Chabot College Course Outline for Business 50H PRACTICAL BUSINESS ETHICS Catalog Description: 50H - Practical Business Ethics
Fall 2007
1 unit
Examination of real-world ethical issues in the business environment. Includes exploration of personal ethics, review of contemporary business ethics issues, and development of approaches to resolving ethical dilemmas. 1 hour. [Typical contact hours: 17.5] Prerequisite Skills: None Expected Outcomes for Students: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to: 1. Identify the sources of personal ethics; 2. articulate his or her personal ethics; 3. distinguish between personal and corporate ethics; 4. critically review corporate ethics codes; 5. define common business ethics issues 6. develop a personal decision-making model for business ethical dilemmas; 7. resolve on-the-job ethical issues using an analytical process.
Course Content: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Contemporary issues in business ethics Forces that shape ethical behavior Corporate or office ethics vs. personal ethics and values Corporate ethics codes Personal ethics statements Technology and ethical issues Communication and ethical issues Supervisor/employee ethical issues Office relationship ethical issues Decision-making models for ethical behavior
Methods of Presentation: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Lectures Discussion Oral presentations Case studies Videos Guest speakers
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress: 1. Typical Assignments: a. Visit the Center for Ethics and Business Website at http://www.ethicsandbusiness.org/stylequiz.htm, and complete the Ethical Orientation Questionnaire. Define a recent ethical dilemma you’ve faced. Write a one-page paper that describes your ethical orientation, and how that orientation influenced your decision about how to resolve your ethical dilemma.
Chabot College Course Outline for Business 50H, Page 2 Fall 2007
b. View the movie “Erin Brockovich”. Compose a two-page paper that identifies one business ethics issue in the movie, and then apply your personal decision-making model to resolve that issue. 2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress: a. Quizzes b. Oral presentations c. Personal ethics statements and decision-making model d. Examinations e. Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical): Ethics in Business, Carole Bennett, South-Western Thomson Learning, 2003. Ethics in Business, Robert B. Maddux and Dorothy Maddux, Crisp Publications, 1989. Special Student Materials: None
jn 08/06 revised 10/17/06 BUS 50H course outline