FALL 2017

Ethics & the 21st Century

Business Leader
Why Study Ethics? Instructor Information
Yes, I know, it’s a required class for your major — but believe it or not, Shawna Meyer Eikenberry
there are other reasons to take this class. My guess is that most of
smeikenb@iu.edu
you believe you are moral and plan to act ethically in your professional
life. But did you know that persons often act unethically without Phone Number: (812) 856-3603
even realizing it? In this class, you will learn about ethical blindspots
Office: HH 4080
and the types of rationalizations that lead to unethical actions. Did
you know that sometimes the most ethical course of action is not Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday:
always clear or that your first instinctual decision could lead you to 1:15-2:15 p.m.
unethical decisions? In this class, you will learn ways to recognize and
evaluate ethical dilemmas, as well as tips for not only making the right Assignments/Important
ethical decision, but also acting on that decision. All the while, you Dates
will be studying business persons who made good and bad choices in Exemplary example: Due Friday,
their professions. Hopefully, along the way, you also will learn more
September 1 (worth 5%)
about yourself and not only how to avoid making decisions that could
land you in jail or ruin your reputation but also how to be your best Group Presentation: Due dates
possible self. vary (worth 20%)

Final Memo: Due on Friday,

October 27 (worth 35%)

Final Memo “Prep” Activities: Due

September 21 and October 13
(worth 10%)

Personal Reflection: Due Friday,

November 3 (worth 5%)

Course Goal: Class Prep, Engagement,

By the end of the semester you will be able to recognize a business Attendance and Participation: All
ethical dilemma and assess the ethicality of potential options using Semester (worth 25%)

reason, analysis and evidence, as well as articulate possible strategies

Class Schedule
for taking the determined ethical action.
See below







1
 ETHICS & THE 21ST CENTURY BUSINESS LEADER FALL 2017

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Grading Scale

SLO No. 1: Students will be able to recognize when and why a The final scale will be used in
business situation presents an ethical dilemma. (Kelley Learning calculating your final grade:
Goal (KLG) No. 2)
98%-100% A+
SLO No. 2: Students will be able to effectively communicate 93%-97.9%: A
alternative actions of an ethical dilemma, based on the facts, course 90%-92.9%: A-
material and reliable evidence and data. (KLG No. 2, 3 & 4) 87%-89.9%: B+
83%-86.9%: B
80-82.9%: B-
SLO No. 3: Students will be able to use course material and
77%-79.9%: C+
content to evaluate potential alternatives from an ethical point of
73%-76.9%: C
view. (KLG No. 2, 3 & 4)
70%-72.9%: C-
67%-69.9%: D+
SLO No. 4: Students will be able to effectively work as a team to 63%-67.9%: D
present arguments and evidence in support of their stated position 60%-62.9%: D-
with regard to an ethical issue in business. (KLG No. 4 and 6)
Course Communication
SLO No. 5: Students will be able to provide advice about strategies I will attempt to make administrative
for implementing an ethical solution to an ethical dilemma. (KLG No. announcements and even remind
2 & 3) you of deadlines during class.
However, the primary mode of
SLO No. 6: Students will be able to recognize and analyze how communication about these types
different cultures evaluate ethical issues and evaluate possible of things will be done via Canvas.
approaches for addressing such differences. (KLG No. 7) You are expected to know any
information about assignments or
supplementary materials that is
Course Expectations posted on Canvas, whether
announced in class or not.
Course Grade: Your grade for this course will be based on the
Therefore, you should check
following categories:
Canvas on a regular basis.
Class Attendance, Participation, Preparation, and Engagement: Course Materials:
25% of your grade relates to attendance, class participation, class
preparation, and engagement. This is a discussion-based class. There is no text book for this
You will not learn ethics by sitting and listening to me. Instead, one
course. Some of the reading
of the best ways to learn ethics is to talk through ethical issues and
materials required for this class are
to respectfully listen to the comments of your classmates (and
sometimes your instructor). We may sometimes have in a Course Reading Packet that
disagreements, and that’s okay, so long as everyone is respectful. has been created for this class and
We can only have a productive conversation, however, if you come that can be found at the bookstores
to class prepared. There will not be in-class “pop quizzes,” but with my name on it. Other reading
there will be class preparation and/or in-class work which will be materials will be posted on Canvas.
graded mostly on a pass/fail basis and that will often provide the
basis for our discussions. Additionally, please note that this class “Ethics is knowing the difference
only meets 20 times — and if you are not here you cannot between what you have a right to
participate or otherwise be engaged in learning. More information do and what is right to
about class attendance, participation, preparation and engagement do.” (Potter Stewart)


activities will be provided in class and on Canvas.




2
 ETHICS & THE 21ST CENTURY BUSINESS LEADER
Exemplary Example: Early in the semester, you will be asked
to research and find an example of an instance in which a
business or business person has displayed exemplary ethical
behavior. You may do the assignment as an individual or you
may pair up with one other person. The assignment is worth 5%
of your total grade and will be due Friday, September 1. More
information about the assignment will be provided in class and
on Canvas.
Group “Presentations”: You will be placed in groups and will
provide presentations in a unique “expert witness” format. The
presentations will take place throughout the semester. More
information will be provided in class and on Canvas. The group
“presentation” will be worth 20% of your grade.
Memo: You will be given a scenario that may be directly (or
indirectly) related to your group presentation. This assignment
will require you to draft a memo to the board of directors or
executive committee concerning what the company should do in
the given situation. Some scenarios will be based on real life
issues while others will be “made up” scenarios. More
information about this memo will be provided in class and on
Canvas. The final memo will be due Friday, October 27 and it is
worth 35% of your grade. There will also be required “prep”
activities for the memo that will help you stay on track. The due
dates for these are listed in the schedule below, and they will be
worth 10% of your final grade.
Individual Reflection Paper: This final assignment will require
you to reflect on your work in the presentation and final memo.
More information will be provided in class and on Canvas. It will
be due Friday, November 3 and is worth 5% of your final grade.
Late Assignments: If you turn in an assignment late, you
still have an opportunity to receive partial credit, which will be
calculated based on the number of days late, with each day late
reducing your score by 10%.
3
FALL 2017
Accommodations
If you require an accommodation due
to religious requirements or a disability
of any kind, please see me. I am
happy to provide appropriate
accommodations pursuant to Indiana
University policies, which can be found
at: https://studentaffairs.indiana.edu/
disability-services-students and http://
enrollmentbulletin.indiana.edu/pages/
relo.php.
Two-Step Duo Login
Two-Step Login (Duo) will be required
for all students beginning November 2.
Be sure to bring your primary device
(like a cellphone or tablet) to class, so
you can log in to secure IU systems.
Also make sure you have a backup
device like a hardware token or Google
Voice. If you get stuck without a
working device, the UTIS Support
Center can give you a bypass code,
but it takes up to 20 minutes (not great
for time-sensitive class activities.)
ETHICS & THE 21ST CENTURY BUSINESS LEADER
Grade Appeals
I do not give grades. Instead, I assign each student the grade
he or she earns. If you want or need a certain grade, you
should do what is necessary during the semester to earn your
grade. That being said, if after receiving a grade from me, you
wish to challenge or appeal it, please take the following steps:
(1) Wait at least 24 hours after receiving the grade but not
longer than 7 days to submit your appeal.
(2) Write the reasons you think you deserve a different
grade. The written appeal should be no more than 300 words
and should be emailed to me.
(3) Wait for my response to your appeal – which I will
provide within 7 days.
(4) If you would like to discuss your grade in person after
receiving my response, request an appointment to meet with
me.
Cell Phone and Computer Usage: During many class
periods, you will be encouraged to use laptop computers to
complete in-class work. Therefore, computers will not be
banned during class; however, if I feel as though you are using
the computer for non-class purposes and in a way that is
distracting to your learning, your classmates, or me, I will notify
you and such continued use may negatively affect your class
preparation, engagement, attendance and participation grade.
When not being used for class work, you may be asked to put
your computer away. The use of cell phones during class is
prohibited. If there is an emergency requiring you to use your
cell phone, please step outside of class to do so.
Professionalism: You are responsible for knowing and
complying with the responsibilities and duties set forth in the
Kelley School of Business Student Honor Code (http://
www.kelley.iu.edu/ugrad/honorCode.cfm), the Indiana University
Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct (http://
studentcode.iu.edu/) , and any other Kelley or IU rules and
regulation regarding academic misconduct. That being said, this
is an ethics class, so you should expect that academic
dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be punished pursuant to
the applicable codes, including removal from the course and a
grade of “F.”
4
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
Policy
As your instructor, one of my responsibilities
is to help create a safe learning
environment on our campus. Title IX and
our own Sexual Misconduct policy prohibit
sexual misconduct. If you have
experienced sexual misconduct, or know
someone who has, the University can help.
If you are seeking help and would like to
speak to someone confidentially, you can
make an appointment with:
The Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS)
at 812-855-8900
Counseling and Psychological Services
(CAPS) at 812-855-5711
Confidential Victim Advocates (CVA) at
812-856-2469
IU Health Center at 812-855-4011
More information about available
resources can be found here:
http://stopsexualviolence.iu.edu/help/
index.html
It is also important that you know that
federal regulations and University policy
require me to promptly convey any
information about potential sexual
misconduct known to me to our campus’
Deputy Title IX Coordinator or IU’s Title IX
Coordinator. In that event, they will work
with a small number of others on campus to
ensure that appropriate measures are taken
and resources are made available to the
student who may have been harmed.
Protecting a student’s privacy is of utmost
concern, and all involved will only share
information with those that need to know to
ensure the University can respond and
assist.
I encourage you to visit
stopsexualviolence.iu.edu to learn more.
 SCHEDULE

PLEASE NOTE — the following schedule is tentative. This means that it may change during the course of
the semester. Life, current events, and your particular interest in a given topic are just a few of the things that
could result in this schedule changing. You will be responsible for knowing about any changes to the
schedule, which will be announced in class and on Canvas. (Note RP = Reading Packet)

Date Topic Assignment

Tues. Aug. 22 Intro

Thurs. Aug. 24 Origination of morals Listen to Morality podcast at

Why learn ethics? http://www.radiolab.org/story/91508-morality/

Read: “Managing for Organizational

Integrity” (pp. 2-8 (RP) only)
Tues. Aug. 29 Why do good people do bad Read Joseph Heath, “Business Ethics and Moral
things? Rationalizations and Motivation: A Criminological Perspective” (Posted
blind spots on Canvas)

Listen to:
http://www.npr.org/2012/05/01/151764534/psychology-of-fraud-why-good-people-do-bad-
things

Thurs. Aug. 31 Ethical Decision Making
Shareholder vs. Stakeholder
theories
Read H. Jeff Smith, “The Shareholder vs.
Stakeholder Debate” (in RP, p. 17)
Read Leon Neyfakh, “Is ‘shareholder value’ bad
for business?” at https://www.bostonglobe.com/
ideas/2014/08/02/shareholder-value-bad-for-
business/3O4MYxjWgmJ2DOPwkeYxyN/
story.html)

EXEMPLARY EXAMPLE DUE FRIDAY, SEPT. 1

Tues. Sept. 5 Research Tips Read excerpt from John R. Boatright and Jeffery
Introduction to Philosophical Smith, Ethics and the Conduct of Business (will
Theories of Ethics be posted on Canvas)
Thurs. Sept. 7 Philosophical Theories of Read “Making Ethics Personal: Character and
Ethics Continued Your Personal Vision” (RP p. 37)

Read Evergreen case study (RP, p. 41)







5
 Date Topic Assignment

Tues. Sept. 12 Ethical Rules Read excerpt from John Hasnas, “Teaching
Business Ethics: The Principles
Approach” (posted on Canvas)

Read Susan Sucher and Nien He Hsieh, “A

Framework for Ethical Reasoning” (RP, p. 23)

Watch/read either:
— Watch http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/
mcwane/
OR
— Read McWane Case Study (posted on
Canvas)
Thurs. Sept. 14 Ethical Rules continued Read “How (un)ethical are you” (RP, p. 59)

Read additional excerpt from John Hasnas,

“Teaching Business Ethics: The Principles
Approach” (posted on Canvas)

Possible additional reading/assignment TBD

Tues. Sept. 19 “Debates” TBD

Thurs. Sept. 21 Creating an Ethical Culture Read Jordi Canals, “Transforming Companies into
Respected Institutions” (RP, p. 71)

Read “Managing for Organizations Integrity” (pp.

8-13))

FINAL MEMO BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE

Tues. Sept. 26 “Debates" TBD

Thurs. Sept. 28 Corporate Social TBD

Responsibility

Tues. Oct. 3 TBD ICORE midterm week — no assignment

Thurs. Oct. 5 TBD ICORE midterm week — no assignment

Tues. Oct. 10 Moral Courage Read “Case Study: Follow Dubious Orders or
Speak up?” (RP, p. 105)

Read “Through the Eyes of a Whistleblower” (RP,

p. 109)







6
 Date Topic Assignment

Thurs. Oct. 12 Ethical Leadership Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njn-

(Important Note — our lIEv1LU&feature=youtu.be
regular class will not meet
on this date — instead, we Watch: https://youtu.be/XLwS7vh9XbY
will have the opportunity to
attend a talk given by Bob Read book excerpt at: http://
Chapman, CEO of Barry- everybodymattersbook.com/
Wehmiller and Kelley everybody_matters_excerpt.pdf
undergrad alum, which will
take place from 5:30 to FINAL MEMO OUTLINE DUE Friday, Oct. 13
6:45. Information about the
location will be provided in
class and on Canvas)
This is, however, subject to
change, so please be sure
to check Canvas!
Tues. Oct. 17 "Debates" TBD
FINAL MEMO OUTLINE DUE TODAY
Thurs. Oct. 19 Crimson Dilemma TBD

Tues. Oct. 24 "Debates" TBD

Thurs. Oct. 26 Class Wrap up Read "How will you measure your life” (RP, p.
127)
Friday, Oct. 27 FINAL MEMO DUE

Friday, November 3 INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION PAPER DUE







7
 APPENDIX

Kelley School of Business -- Bloomington Undergraduate Program Learning Goals

and Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

1. An Integrative Point of View

Evaluate and make business decisions taking into account the interdependent relationships among
competitive and environmental conditions, organizational resources, and the major functional areas
of business.  
 
• SLO 1.1: Identify the relationships between two or more business functions; explain how actions in one functional
area affect other functional areas.
• SLO 1.2: Describe how the relationships among the functional areas relate to the goals of the organization.
• SLO 1.3: Use integrative techniques, structures, or frameworks to make business decisions.

2. Ethical Reasoning
Recognize ethical issues, describe various frameworks for ethical reasoning, and discern the
tradeoffs and implications of applying various ethical frameworks when making business decisions.
 
• SLO 2.1: Identify the ethical dimension(s) of a business decision.
• SLO 2.2: Recognize the tradeoffs created by application of competing ethical theories and perspectives.
• SLO 2.3: Formulate and defend a well-supported recommendation for the resolution of an ethical issue.

3. Critical Thinking and Decision Making in Business

Identify and critically evaluate implications of business decisions for organizational stakeholders and
the natural environment.

• SLO 3.1: Recognize the implications of a proposed decision from a variety of diverse stakeholder perspectives.
• SLO 3.2: Evaluate the integrity of the supporting evidence and data for a given decision.
• SLO 3.3: Analyze a given decision using critical techniques, structures, or frameworks.

 
Goal 4: Communication and Leadership
Communicate effectively in a wide variety of business settings employing multiple media of
communications.
 
• SLO 4.1: Deliver clear, concise, and audience-centered individual and team presentations.
• SLO 4.2: Write clear, concise, and audience-centered business documents.
• SLO 4.3: Effectively participate in informational and employment interviews.
• SLO 4.4: Articulate one’s unique value proposition to a given audience.







8
Goal 5: Quantitative Analysis and Modeling
Systematically apply tools of quantitative analysis and modeling to make recommendations and
business decisions.
 
• SLO 5.1: Use appropriate technology to solve a given business problem.
• SLO 5.2: Analyze business problems using appropriate mathematical theories and techniques.
• SLO 5.3: Explain the role of technologies in business decision making analysis, or modeling.
• SLO 5.4: Structure logic and frame quantitative analysis to solve business problems.

Goal 6: Team Membership & Inclusiveness

Collaborate productively with others, functioning effectively as both members and leaders of teams.
 
• SLO 6.1: Facilitate team meetings and collaborate effectively in both face-to-face and virtual interactions.
• SLO 6.2: Identify and employ best team practices.
• SLO 6.3: Assess and offer feedback on one’s own effectiveness as well as one’s team members’ effectiveness with
respect to productivity and relationship-building in both oral and written formats.
• SLO 6.4: Articulate and analyze the value of inclusivity in a variety of business settings.

Goal 7: Cultural awareness and global effectiveness

Become conversant with major economic, social, political, and technological trends and conditions
that influence the development of the global economy and demonstrate competence in the cultural,
interpersonal and analytical dimensions of international business.

• SLO 7.1: Identify the risks and opportunities associated with determining and implementing optimal global business
strategies.
• SLO 7.2: Integrate international, regional, and local non-market forces into strategic decisions of multinational
corporations.
• SLO 7.3: Analyze obstacles resulting from cultural differences and recommend leadership approaches that leverage
diversity to enhance business performance.
• SLO 7.4: Identify the personal and contrasting attitudes, values, and beliefs that shape business relationships.







9