Class Schedule:

24 July	*Course Introduction *Syllabus Overview DEADLY DECEPTION (INFACT video) The full text of DEADLY DECEPTION can be found by clicking here. For current news regarding the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, visit the Hanford Watch website. *The 'Nature' of the Corporate Enterprise The Heroic Enterprise: Business and the Common Good, Chapters 1-2 - 'Culture Wars Hit Corporate America' (May 23 2005 Business Week magazine cover story) - Friedman, Milton. `The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits' - Dunn, Craig P. 'Are Corporations Inherently Wicked?' - Diamond, Jarod. 'Easter's End.' Discover, August 1995. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: What might be done to assist managers in the identification of core ethical dilemmas, and additionally to assist them in thinking through the core ethical issues which they face in their everyday decision processes?
25 July	*Corporate Social Performance *Critiques of Market Systems The Heroic Enterprise: Business and the Common Good, Chapter 3 The Hungry Spirit: Beyond Capitalism..., Chapter 1 - Soros, G. `The Capitalist Threat' - Carroll, Archie B. 'The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility' - 'The Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility' - Steinbeck, J. `Grapes of Wrath' (Chapter 5) - For pinkmonkey.com overview of Grapes of Wrath, click here - Doing Business with General Dynamics Network Systems Anatomy of a Hostile Takeover (The Annenberg/CPB Project Ethics in America Series) Information on key players in the video: T. Boone Pickens Sir James Goldsmith Warren Buffet Timothy E. Wirth Frederick H. Joseph Harrison J. Goldin Arthur Liman Lewis Kaden Joseph H. Flom Lester Thurow James Bere (Borg Warner) Robert E. Mercer (Goodyear Tire) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: Both the tractor driver in Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, as well as the Directors in Anatomy of a Hostile Takeover, 'excused' their actions by arguing they were 'just following directions' or 'just playing a role.' Identify a time when you have offered the same justification for engaging in a morally-questionable action, and suggest what might have been done to help you realize the weakneses associated with such justification. WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE
26 July	*Social Contract Theory *Ethical Theory Students may access a PowerPoint handout for this class session by clicking here The Heroic Enterprise: Business and the Common Good, Chapter 9 - Kelman, Steven. `Cost-Benefit Analysis: An Ethical Critique' - `Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Practical Critique' - Stodghill, Ron. `Adam Smith to the ER' - Le Guin, Ursula. `The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas' - Dunn, Craig P. `The Normative Defense for Affirmative Action' For a great 'read' on social justice and meaningful work: Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich Ethics Updates (provides updates on current literature, both popular and professional, that relates to ethics) Complete Guide to Ethics Management SURVEY OF ETHICAL THEORETIC APTITUDES MBA Ethics Survey: Survey of Ethical Theoretic Aptitudes Score: select here ( -7 ) ( -6 ) ( -5 ) ( -4 ) ( -3 ) ( -2 ) ( -1 ) ( 0 ) ( +1 ) ( +2 ) ( +3 ) ( +4 ) ( +5 ) ( +6 ) ( +7 ) COMMONS GAME -Hardin The Tragedy of the Commons' CONTRACTS DUE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: Brady's survey places individuals along a continuum ranging from 'ice cold deontologist' to 'flaming utilitarian.' Having taken this survey, reflect on the 'biases' you may have as a result of your tendency to think about ethical dilemmas in a particular way. Additionally, what might be done to help you develop a 'balanced' approach to the resolution of ethical dilemmas?
27 July	*Case Preparation Day REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: What is the core ethical dilemma within the case you have chosen for analysis? How will you insure that your resolution of this dilemma is as free from bias as possible? WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE
30 July	*International Dimensions of Business Ethics Students may access a PowerPoint handout for this class session by clicking here Newton & Ford's Taking Sides 'Are Multinational Corporations Free From Moral Obligations?' - Social Accountability 8000 (click on the 'PDF' link) - Amnesty International's Universal Declaration of Human Rights - United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Wastler: Chiquita's Raw Deal - Chiquita Admits to Paying Columbian Terrorists - Chiquita to Plead Guilty to Ties with Terrorists - An Excrutiating Dilemma Between Life and Law - Want to know where and under what conditions your clothes are made? MADE-BY - Your wallet is a mouth. When you spend money, you tell the world how you want it to be. Wallet Mouth DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Sustainable Business Practices Students may access a PowerPoint handout for this class session by clicking here Newton & Ford's Taking Sides 'Do Environmental Restrictions Violate Basic Economic Freedoms?' - Environmental Footprint Quiz. - Zuckerman's Dilemma: A Plea for Environmental Ethics. - Ethics and the Economics Ecology Dilemma: Toward a Just, Sustainable, and Frugal Future - Natural Capitalism - Environmental Management Issues in Corporate Strategy DISCUSSION QUESTIONS REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: Were you faced with the choice of violating U.S. law, or protecting the health and safety of your employees, which would you do? How does this 'square' with your ethical predisposition to think in terms of deontology or utilitarianism? How would you justify your actions to affected stakeholders--most particularly your shareholders and your employees? WRITING ASSIGNMENT 3 DUE
31 July	*Case Presentation Day - MySpace finds 29,000 Sex Offenders - Pepsi: Repairing A Poisoned Reputation in India - Dumped on Skid Row - What's Rotten at Whole Foods - New York City Passes Transfat Ban REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: What did you learn during your presentation today which will be particularly useful as you prepare your final case write-up?
01 August	*Ensuring Ethical Behavior Students may access a PowerPoint handout for this class session by clicking here The Heroic Enterprise: Business and the Common Good, Chapter 7 Merck (Business Enterprise Trust video) - Merck Mission Statement (you can also access information on Merck's Code of Conduct, Compliance Program, Corporate Responsibility, and Corporate Governance) Read a synopsis of the book 'Aiming Higher.' The President's remarks during the 1994 Business Enterprise Trust Award Ceremony can be accessed by clicking here. - Josephson Institute on Ethical Decision-Making - Johnson & Johnson Credo - VERIZON Code of Business Conduct: Connecting Through Integrity - How Companies Can Avoid Federal Prosecution - Breaking Down the Wall of Codes DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *The Meaning of Work Students may access a PowerPoint handout for this class session by clicking here The Hungry Spirit: Beyond Capitalism..., Chapter 10 - What Comes Next? - Terkel, Studs. 'Working'. (Chapter titles: Carl Murray Bates, Donna Murray, Roberta Victor) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: If you were tasked with developing an ethics program within an organization, what three things would you consider the most valuable 'guiding principles' as far as process is concerned?
02 August	*The Meaning of Work Students may access a PowerPoint handout for this class session by clicking here - Taylor, Frederick. `The Principles of Scientific Management' (full text) - Terkel, Studs. 'Working'. (Chapter titles: Walter Lundquist, Nora Watson) - The World According to Me DISCUSSION QUESTIONS REFLECTIVE JOURNAL: Identify the two characteristics of meaningful work which are most important to you personally, and suggest mechanisms which you will put in place to insure that these two characteristics are in evidence in your post-MBA work life. WRITING ASSIGNMENT 4 DUE
06 August	*Case Write-ups Due

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