MGT 3607

MGT 3607

Business Ethics

Summer 2013

MTWTh 1:00 - 2:30 pm Room: Lecture B

Instructor: Jordan (Jody) Blanke

E-mail: blanke_j@mercer.edu

Website: www.blanke.net/GT/MGT3607

Textbook

The Business Ethics Workshop, v1.0, by James Brusseau, Flatworld Knowledge Publishing
Available at http://students.flatworldknowledge.com/course/1317775
You may purchase the materials in whatever form you prefer. You have the option of purchasing access to an online book for $19.95; an eBook version for iPad or Kindle plus printable PDF files for $34.95; or all of that plus a paperback version of the book for $49.95.

Course Description

This course introduces students to ethics-related aspects of the business decision-making process. Students will address a variety of topics, including the theoretical underpinnings of ethics, stakeholders, decision-making strategies, and utilization of such strategies in specific areas such as shareholder and employment relations, marketing, and globalization. The emphases of the course are issue recognition, application of ethical principles, and analysis of the consistency of corporate decision-making processes with such principles.

Prerequisites

MGT 2106 or its equivalent with a passing grade and Junior/Senior Status

Course Objectives

1. 1. Students will be able to identify ethical issues in the business environment and in their professional interactions.

2. 2. Students will be able to use ethical decision-making tools in order to think through ethical issues and to respond accountably when faced with ethical challenges.

3. 3. Students will gain skills with which to effectively integrate their personal values and ethical decision-making into their professional environment.

4. 4. Students will be able to articulate basic principles of ethics think and write critically and clarify inconsistencies in their own ethics and value systems.

5. 5. Students will be able to define the role they play in forming organizational culture and the means by which they can impact it in a positive manner.

6. 6. Students will be able to identify the resources available to them if confronted with ethical situation.

Classes

The structure of the class will be primarily lecture, although participation is strongly encouraged. Please read the assigned materials before class and be prepared to participate. The class is much more interesting if it is not presented as a monologue.

Cell Phones, Laptops and other Devices

Please turn off all your cell phones and other devices during class. You may use your laptop or tablet to take notes and to do activities related to class. If you need to use it for other purposes, please leave the classroom to do so.

Covered Material and Absence Policy

You are responsible for all assigned readings from the textbook, all additional readings assigned (as posted on the website), and all class discussions (whether you are there or not). If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. I recommend getting class notes from at least two classmates. If you miss more than two classes, your grade will automatically be lowered one letter grade; if you miss more than four classes, your grade will automatically be lowered two letter grades.

PowerPoints

There will be PowerPoint presentations for many of the classes. I will post them to the website (usually after class). Please do not mistake possession of the PowerPoints with mastery of the subject matter. They are merely outlines of the material presented.

Grading

There will be three exams (including the third exam, which will be a non-comprehensive final). Each exam will cover approximately a third of the material and will consist of a combination of multiple choice questions and short essays. Final grades will be determined according to this calculation:

Exam #1 25%

Exam #2 25%

Exam #3 15%

Project #1 10%

Project #2 15%

Class Participation 10%

There are no make-up exams or extra-point assignments. If you are going to miss an exam for a legitimate reason (e.g., significant illness, death (yours or others), tell me beforehand and be prepared to provide the appropriate documentation.

Grades will be based upon this scale:

A 90-100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 59 and below

Students are not permitted to remove examination materials from the classroom during the examination or after its completion. Upon completion of the examination, students must turn in their answer sheets and examination questions.

The Exams

The exams are not open book exams. You are not permitted to use any written or electronic media during the exams. You are expected to complete the exams by yourself.

Student Honor Code

Students are expected to be aware of and abide by the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Academic Honor Code with respect to all aspects of their participation in the course, including Article II, Section 3 establishing student responsibilities with respect to academic integrity. Compliance with the Academic Honor Code also includes all aspects of the Honor Agreement signed by students as a condition of their enrollment in the College of Management. Any student suspected of engaging in behavior in violation of the Academic Honor Code or the Honor Agreement shall be referred to the Office of Student Integrity and the Office of the Dean of Students for appropriate action.

Disability Accommodation

The Georgia Institute of Technology has established policies with respect to disability accommodation through Access Disabled Assistance Program for Tech Students (ADAPTS). These policies may be accessed at the ADAPTS website located at http://www.adapts.gatech.edu. Students seeking disability accommodation are specifically referred to the student guide and documentation pages on this website. Students failing to comply with the requirements set forth in ADAPTS will not receive accommodation.

Legal Disclaimer

Any and all opinions or statements as to legal matters made by the instructor are for classroom purposes only and are not intended and should not be construed as dispensing legal advice. This disclaimer includes conversations with students during and outside of class.

Schedule

This schedule should provide a fairly good timetable for coverage of topics. The exams will be given on the dates listed.

Date	Topic	Assignments
Jun 24	Introduction to the Law
Jun 25	Introduction to the Law
Jun 26	Introduction to the Law
Jun 27	Ethics, Society & the Law	Readings on Ethics, Society & the Law
Jul 1	Ethics, Society & the Law
Jul 2	What is Business Ethics?	Read the Good Samaritan articles (below) Ch. 1 Read the MBA Oath materials
Jul 3	Theories of Duties and Rights	Ch. 2
Jul 4	Theories of Consequence Ethics	Ch. 3
Jul 8	Theories Responding to Cultural Relativism	Ch. 4
Jul 9	Exam #1
Jul 10	Review Exam #1 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Corporate Social Responsibility	Read Foreign Corrupt Practices Act materials Ch. 13
Jul 11	Corporate Social Responsibility	Read CSR materials
Jul 15	Corporate Social Responsibility	Presentations for Groups 1, 5, 6, & 4
Jul 16	Decision Making Models	Presentations for Groups 7 & 2 Read Decision Models materials
Jul 17	Decision Making Models	Read Standards and Guidelines materials
Jul 18	Ethical Standards and Guidelines	Presentation for Group 3
Jul 22	Sustainability
Jul 23	Exam #2
Jul 24	Review Exam #2 Employment Law	Ch. 7.2 Whistle-blowing Ch. 8.4 Firing Ch. 10.1 Racial discrimination Ch. 10.3 Gender discrimination Ch. 11.2 Sexual harassment
Jul 25	Employment Law Environmental Law Advertising and Consumer Protection	Ch. 5.1 Finding a job Ch. 6.1 Resumes Ch. 7.1 Gifts Ch. 14.1 & 2 The Environment Ch. 12. 1 & 2 & 3 Advertising
Jul 29		Group Presentations - Groups 6, 4 & 2
Jul 30		Group Presentations - Groups 5, 7 & 3
Jul 31		Group Presentations - Group 1
Aug 1	Exam #3

PowerPoints

Introduction to Law

Constitutional Law

Equal Protection

Ethics, Society and the Law

Theories of Duties and Rights - Ch. 2

    Theories of Consequence Ethics - Ch. 3
    Theories Responding to the the Challenge of Cultural Relativism - Ch. 4
    Corporate Social Responsibility - Ch. 13
    Employment Law

Environmental Law

Group Project #1 PowerPoints

Group 1 - Coca-Cola

Group 5 - Wal-Mart

Group 6 - Apple

Group 4 - Canon

Group 7 - Mordidas 1 & 2

Group 2 - Mordidas 3 & 4

Group 3 - Two Cousins

Group Project #2 PowerPoints

Group 6 - Whistle Blowing

Group 4 - Gowanus Canal

Group 2 - DNA testing and Privacy

Group 5 - Advertising - Prescription Drugs and Cigarettes

Group 7 - The Looting and Return of Art

Group 3 - The Wrongfully Convicted

Group 1 - Wal-Mart Sustainability Update

Links

United States Constitution

Supreme Court Affirmative Action Case - Fisher v. University of Texas (PDF file) (you do not have to read the entire opinion)

New York Times article about the decision

Little Asia on the Hill - New York Times article
The Trouble with Quotas - New York Times article

Legal Studies Classroom - Prof. DeAngelis - UConn
Eminent Domain - The Ballad of Suzette Kelo - video
Good Samaritan Laws - the Seinfeld finale video; discussion about the Van Horn case; the well-intentioned Good Samaritan video

Good Samaritan Laws

To Perform CPR or Not? Woman's Death Raises Question - CNN article

California's New Good Samaritan Law Attempts to Save Lives - article

The MBA Oath

MBA Oath Is Nothing to Swear By - Bloomberg Businessweek article

Do We Need an MBA Oath? And Should MBAs Take It? - Harvard Business School student newspaper article

Three Minute Philosophy: Utilitarianism - video

The Basics of Utilitarianism - video

Sample Test Questions - PDF file

Four Case Studies on CSR - article (PDF file)

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Introduction - FCPA Lawyer