Business Ethics

Previously PHIL 310 (same content)

COURSE DESCRIPTION :
This course focuses on the importance of ethical perceptions and corporate social responsibility as an inevitable factor in business. As a discipline, Business Ethics has considerably grown within the last decades and has become a major field in the age of globalisation. It refers to values-based conduct, which does not only apply to individuals but to corporations.

A fundamental feature of this course is its ONLINE training component. Students will have the unique opportunity to work virtually - individually and as a team - as if they were in a real-world corporate setting. We will use blackboard (BB) as a platform, and students will find all the instructions for their online work on BB. The online component is worth 50% of each student's overall grade. In today's world it is an asset to engage in virtual collaboration and a definite sales pitch for your future job applications. Virtual collaboration is now required by all major companies worldwide.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY :
We will use a case-study approach, in conjuction with role-plays, debates and presentations to highlight the issues at hand. As a consequence of the nature of the material, we will adopt a group approach is presentation of solutions to the problems assigned. Teamwork as well as individual preparedness will be critical in successfully accomplishing the tasks required. The cases covered will be :
- Introduction & Perspective
- Differences between moral/legal/conceptual/utilitarian/individual/corporate issues
- Ethics in Finance - specific practices - encouragement or bribery
- Monopolies & oligopolies
- Environmental issues - corporate vs consumer responsibility
- Employment & the workplace - discrimination ; harassment ; pressure
- Child labor & forced labor
- Conclusion

TEXT:
Business Ethics, Concepts and Cases, Manuel G. Velasquez, 6th edition, Pearson Education

EVALUATION :
50% of the final grade will be made up of a class participation (20%), a group project (20%), a mid-term exam (30%) and a final examination (30%).