Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 1

Mana 4340 - Business & Society –

Ethics and Stakeholder Management

First of all, adaptation of Carroll & Buchholtz, Business & Society – Ethics and Stakeholder Management is used at the undergraduate level to meet the AACSB requirements. In addition each exam question provides the AACSB designation related to learning outcome.

Learning Outcomes – Mana 4340

  1. Students will be able to recognize elements of our pluralistic society characterizing business and society interrelationships. (Chapter 1 – AACSB Requirement 1)
  2. Students will be able to identify basic philosophies of proponents regarding CSR (corporate social responsibility). – Chapter 2 – (AACSB Requirement 2)
  3. Students will be able to recognize the pros and cons of both sides of each moral dilemma. – Chapter 7 –(AACSB Requirement 5)
  4. Students will be able to recognize and explain the major ethical theories that are used in the decision making process of leadership. – Chapter 8 (AACSB Requirement 3)
  5. Students will be able to identify the major stakeholders and how they are affected by different ethical philosophies used in decision-making. – Chapter 8 (AACSB Requirement 2 & 3)
  6. Students will be able to identify the principles and practices of sound, responsible corporategovernance as a deterrent to unethical behavior – Chapter 4 (AACSB Requirement 4)
  7. Students will be able to apply the necessary steps to reach decisions which are both ethically and socially responsible. – Chapter 8, Chapter 2 – (AACSB Requirement 2)
  8. Students will be able to identify the basic characteristics of a profession(HRM), and provide insights to the ethical codes that make one a professional within a specified field – Several Chapters - AACSB Requirement 5)

AACSB Requirement 1

Where do students learn about the responsibility of business in society? What assurance isthere that these learning opportunities are effective?

The course structure demonstrates that “It is essential for business in general—and management education students in particular—to understand the symbiotic relationship between business and society, especially in terms of the moral dimensions of the power placed in the hands of owners and managers.”Business schools address this need in many ways and at many points in their curricula. Schools andreview teams should confirm that the coverage is adequate to ensure that all students understandthis important relationship.

Mana4340 - Chapter 1—The Business and Society Relationship

Learning Outcome

Recognize elements of our pluralistic society characterizing business and society interrelationships. (Chapter 1 – AACSB Requirement 1)

Examination Question

Which of the following is not a weakness of pluralism?

a. / prevention of concentrations of power
b. / pursuit of self-interest
c. / overlapping goals, causing confusion about which groups best serve particular interests
d. / emphasis on conflict

ANS:A PTS: 1REF:8-9 NAT:AACSB Analytic | Environmental Influence

AACSB Requirement 2

Where do students learn and practice ethical decision making? Do any of the examplesinvolve ethical issues from the students’ own experience? What assurance is there that theselearning opportunities are effective?

Providing students the opportunity to learn and practice multiple models for ethical decision making is an important step in supporting their ability to make good personal choices and business decisions in the future. To ensure that they internalize the application of the model when they are closeto the choices, it is helpful to utilize some examples from their own sphere of experience. Schoolsand review teams should consider whether there is assurance that the opportunities for learning andpracticing ethical decision making are adequate for all students.

Mana 4340 - Chapter 8—Personal and Organizational Ethics

Learning Outcome

Students will be able to identify basic philosophies of proponents regarding CSR (corporate social responsibility). – Chapter 2 – (AACSB Requirement 2)

Apply the necessary and appropriate steps to reach decisions which are both ethically and socially responsible. – Chapter 8, Chapter 2 – (AACSB Requirement 2)

Examination Question

Corporate social responsibility emphasizes

a. / obligation and accountability.
b. / action and activity.
c. / outcomes and results.
d. / socially responsible investing.

ANS:A PTS: 1REF:35 NAT:AACSB Ethics | Ethical Responsibilities

Which of the following is the most basic assumption we make in discussing personal and managerial ethics?

a. / With effort, the "right" answer can be reached.
b. / The object of ethical principles is to minimize harm done to others.
c. / The object of ethical principles is to maximize benefits to others and ourselves.
d. / People want to behave ethically.

ANS:D PTS:1REF: 292 NAT:AACSB Ethics | Ethical Responsibilities

AACSB Requirement 3

Where do students learn about their responsibilities for ethical leadership in organizations?

What assurance is there that these learning opportunities are effective?

While most students will not proceed to leadership positions immediately upon graduation, theystill must develop a basic understanding of ethical leadership. With luck they will move quickly tosupervisory positions where their abilities in this important area will first be tested. Regardless oftheir progression, it is important to note that all group and organizational members are in a position to exercise informal leadership at selected times and on selected issues. Schools and reviewteams should consider whether or not there is assurance that the opportunities for learning aboutethical leadership are adequate and effective for all students.

Chapter 8—Personal and Organizational Ethics

Learning Outcome

Recognize and explain the major ethical theories that are used in the decision making processof leadership. – Chapter 8 (AACSB Requirement 3)

Examination Question

Ethical leadership is founded on two pillars. These are

a. / rewards and punishments.
b. / the manager as a moral person and a moral manager.
c. / ethical climate and ethics training.
d. / ethics principles and ethics tests.

ANS:B PTS: 1REF:321 NAT:AACSB Ethics | Leadership Principles

AACSB Requirement 4

Where do students learn about corporate governance? What assurance is there that theselearning opportunities are effective?

This class teaches that “Knowing the principles and practices of sound, responsible corporategovernance can also be an important deterrent to unethical behavior.” To help reduce the probability of corruption, students should encounter the principles of and practice compliance with goodgovernance in their coursework. Schools and review teams should consider whether there is assurance that the opportunities for learning about corporate governance are adequate and effective forall students.

Chapter 4—Corporate Governance: Foundational Issues

Learning Outcome

Identify the principles and practices of sound, responsible corporategovernance as a deterrent to unethical behavior – Chapter 4 (AACSB Requirement 4)

Examination Question

The primary purpose of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is to

a. / provide rules regulating the relationship between CEOs and boards.
b. / limit the power of corporate boards.
c. / restrict the flow of corporate money into politics.
d. / provide better protection for investors in public companies by improving the financial reporting of those companies.

ANS:D PTS: 1REF:135 NAT:AACSB Analytic | Legal Responsibilities

AACSB Requirement 5

Where do students learn about specific ethical issues and guidelines relating to other contentareas? What assurance is there that these learning opportunities are effective?

There is a danger that implicit ethical issues will be ignored in the coverage of disciplinary content.While general ethical education is important, ignoring ethical implications during the discussion ofdetailed subjects sends a message that ethical conduct may be relegated to certain areas and ignoredin others. This encourages students to disregard the ethical implications of some decisions andassume there will be no consequences. A short list of examples of ethical components is shownbelow to stimulate thinking on the part of schools and review teams. They should be concernedthat there is assurance of coverage of ethical issues in the disciplinary content.

Specific Areas: Sample Ethical Component

Learning Outcome

Students will be able to recognize the pros and cons of both sides of each moral dilemma. – Chapter 7 –(AACSB Requirement 5)

Explain the basic characteristics of a profession (HRM), and provide insights to the ethical codes that make one a professional within a specified field – Specific Chapter Below - AACSB Requirement 5)

Auditing

Corporate Strategy

Mana4340 - Chapter 5—Strategic Management and Corporate Public Affairs

Examination Question

Which of the following is not one of the steps in the strategic management process?

a. / goal formulation
b. / strategy implementation
c. / problem identification
d. / environmental analysis

ANS:C PTS: 1REF:164 NAT:AACSB Analytic | Strategy

Human resource management

Mana4340 - Chapter 10—Ethical Issues in the Global Arena

Examination Question

The main two factors of concern in management and control of global operations are

a. / organizational structure/design and human resource management.
b. / tax laws and currency exchange rates.
c. / manufacturing processes and marketing plans.
d. / political parties and economic systems.

ANS:A PTS: 1REF:401 NAT:AACSB Analytic | HRM

Specific Areas: Sample Ethical Component (Continued)

Environmental impact

Chapter 15—The Natural Environment as Stakeholder

Examination Question

Human denial of responsibility for the misuse of the environment is reflected by:

a. / OPEN
b. / NIMBY
c. / BAMA
d. / CLOSE

ANS:B PTS: 1 REF:593NAT: AACSB Analytic | Environmental Influence

Privacy management

Censorship and privacy

Mana4340 - Chapter 18—Employee Stakeholders: Privacy, Safety, and Health

Examination Question

Which of the following is notone of the major workplace privacy issues?

a. / integrity testing
b. / drug testing
c. / monitoring employees
d. / hourly pay and benefits

ANS:D PTS:1 REF: 691NAT:AACSB Analytic | HRM

Fairness in selection and promotion procedures

MANA 4340 - Chapter 19—Employment Discrimination and Affirmative Action

Examination Question

The concept that preferential treatment for minorities and women leads to harms to other groups is called

a. / compensatory justice.
b. / reverse discrimination.
c. / "what goes around comes around."
d. / legalized discrimination.

ANS:B PTS:1REF: 759 NAT:AACSB Analytic | Legal Responsibilities

AACSB Requirement 6

AACSB Question not applicable to classroom setting of Mana4340.

10. What proportion of the business school faculty are involved in the activities covered by questions five through nine?

Faculty involvement is an important indicator of the salience of issues in academic environments.

Relegation of ethical issues to a small fraction of the faculty or to those perceived as having low status vitiates the power of the educational experience. Also, in an environment where concern overethical issues has risen sharply, lack of business school faculty involvement may indicate a disconnection between the academic experience and the real world. If ethics content is taught primarily byfaculty from outside the business school, questions should be raised as to what is done to conveythe relevance of ethics in business practice.