MGT/216 Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility

Course Syllabus
Course Prefix and Number: MGT/216

Course Title: Organizational Ethics and Social Responsibility

Course Schedule: 5/5/2010 - 6/2/2010

Course
Location/Times/Newsgroup:
Required Course Materials
Kearny Mesa Campus
Links to course materials and electronic resources for each week of
class are located on the page of the student Website.
Content is divided by weeks.

Instructor’s Name: Emilio Vargas

Telephone: Cell (858) 663-8939 Off (858) 842-1733

Call anytime; if I don’t answer leave a voicemail and I will call you
Availability: back within 24 hours

Welcome!
Welcome to the world of business management with emphasis on how ethics play a key
role in that world today. This course is all about the exciting art and science of
management. You should be able to apply what we uncover whether you are in a
management / leadership position, any decision making role.
As your instructor, I am fully committed to doing my best to present practical and usable
concepts. I encourage you to be fully committed to your readings, assignments,
learning, and applying what we uncover. I look forward to learning with you!
I really enjoy teaching and learning. I believe learning is a life long experience. When
you enter class, I expect to learn with you. Don't ever pass on an opportunity to learn
both in the class and out. In my class, you will be challenged to learn from each other
and share ideas that will broaden all of our lives. Just as in life, preparation is the key to
success so come to class prepared to learn and to share. We will all benefit ... including
you, other students, and me.

Instructor Bio
My name is Emilio Vargas and I look forward to learning with all of you over the next 5
weeks of this course. I graduated from St. John’s University with a BS in Public
Accounting. A few years later, I attended Pace University in New York where I obtained
a dual MBA in Strategic Marketing and Organizational Behavior.
In addition to over 17 years of marketing and business management experience, I have
worked as a marketing and management executive for several distinguished companies
including Delta Airlines, Marriott Corporation, Kodak, and United Parcel Service. In 2006
I started my own marketing company, Marketing Excellence, Inc. We’ll talk more about
this in the next 5 weeks.

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COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides a foundational perspective for socially responsible management practices in business. Special
emphasis is placed on the inter-related nature of ethics, moral, legal, and social issues in managing individuals, groups,
and the organization within a business environment.

TOPICS AND OBJECTIVE

S

FUNDAMENTALS OF BUSINESS ETHICS

• Describe business ethics.
• Identify moral issues within today’s business environment.
• Compare major ethical theories.

MORAL PERSPECTIVES
• Describe the relationship among virtue, values, and moral concepts in an individual and business context.
• Explain how individuals respond to moral issues in business.
• Recommend solutions to moral dilemmas using principles of ethics.
• Explain ways in which external social pressures have influenced business ethics.

ETHICS IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

• Describe moral and ethical issues faced by managers.
• Explain the relationship between social issues and ethically responsible management practices.
• Apply ethical principles to managerial issues.

ETHICS IN BUSINESS AND THE ORGANIZATION

• Describe current moral and ethical issues faced by organizations.
• Explain the relationship among ethics, morality, and social issues within the legal environment.
• Apply ethical principles to organizational issues.

ETHICS IN GLOBAL BUSINESS

• Describe ethical issues that arise as a result of globalization.
• Compare ethical perspectives across cultures.
• Determine the risks and consequences associated with global business.

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Point Values for the Course Assignments

ASSIGNMENTS DUE POINTS

Individual (70%)

Ethics Questionnaire W1 10

Ethical Theories Chart W2 10

Business Ethics Reflection W3 15

Ethical Issues in Management Paper W4 10

Final Examination W5 15

Participation All 10

Learning Team (30%)

Case Study Paper and Presentation W3 15

Ethical Organization Profile Paper and Presentation W5 15

Total 100

How Points and Percentages Equate to Grades:

100-95 A 76- C
74

94-90 A- 73- C-
70

89-87 B+ 69- D+
67

86-84 B 66- D
64

83-80 B- 63- D-
60

79-77 C+ 59 < F

Required Writing Manuals

All papers submitted are required to be written and cited according to the Required
Writing Manuals. For information on how to purchase required copies of the University of
Phoenix approved publication and reference manuals, please refer to the link titled,
‘Required Writing Manuals', which can be found on the left hand column of your
course web page(s). These writing manuals have distinct features and will be valuable
reference tools throughout your academic programs.

Attendance and Participation

Attendance requirements are available online in the Student Catalog. To view the
catalog, select the Publications link from your ecampus web page..

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Please BE PROMPT - we will begin on time. If you are late, you will need to get the
information you have missed from your teammates. Please do this without disrupting the
rest of the class. Students are expected to attend all classes and participate in all four
hours of each session. Tardiness and leaving early will be reflected in your participation
points.
ABSENCE POLICY is according to University of Phoenix Policy. You may miss no
more than one classroom week and one learning team meeting and still pass the class.
Please contact me as soon as possible if you are going to miss a class. This notice
allows us to work around your absence with little disturbance. If you miss a class, you
will lose all participation points for that night.
There is no opportunity to make up missed presentations; they will not be rescheduled
and you will receive no credit for that assignment.

Participation:
Participation is expected and required. Participation is a graded activity worth 10% of
your grade. Participation is my subjective perception and observation of each student’s
class contribution. You will get more out of this class and be far more satisfied with your
experience in this class if you prepare for class, contribute during class and actively
participate each week.
Your participation grade is made up of arriving to class on time, staying until the end,
showing evidence that you have read the week’s material, are prepared to engage in
discussions about it, adding value to class discussions without dominating or distracting,
sharing new ideas and concepts, challenging the material, providing updates, critiquing
the material provided, sharing your experiences, submitting all team charters and logs—
just to name a few.
Those who show innovation, creativity, leadership and extra effort without attempting to
dominate class discussions score higher.
Those who demonstrate average, active participation and attitude score accordingly.
Examples of quality participation include: asking relevant questions, raising appropriate
issues, stimulating discussion with relevant examples from your work place, and
supplementing class discussions with timely newspaper/ magazine articles related to our
class.

Class Discussions:
• Confine your contribution and discussion points to the topic or challenge being
discussed.
• Only one person should talk at a time.
• Listen alertly to the discussions.
• If you are called on and do not know what has been said or asked, it will negatively
affect your participation points for that class.
• Invite quiet members to contribute and be patient as others make their points.
Classroom Protocol:
• You are expected and required to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct.

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• Avoid private conversations.

• Ensure that cell phones and pagers are off or set to vibrate.
• Comments and actions that could be interpreted as demeaning to any group or
individual will not be tolerated.
• Not adhering to classroom protocol will negatively affect your participation points for
that class.

Accommodations
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act and
requires accommodations, he or she should contact Amy Gingrich, Campus ADA
Officer, for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Ms. Gingrich may be
contacted by telephone at 1-800-473-4346 ext. 31059 or via email at
amy.gingrich@phoenix.edu.

Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is highly valued at the University of Phoenix. You must always submit
work that represents your original words or ideas. If any words or ideas used in a class
posting or assignment submission do not represent your original words or ideas, you
must cite all relevant sources and make clear the extent to which such sources were
used. Words or ideas that require citation include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or
electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual
communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an
identifiable source. Please see the University of Phoenix Catalog for more information
about academic honesty, including consequences of academic dishonesty.
Privacy and Confidentiality in the University of Phoenix Classroom
One of the highlights of the University of Phoenix academic experience is that students
can draw on the wealth of examples from their organizations in class discussions and in
their written work. However, it is imperative that students not share information that is
confidential, privileged, or proprietary in nature. Students must be mindful of any
contracts they have agreed to with their companies.
Writing Tutors

Writing tutors may be contacted directly by students or through referrals from

facilitators. Students can be helped in two ways. (1) General written communication
skills: Tutors will diagnose areas in need of improvement, identify appropriate UOP
resources, and assist with the use of those resources. (2) Specific course assignments:
Tutors will clarify assignment requirements, brainstorm ideas, and review essay
outlines. In both cases, writing tutors will follow up on the progress of the students.

Tutor Biographies

Elizabeth Archer has taught a wide range of writing intensive general education
courses, including COMM/105 and COMM/215, for the University of Phoenix over the
last two years. She earned degrees in English from Stanford University (B.A., 1991) and
the University of Southern California (M.A., 1994 and Ph.D., 2003) where she wrote her
dissertation on gender, aesthetics, and realism in British Victorian literature. She is

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currently working on a variety of writing and teaching projects. Contact Information:

(cell) 310-770-4896; (email) emarcher25@cox.net

Melinda Campbell received her doctoral degree in philosophy from the University of
California, Davis in 1993 and has been a faculty member at the University of Phoenix
since March, 2000. She currently teaches courses in college writing, philosophy, and
general studies for the University of Phoenix, courses in metaphysics and logic for San
Diego Mesa College, and courses in philosophy, world art, and art history for National
University. Contact information: (e-mail) cmelu@msn.com; (tel) 858-729-0911

Susan Cohn has been teaching for UOP in two areas for the past eight years. On the
graduate level, she works with students in the Masters in Education courses and
supervises their student teaching. At the undergraduate level, she teaches writing
courses and facilitates the Student Writing Workshops. Susan’s undergraduate work
was completed at Fordham University, and her graduate work in education was
completed at Brooklyn College. Along the way, she also accumulated a Library
Certification from Holy Cross College in New Orleans. In 2004, she completed her 41st
year as a teacher. Contact information: (tel) 760-631-0163; (email) susanjay@cox.net or
scohn@email.phoenix.edu

Kim Eaken works as an Enrollment Manager at the University of Phoenix and has been
with the university since October 2005. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of
Arts in English from San Diego State University. She started and is currently managing
a monthly book club. Contact information: (tel) 619-316-8859; (email)
kimeaken@aol.com (preferred) and kim.eaken@phoenix.edu

Peggy McGurn has been an instructor at the University of Phoenix since 1998 focusing
on the skills of written communication in all coursework. She has been teaching in the
Communications, General Studies, and Human Services sectors of UOP. Previously,
Peggy has taught writing skills at Platt College in San Diego and at Marygrove College in
Detroit. She has written a thesis and a dissertation following the style guidelines of APA.
Peggy holds a M.A. in Teaching English from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Clinical
Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Contact information: (voicemail) 619-291-
0821, ext. 2; (email) pegmcg@AOL.com

Online Learning System Forums

We will have a set of Online Learning System forums available to us during this class.
To access the forums, click on the Go to class link on your student website.

These web-based forums provide you with:

1. a common area solely for our class group (Main forum) where you can post
questions between our on-campus workshop meetings;
2. a Chat Room forum, which you can use for non-class interactions with
classmates (be sure to honor the Student Code of Conduct in this, and every,
forum!);
3. electronic access to the course syllabus which will be used in this class (see the
syllabus in the Course Materials forum);
4. electronic venues for Learning Team meetings and team paper drafts to use as
each team deems best (I will assign a specific Learning Team forum for each
team’s use during our first on-campus workshop meeting); and

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• a personalized electronic drop-box – Individual Forum - for completed assignments.

Each student will not be able to see or access any private forum except the one
created for him or her individually.

There are no online attendance or participation requirements during this course. All
attendance and participation activity will occur only during our on-campus workshop
meetings.

If you have any questions about the class forums, please let me know during our on-
campus class time or by posting your question(s) in the Main forum.
We will have a set of Online Learning System forums available to us during this class.
To access the forums, use this URL while connected to the Internet:

If you are having technical issues with OLS, please contact Student Technical Support at
877-832-4867.

Assignments
It is expected that students will perform professionally in preparing work required for this
class.
Written Assignments:
All written assignments must include information from the text with the proper
citation. Use the supplemental readings – they are a valuable resource. All
written assignments need to be typed (double space 12 pt font) and cited in APA
format. All written individual assignments must be submitted via your personal /
individual OLS forum before 6PM on the respective due date.
All written team assignments must be submitted via your team OLS forum before
6PM on the respective due date.
All papers must also be turned in before class starts, printed and stapled in the
upper left-hand corner. Be sure to attach a Written Feedback form with the
header completed (found in OLS under Course Material).
See Late Assignments below for details on late penalties.
Submitting Assignments:
Post the assignments to OLS before 6PM on the respective due date. Late
assignments may be posted but will be subject to penalties (see below). All
assignments posted must have the Assignment Title and your name in the File
Name ie Week 4 Assignment Being a Good Manager Paper EVargas. If you fail
to do so you will lose .5 points on your assignment for failing to follow
instructions.
Submitting Assignments when you miss class:
When you miss class, post the assignments to your OLS account before the
respective due date. Late assignments may be posted but will be subject to
penalties (see below).
Late Assignments:

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All assignments are expected to be on time. On time turn in is posted to OLS

with a time stamp no later than 6PM on due date. Late assignments are subject
to a 15% penalty per day late.
No individual or group papers will be accepted after the last night of class.

Grading Criteria
INDIVIDUAL and TEAM PAPERS:
1. Mechanics of paper: APA format, grammatically correct, sentence construction
at college level. Proper use of introductions and conclusions. No first person!
2. Content of paper: Evidence of original, analytical thought. Informative in ways
that go beyond the required reading. Clear and logical integration and
application of theoretical concepts.
Presentations will be graded based on the effectiveness of the slides as well as the
presentation skills (effective eye contact, voice tone, inflection, and speed, appropriate
gestures, etc.) of each team member. Slides must be printed and turned in prior to
the presentation.
As a rule, team grades are the same for all team members, but a team member who
does not participate equally will receive a reduced grade.

Final Exam
At the last class, you will be required to take a final examination. The examination will
included information, concepts, and ideas from all class discussions whether instructor
led or student led, readings from the University of Phoenix eResourse, and additional
reading provided or assigned by the instructor.
Due to the limited classroom time, not all the material found in the textbook will be
covered during class. Students are responsible for all material found in for this
course and discussed in class (whether provided by the instructor or other students).

The final will consist of multiple choice, true / false, fill-in, and short essay questions.

Any time you feel that you might be falling behind in the course, it is best to
contact me to discuss your situation. No assignments will be accepted after the
final day of class.

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Week One
ASSIGNMENTS
Read the materials listed on for Week One.
Ethics Questionnaire
Using the readings, articles, and your personal experiences, prepare a 500- to 700-word
paper in which you address the following topics:
a. What is business ethics?
b. Explain at least three ethical issues within today’s business environment that impact your
community and your organization.
These assignments are due in Week One.

CLASSROOM
Read the following items, available at http://mycampus.phoenix.edu:
“Learning Team Handbook.”
“Guide to Charter.”
“Learning Team Charter.”
“Learning Team Log.”
”Learning Team Evaluation.”
Select Learning Team members who will work together throughout the course.
These assignments are due in Week One.

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Learning Team Meeting One

ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Review the objectives from Week One, and discuss additional insights and questions that
may have arisen.
.2 Learning Team Project Overview
Review the guidelines for the Learning Team assignment, Ethical Organization Profile, due in
Week Five. Discuss possible fictional organizations on which to focus your profile.
These assignments are due in Week Two.

CLASSROOM
Create Learning Team Charter.
Prepare the Learning Team Log.
NOTE: These do not need to be turned in; however, should problems arise within your Learning
Teams, the first thing that will be reviewed will be the Charter and Logs. So, please be sure to
keep them updated.

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Week Two
ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Read the materials listed on for Week Two.
Ethical Theories Chart

Complete the Ethical Theories Chart found on for Week 2.

These assignments are due in Week Two.

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Learning Team Meeting Two

ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Review the objectives from Week Two, and discuss additional insights and questions that
may have arisen.
.2 Continue working on the Ethical Organizational Profile due in Week 5. Begin drafting the
organization’s code of ethics.
.3 Case Study
a. Read the following case studies:
The Ford Pinto Case in Ch. 12 of Business Ethics (DeGeorge, 2006, pp. 298-299)
Issue 15: Was Ford to Blame in the Pinto Case? in Ch. 4 of Taking Sides (Newton & Ford, 2008,
pp. 291-319)
In a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper, address the following:
If you were involved in the ethical dilemma discussed in the case study, what solution would you
recommend? Support your decision with examples and supporting information.
Explain ways in which external social pressures have influenced your decision.
There is a term in art called the Period Eye, referring to the way a viewer looks at something
through the eyes of the time in which it was painted or happened. Examine the case with a
Period Eye. Is the solution you have formulated today the same as that which you would have
chosen in 1971, when this case originally took place? Support your argument.
Prepare a 5- to 7-slide PowerPoint® presentation summarizing the paper and outlining your
decision.
These assignments are due in Week Three.

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Week Three
ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Read the materials listed on for Week Three.
.2 Business Ethics Reflection
Think of a time when you or someone you know was faced with an ethical dilemma in the
workplace. Write a 700- to 1050-word reflective journal in which you explain the ethical
dilemma and the solution implemented to resolve the dilemma. Address the following topics
in your response:
Describe the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts in business and the ethical
dilemma.
Examine ways in which external social pressures have influenced business ethics in this
situation.
If you were faced with the same dilemma today, what solution would you recommend? Defend
your decision points.
This assignment is due in Week Three.

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Learning Team Meeting Three

ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Review the objectives from Week Three, and discuss additional insights and questions that
may have arisen.
.2 Continue working on the Ethical Organizational Profile due in Week Five.
These assignments are due in Week Four.

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Week Four
ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Read the materials listed on for Week Four.
Ethical Issues in Management Paper
Choose one of the following topics with which you have had experience:
Hiring
Work assignments
Performance evaluations
Discipline
Termination
Diversity
Harassment
Family and personal issues
Manager as a role model
Prepare a 1,050- to 1,750-word paper in which you analyze the ethical and legal aspects
associated with your chosen topic, addressing the following topics in your paper:
Describe the current moral and ethical issues faced by managers involving your selected topic.
Explain how the relationship between social issues and ethically responsible management
practices related to your topic.
Provide a workplace example of an ethical dilemma related to your topic. What legal aspects did
management face during this dilemma? What legalities governed or should have governed
the decision?
These assignments are due in Week Four.

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Learning Team Meeting Four

ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Review the objectives from Week Four, and discuss additional insights and questions that
may have arisen.
Ethical Organization Profile
Create a fictional organization that exemplifies business ethics. Prepare a 2,100- to 2,800-
word paper and 7- to 10-slide presentation in which your Learning Team explains the
organization’s ethics programs and overall ethical environment. Be sure to address the
following in your examination:
Describe current moral and ethical issues that would be faced by the organization.
Explain how the fictional company deals with the relationship among ethics, morality, and social
issues in the legal context.
Evaluate the organization’s ethics program based on the following elements; code of ethics,
training, monitoring, and enforcement.
Additional questions to consider during analysis are listed below:
Code of Ethics
Does a formal code of ethics exist?
What topics are included in the code of ethics?
How is the code distributed?
How is the code used?
Is the code reinforced in reward and decision-making systems?
Training
Is ethics emphasized to recruits and new employees?
How are employees and managers oriented to the values of the organization?
Are managers trained in ethical decision-making?
What ethics training exists for existing employees?
Monitoring
How are ethics and integrity measured or tracked throughout the organization?
Are whistle-blowers encouraged and, if so, how?
Does a language exist that allows employees and managers to openly discuss ethical situations?
What ethical considerations are incorporated into the planning and policy making at the
organization.
Enforcement
How are ethics enforced by managers?
How are ethics enforced by the organization? How is unethical behavior dealt with?
These assignments are due in Week Five.

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CLASSROOM
Prepare the Learning Team Log.
This assignment is due in Week Five.
.

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Week Five
ASSIGNMENTS
.1 Read the materials listed on for Week Five.
Final Examination
Be prepared to take a Final Examination. It will cover all course material whether covered in
class or not. Be sure to keep up with your readings. This exam is open book and is to be done
by the individual student.
This exam is available online under Courses >>Materials at the end of week 4. You will have 3
hours to take the exam. Once you start you can not stop the time.
These assignments are due in Week Five.

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