Text Shaw, W., & Barry, V., Moral Issues in Business, 7th Ed., Wadsworth, 1998.
             Other handouts, readings and articles.

To see the learning logs assigned to date :  Business Ethics Forum: Learning Logs

To see Optional readings:  Business Ethics Links

To See  Company Credos

Weeks         Topic                                                                     Readings & Assignments
 1   9/7         Introduction / Requirements                                   -
                    Why Study Business Ethics
                    Library Visit
 2   9/14      Ethics in the News                                                    Ch 1 (p.2-25)
                    Kohlberg Stages of Moral Development              Bring News Clipping to Class
                    Corporate Ethical Strategy
 3   9/21      Agency Theory / Conflict of Interests                  Ch 8 (p.347-59)
                   Approval of Topic for Paper 1                                 Case 8.2 - Mobil Oil (p.367-8)
 4   9/28      Utilitarianism                                                              Ch 2 (p.57-61 & 66-75)
                    Product Liability                                                        Case 2.2 - Pinto (p.78-81)
                                                                                                         Ch 10 (p.460-8)
                                                                                                         Case 10.2 - Hot McCoffee (p.486-7)
 5   10/5     Corporate Responsibility                                           Ch 5 (p.188-202)
                  Stakeholder Theory                                                     Camenisch Article (p.240-6)
                  Paper 1 Due                                                                   Case 5.2 - Asbestos (p.211-3)
 6   10/12   Egoists / Kant (Deontology)                                      Ch 2 (p.53-6, & 61-6)
                  Merck River Blindness Case
                  Approval for Paper 2
 7   10/19   Mid-Term Examination                                                  -
                  Logs Due
 8   10/26   Corporate Ethics Programs                                          Ch 5 (p.203-8)
                  Team-building / Presentation Pointers
 9   11/2     Field Visit to Corporate Ethics Program                     -
10  11/9     Virtue & Ethics                                                               Ch 2 (p.89-93)
                  Paper Presentations / Paper 2 Due
11  11/16   International Business                                                  Fadiman Article (p.391-400)
                  Intellectual Property                                                       Case 5.4 - Levi Strauss (p.217-20)
12  11/30   Group Reports on Field Projects                                  -
                  Group & Individual Field Papers Due
13  12/7     Whistle Blowing                                                            Ch 8 (p.359-64)
                  Rights                                                                              Ch 6 (p.248-68)
                                                                                                            Ewing Article (p.278-80)
                                                                                                            Case 6.1 - Wendy's (p.268-70)
14  12/14   Justice & Economic Development                              Ch 3 (p.95-117)
                                                                                                            Case 3.1 - U S Steel (p.118-9)
                                                                                                            Case 3.2 U S Poverty (p.120-2)
15  12/21   Final Examination (Sessions 8 to 14)                             -
                  Logs Due

Grades:    Field Trip Group Report  20%             Midterm   15%

                  Papers (two) & Oral Report 30%         Final Exam     15%
                  Learning Logs & Participation 20%

Exams will be open book and notes and will cover all assigned material (i.e., readings, class presentations and class discussions). If you must miss the mid-term you can make it up by taking a cumulative final.  The cumulative final option is available to anyone who wishes to improve on their mid-term grade. If you do take the cumulative part of the final, it can not hurt your grade in the mid-term. If you miss the final, you can arrange a make-up, probably early next semester.

Learning Logs are to be turned in at the beginning of each class. Since we will be discussing the work included on the learning logs in the class the student should have their own copy for class room discussion.

Quizzes may be given unannounced throughout the semester and will cover material assigned for the given class. There is no makeup of quiz grades. Quiz grades are included in the class participation grade.

Papers & Group Report For these assignments should be at least FIVE type written double spaced pages with normal margins. They will be graded on both form and content. They should be prepared on a word processor and should be both spell checked and grammar checked.

Group Work Doing work in groups does not mean that you should divide up the effort to the exclusion of some members and the exhaustion of others. I expect that each individual will read the chapter, read the book, or watch the movie. The group efforts consists in discussing, writing up, reviewing, and turning in the solution. I reserve the right to quiz group members to insure that each has read the book, etc.

Participation & Timeliness Your level of participation will be assessed at the end of the semester and it will be part of your grade. If material is turned in late, it will lower the grade you would otherwise have received.

Integrity Please note the university's policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other violations of integrity. First offense, F in the course, second offense, suspension from the university. My policy is somewhat more severe and I have no sense of humor on this subject.

Outcomes The student should learn, understand and be able to use all of the topics, concepts, and techniques enumerated in the course description and list of topics. The eventual goal is best described by Frank H. T. Rhodes, President of Cornel University: "A college graduate should ... be able to work with precision, rigor, and understanding in a chosen discipline so as to understand not only something of its content but also its premises, relationships, limitations, and significance." This course should provide the foundation of ethical understanding necessary to business majors so that they may further pursue their business education.
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Official First Page:
BUSI 1160                                                 BUSINESS ETHICS FORUM                                                             Fall, 1999
Email: beadil@earthlink.net                                                                                                                               Dr. T Beam
Fax: 215-836-7158                                                                                                     Home Page: alpha.fdu.edu/~tbeam/
Prerequisite: BUSI 1100

Course Description: The Business Ethics Forum is an introductory course to achieve three objectives for every student in the College of Business Administration.
            First: to raise the students' awareness of the ethical implications of business activities.
       Second:  to teach moral reasoning skills for the application throughout each course in the curriculum (and in professional life).
           Third:  to acquaint the students with corporate ethical programs.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should:
 [1] Understand the importance of ethics in business corporations.
 [2] Be able to identify and analyze business ethical dilemmas.
 [3] Learn how to apply ethical reasoning in other courses in the curriculum and in practice.
 [4] Develop their analytic and critical thinking abilities, interpersonal skills, writen communication skills, oral communication skills, computer research skills, and global perspectives of present and future business enterprises.

Relation to College Mission: This course gives insight and skill to work within the rapid social change in global business through an innovative educational experience (group discussions, group and team reports, research to be an expert in an area of ethics, a field trip to local corporate ethics programs).

Course Topics:  Moral Development   Utilitarianism                                   Deontology
                             Agency Theory         Just Distribution of Wealth          Conflict of Interests
                             Virtue Ethics              Stakeholder Analysis                      Corporate Ethics Programs
                             Whistle Blowing       International Business Ethics         Egoism

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Samuel J. Silberman College of Business Administration is to provide education in business administration for undergraduate and graduate students, drawn primarily from New Jersey and the Greater New York Metropolitan Area. The programs of the College prepare graduates to assume positions of responsibility in a global business community characterized by rapid technological and social change.

Undergraduate programs reflect a strong commitment to the liberal arts as a foundation for the study of business in a multi-cultural society. Graduate programs build on the diverse educational backgrounds of the students by providing professional management education that emphasizes the linkage of theory to the practice of business.

The College aims to achieve regional recognition as a leading provider of high quality, innovative education in business administration and as a leader in the enhancement of business management through the applied research and professional activities of the faculty.