assignment deadline
COURSE DETAILS
COURSE COMMUNICATION
Communication in this course will take place via Blackboard course messages.
Messages are a private and secure text-based communication that occurs within a course and among course
members. Users must log on to Blackboard to send/receive/read messages. The Messages tool is located on
the left side Course Menu (Blackboard user interface). It is recommended that students check their messages
routinely to ensure up-to-date communication.
For more information on professional writing and technical communication click here.
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DISCUSSION FORUMS (COURSE WEIGHT 30%)
Keep in mind that discussion forums are public and care should be taken when determining what to post.
Active and informed participation during discussion forums is required; it is a central part of this
course. Please do not hesitate to raise a point with questions and/or comments. I am here to
assist in your understanding of ethics. Class participation counts for 30% of your overall grade.
(Course Weight 30%)
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The approximate length of a discussion forum post should be about 200 words, 20 lines
Each post MUST (at a bare minimum) include the following: a clearly stated ethical
dilemma, the application of an ethical framework to analyze the identified ethical
dilemma, and your educated opinion of the ethical dilemma
Each student is expected to respond to two (2) classmates’ discussion forum posts on or
before the time and day posts are due. Students responding to classmates’ posts must
provide constructive feedback void of judgment statements. In total, students will respond
to 2 posts per week totaling 12 posts during the Summer A term
I will evaluate the originality and quality of a student’s response especially as the
response relates to a student’s thought process and the content of his/her response
I expect to grade student discussion forum responses within 24 hours
QUIZZES (COURSE WEIGHT 0%)
There will be no quizzes administered in this course.
ASSIGNMENTS (COURSE WEIGHT 30%)
Assignments are due as listed below in the Course Calendar section. Late assignments will not be accepted.
Each student will be required to upload course papers/assignments to Blackboard before or on due dates.
Assignments will NOT be accepted at the professor’s FIU email account. (Course Weight 30%)
All written assignments must include the following:
• Student first and last name (header: top right corner of all pages)
• Panther ID (header: top right corner of all pages)
• Date (header: top right corner of all pages)
• Title (center of first page)
• Page number/s on all pages (footer)
• Double spacing between sentences and paragraphs
• Fonts must be Arial 12 or Times New Roman 12
Students must also properly and appropriately cite all sources using either APA or MLA styles.
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM (COURSE WEIGHT 40%)
Each assigned team of approximately 10 students will research, design, and present a global citizenship
program. The global citizenship program accomplishes the following: (1) teaches students how to work in
virtual teams, (2) teaches students how to give voice to his or her values within different organizational
contexts, and (3) gives students an opportunity to explore various ethical decision-making frameworks to
recognize why and how business decisions are made in organizations and societies.
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This particular assignment will also give students an opportunity to collaborate in large groups (typical of
corporate environments). To this end, teams must develop appropriate processes and strategies to ensure that
all components of the global citizenship program are completed on time. Students should also take full
advantage of cloud-based technologies (e.g., Goggle Docs and Dropbox) and social media to maximize limited
resources.
Each team’s global citizenship program presentation may be conducted live via Adobe Connect Pro Meeting or
pre-recorded. The professor will assign presentation dates and times. The global citizenship program has four
major components: (1) program outline, (2) written paper, (3) PowerPoint deck, and (4) team presentation.
(1) Program Outline (Assignment Weight 5%)
Each team is required to use the approved program outline template. Teams must address each program
outline heading and sub-heading in the outline template. For practical purposes, consider the outline template
your table of contents. Teams are free to incorporate additional sub-headings. Each team is required to upload
an electronic version of the outline to Blackboard Dropbox before writing the final paper.
(2) Written Paper (Assignment Weight 65%)
Each team should work toward one common goal—write a high quality university-level paper.
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Final papers are due as listed below in the Course Calendar.
Late papers will not be accepted.
Final papers must be double spaced and written in Arial 12 or Times New Roman 12 font.
Students must also properly and appropriately cite all sources using either APA or MLA styles.
Written papers must include every heading and sub-heading from the program outline template that
was approved by the professor at the beginning of the course.
Each team is required to upload an electronic version of their final paper to Blackboard Dropbox ONE
day before their presentation (or sooner if available).
Each student is required to complete a Teamwork Skills assessment of each student in his or her
Global Citizenship Program team. The assessment will be used to assist the professor in evaluating
each student’s level of performance in the completion of the program outline, written paper, and
PowerPoint deck.
(3) PowerPoint Deck (Assignment Weight 10%)
Each team must create a PowerPoint slide deck to use during their presentation. The slide deck need not
follow any particular format. This is your team’s opportunity to create an engaging slide deck that will catch an
audience’s attention. The most effective slide decks that I’ve seen in my career have been clean, simple,
engaging, and straight to the point. A slide deck serves as a visual roadmap for you and your audience. A slide
deck is NOT a copy and paste of sections from your team’s final paper. Each team is required to upload an
electronic version of the PowerPoint slide deck to Blackboard Dropbox.
(4) Team Presentation (Assignment Weight 20%)
Each team will be required to facilitate a 10-minute pre-record video of the presentation. This is your
team’s opportunity to “sell” your team’s global citizenship program. During the presentation each student must
be fully knowledgeable about his or her team’s global citizenship program, however, each student will only be
required to explain at least one component of the global citizenship program. If a student does not participate
in the team presentation, the student will earn a zero for the team presentation component of the global
citizenship program. Pre-recorded presentations must be submitted to the professor before or during
the last week of this course.
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ADOBE CONNECT PRO MEETING The Adobe Connect Pro Meeting is an online meeting room in which you can interact with your professor and
fellow students by sharing your computer, screens or files, chat, broadcast live audio and take part in other
interactive online activities. We will use Adobe Connect Pro Meeting to hold office hours, host student group
communication/presentations, etc.
MEETING TIMES ARE TO BE DETERMINED AND COUNT TOWARD A STUDENT’S DISCUSSION/PARTICIPATION GRADE.
Requirements for using Adobe Connect Pro Meeting:
1. Disable any window pop-up blocker.
2. Adobe Flash Player is required to successfully run your Connect Pro meeting. You can test
your computer to make sure that you are set up with all of the tools you will need to
participate in the meeting.
3. Use of a combination headset and microphone with USB connection is recommended to
ensure quality sound and reduce technical difficulties.
Please click here for additional information on Adobe Connect Pro Meeting (Tutorials &
Help).
GRADING
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
WEIGHT
Discussion / Participation
30%
Assignments
30%
Global Citizenship Program
40%
Total
100%
Letter Grade
Range
Letter Grade
Range
Letter Grade
A
Above 93
A-
91-92
B+
87-90
B
84-86
B-
81-83
C+
77-80
C
74-76
C-
71-73
D+
67-70
D
64-66
D-
61-63
F
>61
COURSE CALENDAR
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DATE
WEEK 1
TOPIC
ETHICAL THEORY AND BUSINESS PRACTICE
READING
CHAPTER 1
CBA COURSE GOALS:
• DEMONSTRATE ANALYTICAL SKILLS
• DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING AND REASONING ABILITIES
ALL DELIVERABLES LISTED BELOW ARE DUE SUNDAY OF WEEK 1 BY 11:59 PM (ET)
• Discussion Forum Post: From this week’s Wall Street Journal select an article that includes an ethical
dilemma. Read the article and post your reaction to the article (critique).
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload your answers to the questions for Case 3 titled, “Should Everything be for
sale”. The case is located at the end of Chapter 1 in the Ethical Theory and Business textbook.
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload your coat of arms and values clarification.
WEEK 2
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
CHAPTER 2
CBA COURSE GOALS:
• DEMONSTRATE ANALYTICAL SKILLS
• DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING AND REASONING ABILITIES
• RECOGNIZE ETHICS IN ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY
ALL DELIVERABLES LISTED BELOW ARE DUE SUNDAY OF WEEK 2 BY 11:59 PM (ET)
Discussion Forum Post: From this week’s Wall Street Journal select an article that includes an ethical
dilemma. Read the article and post your reaction to the article (critique).
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload your answers to the questions for Case 2 titled, “Outsourcing at Any
Cost? Do Corporations Ever Have a Moral Obligation Not to Outsource?” The case is located at the
end of Chapter 2 in the Ethical Theory and Business textbook.
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload your team’s global citizenship program outline.
WEEK 3
ETHICAL TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES & LEARNING HOW TO GIVE VOICE TO CHAPTER 3
•
VALUES
&
CBA COURSE GOALS:
• DEMONSTRATE ANALYTICAL SKILLS
• DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING AND REASONING ABILITIES
• RECOGNIZE ETHICS IN ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY
ALL DELIVERABLES LISTED BELOW ARE DUE SUNDAY OF WEEK 3 BY 11:59 PM (ET)
GIVING VOICE TO
VALUES BY MARY
GENTILE
Discussion Forum Post: From this week’s Wall Street Journal select an article that includes an ethical
dilemma. Read the article and post your reaction to the article (critique).
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload a clear and succinct two-page assessment/critique of the book. Make
sure that the majority of your writing focuses on what you particularly learned from the book and how
you will or will not approach ethical dilemmas differently moving forward.
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload your answers to the questions for Case 6 titled, “A Matter of Principle?”
The case is located at the end of Chapter 3 in the Ethical Theory and Business textbook.
WEEK 4
ETHICAL ISSUES IN FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING
CHAPTER 6
•
CBA COURSE GOALS:
• DEMONSTRATE ANALYTICAL SKILLS
• DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING AND REASONING ABILITIES
• RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC & GLOBAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF
ORGANIZATIONS
• RECOGNIZE ETHICS IN ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY
ALL DELIVERABLES LISTED BELOW ARE DUE SUNDAY OF WEEK 4 BY 11:59 PM (ET)
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Discussion Forum Post: From this week’s Wall Street Journal select an article that includes an ethical
dilemma. Read the article and post your reaction to the article (critique).
• Discussion Forum Post: Watch: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room by Alex Gibney and post your
reaction to the movie.
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload your answers to the questions for Case 2 titled, “Accounting for Enron”.
The case is located at the end of Chapter 6 in the Ethical Theory and Business textbook.
WEEK 5
ETHICAL ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
CHAPTER 9
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CBA COURSE GOALS:
• DEMONSTRATE ANALYTICAL SKILLS
• DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING AND REASONING ABILITIES
• DEMONSTRATE MULTICULTURAL AND DIVERSITY UNDERSTANDING
• RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC & GLOBAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF
ORGANIZATIONS
• RECOGNIZE ETHICS IN ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY
ALL DELIVERABLES LISTED BELOW ARE DUE SUNDAY OF WEEK 5 BY 11:59 PM (ET)
Discussion Forum Post: From this week’s Wall Street Journal select an article that includes an ethical
dilemma. Read the article and post your reaction to the article (critique).
• Dropbox Assignment: Upload your answers to the questions for Case 2 titled, “Facilitation or Bribery:
Cultural and Ethical Disparities”. The case is located at the end of Chapter 9 in the Ethical Theory and
Business textbook.
WEEK 6
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
CHAPTER 10
•
CBA COURSE GOALS:
• DEMONSTRATE ANALYTICAL SKILLS
• DEMONSTRATE ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING AND REASONING ABILITIES
• DEMONSTRATE MULTICULTURAL AND DIVERSITY UNDERSTANDING
• RECOGNIZE DOMESTIC & GLOBAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF
ORGANIZATIONS
• RECOGNIZE ETHICS IN ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE CRITIQUE IS DUE BY FRIDAY OF WEEK 6 BY 11:59 PM (ET). THE PROFESSOR
WILL ASSIGN A DUE DATE FOR THE GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM POWERPOINT SLIDE-DECK, FINAL PAPER, AND
PRESENTATION.
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Upload to Blackboard: Global citizenship program presentation.
Discussion Forum Post: From this week’s Wall Street Journal select an article that includes an ethical
dilemma. Read the article and post your reaction to the article (critique).
Dropbox Assignment: Upload your answers to the questions for Case 3 titled, “Wages of Failure: The
Ethics of Executive Compensation”. The case is located at the end of Chapter 10 in the Ethical Theory
and Business textbook.
Dropbox Assignment: Upload your team’s PowerPoint slide-deck and final paper.
There is a possibility that assignments in this course may be used in the future for educational research. No names will be
associated with any data that are used for an educational research project. No identifiable information about individual
students will be collected at any time. No data will be collected or analyzed until all grades have been assigned. If you do
not wish your assignments to be used in future research projects, you may opt out by letting the clerkship director know, in
writing, at any time during the course or up to two weeks after the course has ended. A form is available that states, “I
request that no data from my assignments be included in future educational research projects” that you may sign, or you
may email the clerkship director. There is no consequence to you for opting out. No data will be collected for two weeks
after the course has ended (or until all grades are assigned). If you request to opt out after those two weeks, it may no
longer be possible to remove data collected from your assignments as your name will not be linked to those data. No data
will be used for future educational research without prior approval from the FIU Institutional Review Board (IRB).
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