BUS776/777 Business Ethics and Society
Professor: Andrew Gustafson, Ph.D.
Requirements:
1. Attend/Participate 3 hours classtime per week, 1 hour online learning (always 4 hours per week total)
2. Participate in weekly online discussion of topic (1 thoughtful posting per person per week on the readings by Sunday P.M.)
3. Leadership: Provide questions, prompting, leadership for E-group discussion on week’s topic
- 3 people per week will do this
- These people will provide questions on blackboard on Thursday so others can respond.
4. Class Overview/Summary paper (My reflections on this business ethics class)
5. Final Paper (7-10pg) On particular business ethics topic with 5+ sources and 10+ further research sources (where you would suggest we go to learn more about the topic).
6. Term Group Project Presentation: Variable content, but must be on the topic of business ethics as it relates to a. culture and society in Omaha b. Service Learning c. Ethics in Business in General (multi-issue) d. particular professional ethical issues (accounting ethics) For presentation, you should use powerpoint or photostory to create this project/presentation. 2-3 per group max. Due May 2nd
Book: Taking Sides: Business Ethics and Society (9th Edition—2006 McGraw Hill) eds: Newton & Ford
Other readings: Online and handouts.
Description: This class is designed to help you think about how business can and should impact culture and society, as well as to help you consider what moral behavior in the workplace is. We work at three levels—the individual level (what should I do in this situation), the corporate level (how should we at our company ensure compliance and encourage ethical behavior?), and the broader industry or societal level (how should our industry regulate itself, how should business in general be regulated and how should it impact society?) We will tackle these sorts of questions through a. our readings b. presenations from corporate leaders c. our active interaction with entrepreneurs d. interactions and discussions
Schedule (In progress—not complete or set in stone!)
February 14 Introduction to Business Ethics
Where: Creighton
Book: Issue 1: Is Capitalism the Best Route to Human Happiness? (1-22)
Online: “framework” http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/framework.html
“Ethics” http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/approach.html
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/whatisethics.html
February 21 Union Pacific Visit Butch Ethington
Where: UP Building—ask front info desk
Book: Issue 2: Can Individual Virtue Survive?... (23-46)
Issue 3: Can restructuring…. (47-75)
Online: “Taught?” http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/canethicsbetaught.html
“conscience” http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/conscience.html
February 28 South Omaha Visit Mr John Barrientos, State Farm Agent; Juan Diego Center
Where: S. 24th & O
Book: “Should Corporations adopt?” (76-94)
Online: “Stakeholder theory of corporation” Acad. Manag. Review ’95 20:1 (65-91)
http://www.jstor.org/view/03637425/ap010077/01a00080/0
March 7: No Class—Spring Break
March 14 Mutual of Omaha Visit-- Keith Christine
Where: 33rd & Dodge
Book: “Is Wal-Mart a Good Model?” (123-135)
Online: Strategic Philanthropy: http://cobacourses.creighton.edu/businesscommunity/new773/index.htm
Patagonia: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v8n1/synchilla.html
Movie: Watch Enron Movie and Respond to it online
“Smartest Guys in the Room”
March 21 North Omaha Visit—End up at Jazz Museum Dennis O’neil, Jim Swoopes, Ernest White
Where: Start at Creighton University
Handout: “Poverty as capability Deprivation” from Amartya Sen’s book, Development as Freedom
Online: Digital Divide http://cobacourses.creighton.edu/businesscommunity/digital_divide/essay.htm
Welfare Reform: http://cobacourses.creighton.edu/businesscommunity/new773/index.htm
Banking: http://cobacourses.creighton.edu/businesscommunity/new773/index.htm
March 28 Meet with Entrepreneurs + visit their location
Where: Creighton University
Online: http://cobacourses.creighton.edu/businesscommunity/new773/index.htm
Omaha Poverty: http://cobacourses.creighton.edu/businesscommunity/new773/index.htm
April 4 Re-meet with Entrepreneurs
Where: Creighton University
Assignment: Prepare for your second meeting with Entrpreneurs
Online: Reflectively Summarize your encounter with the Entrepreneurs from your perspective
April 11 Chamber of Commerce Visit Rob Maglinger: Omaha’s Growth: Business as Catalyst for Social Change
Where: Chamber of Commerce (1301 Harney St)
Online:
April 18 Conagra or Gallup Visit
Where: Conagra or Gallup campus
Book: Issue 14 “Ford” (269-296)
Movie: “Roger and Me” (Michael Moore)
Online: layoffs http://www.scu.edu/ethics/dialogue/candc/cases/performance.html
April 25 First National Bank Visit
Where: First National Bank Tower—go to security guard
Book: Issue 11: Employment at Will (205-230)
Issue 12 CEO Compensation (231-252)
Online: Employee Loyalty: http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v12n1/loyalty.html
Assessing for Ethics http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/business/assessing.html
May 2 Class Meets at Johnny’s Steakhouse or Rick’s Boatyard Café for final presentations
Where: 4702 S 27th St (Hwy75, L. st Exit from north) johnnyscafe.com