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Business  1122.30  

Business Ethics & Social Issues

An Online & Accelerated Course, Spring 2010

Wednesdays, March 10 - May 8

1:00- 3:40 PM, Room F 223           

Website: www.ar.cc.mn.us/widdel

Course Description

An introduction to the social problems facing American business with an emphasis on the growing responsibilities of the business person to society. Students will examine ethical dilemmas objectively and apply reasoned judgment to their resolution using a critical thinking process. Topics will focus on major issues currently affecting business owners, managers, employees and communities. This course is designed to give students a framework for ethical decisions that will affect them during their lifetime.

This is an accelerated eight-week course. Students enrolled this semester should expect a homework load that is double the workload of a sixteen-week course.

Mark Widdel Instructor

Anoka-Ramsey Community College - Cambridge Campus

300 Spirit River Drive S.

Cambridge, MN 55008

763.433.1874

Phone:  (hm) 763.576.0037

Skype:  widdelma
 

E-Mail

  mark.widdel@anokaramsey.edu
 

On Campus Office Hours

  Tuesdays: Jan 12 - Mar 6

    8:00-8:50 AM

  Wednesdays:  Mar 10 - May 12

    9:30-11:30 AM

 

 

Online Office Hours

  Mondays, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

  Fridays, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

 

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of the course, the student should be able to:

a. understand the multifaceted issues of ethical and social concerns with which an individual must interrelate.

b. identify local, statewide and international ethical issues and their implications on a business and society.

c. examine ethical dilemmas objectively and apply reasoned judgment to their resolution.

d. understand the complexity of developing and/or maintaining social and personal ethics within the business context.

e. identify and verify facts and how viewpoints can shape the understanding of the role of the individual vs. the role of the organization in the administration of ethical and socially-conscious behavior in the workplace.

f. handle ethical dilemmas that could offset personal relationships diplomatically.

g. communicate the need for applying ethical principles at all levels in an organization through inductive and deductive reasoning.

h. describe the relationship between self-regulation and government regulation. Understand how politics and government can affect business decisions.

i. apply the scientific problem solving process (via oral and written case study presentations) to contemporary scenarios involving ethical and socially-conscious decisions involving the topics chosen by class members.

   

Business Ethics, 8th Edition

Textbook                  ISBN: 1439042233

 

Business Ethics

8th Edition, Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell

South-Western Cengage Learning, 2011

 

Topical Outline

Week of:

Mar 10

Ch 1 - Importance of Business Ethics

Ch 2 - Stakeholder Relationships and Social Responsibility

Mar 17

 No Class - Spring Break!

Mar 24

Ch 3 - Emerging Business Ethics Issues

Ch 4 - Institutionalization of Business Ethics

Mar 31

Ch 5 - Ethical Decision Making and Leadership

Ch 6 - Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies & Values

Apr 7

Ch 7 - Organizational Factors: Ethical Culture and Relationships

Ch 8 -  Developing an Effective Ethics Program

Apr 14

Ch 9 - Implementing and Auditing an Ethics Program
Ch 10 - Globalization of Ethical Decision Making
The Great Debate

Apr 21

The Great Debate

Apr 28

The Great Debate

May 5

Final Exam

   
 

Assignment Specifics

Please refer to the posted assignment links  for specifics and deadlines.

Class Policies and Expectations

Please refer to the posted FAQs.

Major Learning Tools and Tactics

  • Discussion and group analysis of relevant cases, videos and workplace scenarios.

  • Critical-thinking exercises requiring the application of textbook information to the learning exercises.

  • Analysis of codes of ethics used by U.S. companies.

  • Debate of the major issues regarding a relevant social issue

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