Business Ethics

OVERVIEW:

You will be writing your own paper and have the OPTION to present it via Webex. You will receive an individual grade for your paper, and part of this grade will include your presentation IF you choose to present. Do not forget that you are reponsibile for also writing two panel responses (like reading reponses to other students’ panel reports). Remember that the panel report makes up 30% of your final grade (NOT including the two panel responses, see below). The grade breakdown for this assignment is as follows:

IF YOU CHOOSE TO PRESENT VIA WEBEX:

80% – Paper            20% – Presentation

IF YOU DO NOT CHOOSE TO PRESENT VIA WEBEX 10%

100% Paper

***Please see below for choosing whether to present*** (WHETHER TO PRESENT)

PAPER:

• In your paper, you should briefly summarize the case, including the different ethical and management issues that arise in your case(s). Then, you should discuss how you think the issues should be dealt with (for example noting any conflicting duties) and why your approach is better than some of the other ways one might deal with the situation. Your grade on the paper will reflect your understanding of the case(s), your ability to correctly apply the ethical (Utilitarianism, Kant’s Duty Ethics, Virtue Ethics) and management (Stockholder, Stakeholder) theories we have covered, and your ability to think critically about complex ethical and management conflicts in business. YOU MUST USE AT LEAST ONE GENERAL ETHICAL THEORY (Utilitarianism, Duty Ethics, or Virtue Ethics).
• Your paper should be approximately 5 pages (double-spaced, 1” margins, 12pt, Times New Roman), not including any attached sources. Do not include a cover page or paper cover/binder. Your paper must include proper citations whenever quoting or paraphrasing. You may use an abbreviated style to cite sources from the class, i.e., for Thinking Ethically in Business use (TEB 12). Paraphrasing is preferable to direct quotes, as it tends to show that you understand a concept/idea at least well enough to put it into your own words. Using outside resources (other than the case you are focusing on) is not required or recommended; however, if you do use other resources you must cite them parenthetical by page number and by attaching a copy of the source cited to the back of your paper, numbering it page 6,7, etc. If you plagiarize any part of your paper, you are subject to fail this assignment and this course.
• You must upload your paper to iCollege before you read it on the day of your presentation. You will lose a letter grade if you do not provide a hard copy to your instructor at the beginning of the class period, before you begin to read your own copy of the paper. Late papers will be docked one letter grade for each day they are late.

(For those who choose it) PRESENTATION:

• You can use any media you wish (video, PowerPoint, dramatic performance, etc.), but this is not required.
• You will be limited to a maximum of ten minutes for your presentation (though I encourage you not to go below 5 minutes). This may vary slightly depending on the number of presentations, but you will not

WHETHER TO PRESENT (AND TO ATTEND!):

• You can get an A with or without presenting. The biggest key to your decision is where your strengths lie. If you are effective at speaking (are not afraid to) then this may indicate that you should present. Choose to your advantage.
• Another thing to keep in mind is possible resume credentials. If you present your report you may list this as presenting a specific topic (Title of your report) at a business seminar. (During the following weeks, this class will functionally become a seminar). (Continued on next page)
• You can also put ATTENDING another student’s presentation on your resume, as part of continuing education. You will be a participant in a business seminar covering topics (list whatever topics other students are addressing).

PANEL RESPONSES:

• In each of these short papers you will critically respond to ONE argument from another student’s panel report. (You must respond to a different student for each panel response). For each response paper, you should respond to an argument that was made in the panel report in between 200 and 500 words. Your response paper should include BOTH a restatement of the argument you are addressing in your own words AND a substantive response to an argument (a criticism). This two part structure is just like a reading response.
• You will be required to upload your response papers by the deadlines specified. You are not allowed to use any outside sources for your response papers. Plagiarism on any response paper will result in failure of the assignment and potentially failure of the course.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Make sure you dedicate sufficient time to this project. The panel report constitutes 30% of your final grade in the course, so it should not be taken lightly. You will be graded on the written report and your presentation together.