Course Syllabus
Course Title: Ethical Decision Making
Course Number: ETH103
Class Meeting Time: Monday 6:00 pm
Instructional Contact Hours: 40
Course Description: This course is an examination of professional ethics and common
ethical dilemmas in administrative settings. Models of ethical decision making are
applied in case vignettes.
Prerequisite: None
Lecture Hours: 40
Lab Hours: None
Expected Homework Hours: 80
Academic Credits Awarded: 4 Quarter Credits
Lab Requirements: None
Instructor: Jeanna Potts
Instructor Contact Information: jpotts@daymarcollege.edu
Student Learning Outcomes: At the end of the course, students will be able to:
 Define ethics
 Define morality and its applications
 Define whistle-blowing
 Discuss the challenges to privacy, including employee privacy, employee records,
and internet privacy
 Define discrimination and affirmative action
Instructional Materials, References and Text: Understanding Business Ethics, 1st
Edition, Pearson
Method of Instruction and Teaching Strategies: The primary approach to teaching
this course will be lecture/discussion, class participation, and practical exercises.
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Requirements for Successful Completion and Evaluation:
When the criteria in this syllabus are met on a timely basis and with a passing grade,
successful completion will have been achieved. This includes class participation,
completion of work by assigned dates, and taking exams on assigned dates.
Grading Scale: A: 90-100; B: 80-89; C: 70-79; D: 65-69; F: below 65
Grade Allocation:
Participation
Professionalism
Homework
Quizzes
Portfolio Project
LRC Project
Midterm:
Final:
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
20%
20%
LRC Course Components:
The purpose of the assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to research
information; analyze and synthesize the information, and apply it to a real life situation.
This may be in the form of a paper buy may also be a demonstration or presentation in
class. The criteria are:
 Individually identified information
 Use of the LRC databases and resources
 Well documented and referenced sources (APA format)
 Relevance to the course subject area
LRC Information: Hours are posted outside the Learning Resource Center.
Portfolio Component:
The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to add
“artifacts” from this course into their professional portfolio. The artifacts may include
work accomplished as assignments or projects completed in this course that have direct
relevancy to the student’s marketability as a future employee in their chosen vocation or
career. Additionally, the student’s resume should be updated.
Tutoring Hours: Please see schedule in the LRC. All others by appointment.
Students with Special Needs
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a
disability, should contact the instructor privately to discuss your specific needs. Please
contact the Director of Education (or other academic designee) to coordinate reasonable
accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
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The Pacific Institute (TPI) Element: Daily WIIFM’s (What’s In It For Me) In
addition to the academic achievement goals for this course, we will also focus on
personal development skills. This is achieved via several strategies: goal setting, endresult thinking, personal accountability, positive self-talk, self-efficacy building,
mentoring to other students and team building. By developing these skills, the student
will begin to see the positive effects of improved performance within the classroom
setting. As the student gains confidence in this environment, the student will be able to
transfer these skills to a professional environment. This, in turn, will ultimately lead to a
higher quality of life for the student.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend all scheduled courses in order to achieve the
learning goals of their program. Prospective employers are often as concerned with
applicants’ school attendance records as with their academic records. Attendance has a
direct bearing on the students’ final grade in each course. If a student has been out of
school for 14 consecutive days, the student will be withdrawn from school. Refer to
Unofficial Withdrawal in the catalog.
Internet Usage: There is to be no internet surfing during class unless instructed by the
instructor.
Tardiness: Attendance is recorded during the first ten minutes of each class session. The
instructor updates the attendance record at the end of each class. If you know you will be
late, please call the College and leave a message for your instructor.
Late Work:
Assignment due dates will be announced in class and will allow sufficient time for each
assignment to be completed. Late homework, papers, etc. will be penalized. In-class
assignments, quizzes, presentations, and other daily work cannot be made up. The
instructor may extend an assignment due date for a student based upon individual
circumstances. However, the situation must first be discussed and approved by the
instructor.
Completion of Course Work:
All course work must be turned in by the last day of class. Work turned in after the last
day of class will not be accepted for credit except under special circumstances approved
by the Director of Education and/or the Campus Director.
Dress: Students are required to dress in attire appropriate for a college classroom, and
are to refrain from wearing clothing that might be considered “distracting” to others in
the classroom. In addition, the curriculum has assignments in which a student’s
professional appearance will be evaluated as part of the overall grade of the assignment.
Decorum: The following are some behaviors inappropriate for a college classroom:
*sleeping in class
*children in class
*unauthorized visitors
*rude behavior
* interrupting speakers *profane language
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Cell phones:
All communication devices MUST be turned off or put on silent mode during class time.
Text messaging is not allowed during instructional time.
Food & Beverages:
As we continue to develop the professionalism of our graduates and the image of our
campus, going forward food and beverages will no longer be allowed in classrooms; the
only exception to this will be bottled water with a “screw cap” top. As graduates and
professionals will attest, eating at a workstation is not generally acceptable; additionally,
it creates an unnecessary distraction to the learning process. This policy will also help
keep our learning environment cleaner and more comfortable as we prepare to replace
flooring in various areas of Daymar. Food and beverages should be consumed only in the
Break Areas at either end of the campus.
Academic Dishonesty:
Plagiarism is defined as an act or instance of stealing or passing off the ideas or words of
another as one’s own, or to use a creative production without crediting the source.
Incidences of academic dishonesty will result in severe penalty up to and including a
failing grade for the course, as well as being noted on the student’s permanent record.
Additional incidences of academic dishonesty could result in a student’s permanent
expulsion from Daymar.
School Jurisdiction, Student Conduct, and Disciplinary Action
Conduct considered harmful to the rights of others or to the reputation of the school will
not be tolerated. The College reserves the right to dismiss or suspend a student who fails
to maintain satisfactory grades; who is not respectful of other students or the College’s
staff; or whose behavior disrupts the normal process of instruction.
All students are expected to maintain high standards of conduct and honesty. The College
has adopted standards of conduct that clearly prohibit, at a minimum, academic
dishonesty, the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by
students and associates on its property or as part of any of its activities. Possession or use
of firearms or weapons of any kind, by any student, is prohibited at all colleges. The
College will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employment and referral for
prosecution for violation of the standards of conduct.
A student dismissed or suspended is entitled to due process in the form of a hearing.
A student desiring a hearing should make a written request to the Director of Education
or Campus President/Director.
Grievance Procedures: Please refer to catalog.
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ETH103
Class
Week
Course Overview and Outline:
Learning Outcomes/Objectives

WIIFM
Students will learn about The Foundation
The chapter introduces the student to the concepts of ethics
of Ethical Thought and Contemporary
and business ethics.
Issues in Business Ethics.
 Different philosophies have used different theories in order to
help explain and guide ethical behavior.
I know the meaning of ethics.
 Even though some of the theories were developed over two
thousand years ago, they are appropriate and applicable to
today’s business environment.
 The eight underlying principles presented in the Global
Business Standards Codex are interrelated with each other as
well as with the major philosophical theories related to ethics.
 One person can have an impact on many others by doing “the
right thing”.
 Student realizes that even famous pop stars such as Bono may
exercise behavior that to outsiders may be considered unethical
and is inconsistent with the person’s own beliefs pertaining to
aiding the less fortunate.
 The History of Business Ethics highlights the longevity of
unethical behavior. As long as there are a finite amount of
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resources, some people will continue to try to obtain those
resources by whatever means possible.
 There is a distinction between legal and ethical behavior.
While some people will always state that their ethical values
will be based on the legal standards, the role of integrity in the
decision making process allows people to see that there are
benefits to moving beyond the minimum legal standard.
 The Ethical Cycle is a simple model in which people can
understand the logical path in the decision making process to
decide what actions would be considered morally acceptable.
 Using ethical decisions to build character and the ability of
ethical managers to make their own rules allows people to
understand that the positive aspects of ethical behavior go
beyond the net result. The ethical decision making process
enhances the ethical means which will yield the ethical ends
via an ethical decision.
 Is everyone unethical? It is important for the people to
understand that their perceptions may not correspond with the
perception of others.
Students will learn about Stakeholders and
 Defining what a stakeholder is and explaining how
Social Responsibility.
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stakeholders’ needs should be addressed by the firm.
 How communications should be established between the
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stakeholders and the firm.
The role of employees as stakeholders.
The role of suppliers as stakeholders.
The role of customers as stakeholders.
The role of the government as a stakeholder.
The role of society as a stakeholder.
The role of corporate social responsibility.
The role of human rights.
Define corporate governance and explain how it relates to
ethics.
Identify and explain the role of the board of directors.
Explain how the board of directors has different functions
which are represented in the creation of different board
committees.
Identify the structure of the board of directors and highlight the
benefits of having a strong ethically positive board of
directors.
Identify the ethical issues related to CEO compensation and
explain how they can impact the firm.
Explain the history and components of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act.
Explain the responsibilities of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board.
Explain the components of the Cadbury and Combined Code.
Identify the ethical issues related to corporate compliance.
Explain the components of the U.S. Federal Sentencing
Guidelines for Organizations and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act.
Discuss corporate compliance from the perspective of global
corruption.
Explain the relationship between corporate governance and
stakeholders.
Explain the concept of Tragedy of the Commons and integrate
it with environmental ethical issues.
Identify the responsibilities of the firm when the natural
environment is considered a stakeholder.
Explain how the natural environment can be used to enhance a
firm’s competitive advantage.
Explain why it is beneficial for firms to voluntary seek
environmental compliance as well as the cost of environmental
noncompliance.
Examine the role of employees and NGOs as stakeholders.
Identify how firms communicate their environmental
commitment to their stakeholders.
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I am a stakeholder in businesses and know
responsibilities.
Students will learn about Corporate
Governance and Corporate Compliance.
I understand the ethical responsibility
of the board of directors in decision
making.
Students will learn about Ethics and
the Environment.
I understand the effect of businesses
on the environment.
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Explain the role of the government and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
 Explain the role of environmental justice and sustainability
 Discuss the evaluation of a firm’s performance based on the
triple bottom line: financial, social and environmental.
 Explain the implications of climate change and explain how
firms can use climate change as a strategic option.
Students will learn about Health Care
 The Role of Medical Ethics
Ethics.
 The role of Biomedical Ethics
 Identify and explain the relevant issues related to Bioethics
I have a code of ethics for me.
 Explain the role of the doctor with various stakeholders
 Identify and explain different health-care codes of ethics
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 Identify and explain the different components of the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
 Identify and explain ethical issues related to the
pharmaceutical industry
 Identify and explain the relationship between the stakeholders
and the health-care system.
Students will learn about Ethics and
 Understanding why studying ethical issues pertaining to
Information Technology.
information technology is important.
 Explaining information technology ethical issues using
I know how to be safe on the internet.
different philosophical approaches.
 The role of management in information technology ethical
issues.
 Privacy issues pertaining to customers and employees.
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 Monitoring issues related to computers, telephones and other
technologies.
 The ethical challenges of technology.
 The role of government regulations.
 Types of technology based frauds.
 Type of internet attacks.
 The USA PATRIOT Act
Students will learn about Strategic
 The role of ethics and strategic planning.
Planning and Corporate Culture.
 How managers can develop trust and commitment with their
employees from an ethical perspective.
I understand the importance of ethics
 The role of power and influence in ethical decisions.
in businesses.
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 The problems that can occur if the firm has an unethical
culture.
 The role of ethical decision making from a global perspective.
 How to evaluate a firm’s corporate culture from an ethical
perspective.
Students will learn about Ethics and
 The role of creative accounting.
Financial Reporting.
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 The link between ethical philosophies and accounting issues.
 The role of financial reporting.
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The role of auditors and the audit.
The role of government regulations.
How firms can manipulate their financial statements.
The role of a code of ethics in the decision making process of a
firm.
The link between a code of ethics and the firm’s stakeholders.
The benefits of having a code of ethics.
The content of a code of ethics.
The role of total responsibility management and a code of
ethics.
The steps needed to develop an effective code of ethics.
The role of government regulations.
Some examples of global codes of ethics.
Why firms need ethics training programs
How to establish an effective domestic and global ethics
training program.
The role of enforcement and the ethics training program
The role of the corporate ethics officer.
The components of ethical auditing
The role of whistle-blowing and ethics
The role of government regulations and whistle-blowing
The evaluation of the firm’s ethical vision and the needs of the
firm’s stakeholders.
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I know the importance of ethics in
accounting.
Students will learn about Establishing a
Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines.
I understand the role a business’s ethics
plays in my life.
Students will learn about Evaluating
Corporate Ethics
FINAL EXAM
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Meeting
Week 1
09/30/13
Course Outline
Topics
Case 13: Lucent Technologies: What Does FCPA Stand for
Again? (p. 317)
Assignments
Week 2
10/7/13
Chapter 1: The Foundation of Ethical Thought
Chapter 2: Contemporary Issues in Business Ethics
Case 7: Enron: Were They the Crookedest Guys in the Room?
(p. 265)
Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
Week 3
10/14/13
Chapter 3: Stakeholders and Corporate Social Responsibility
Case 14: Martha Stewart and ImClone: What Color Goes with
Prison Gray? (p. 320)
Chapter 4: Corporate Governance and Corporate Compliance
Case 9: HealthSouth: The Rise and Fall of the Scrushy Empire
(p. 291)
Due this week
Homework
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
LRC Topic,
Abstract
Week 4
10/21/13
Chapter 5: Ethics and the Environment
Case 10: Herman Miller: Eddie, Get Off That Chair (p. 300)
Case 15: McWane: A Dangerous Business (p. 328)
Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
Week 5
10/28/13
Chapter 6: Health Care Ethics
Case 16: Merck’s Vioxx: How Would You Interpret the Data (p.
337)
Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
LRC Introduction
Paragraph &
References
Week 6
11/4/13
MIDTERM EXAM
Week 7
11/18/13
Chapter 7: Ethics and Information Technology
Case 8: Google: Don’t Do Evil Unless… (p. 284)
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Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
LRC Draft
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Week 8
11/25/13
Chapter 8: Strategic Planning and Corporate Culture
Case 21: Volkswagen: Herbie Takes Investors for a Ride (p. 403)
Chapter 9: Ethics and Financial Reporting
Case 20: Tyco: I’m Sure That It’s a Really Nice Shower Curtain
(p. 389)
Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
Week 9
12/3/13
Chapter 10: Establishing a Code of Ethics and Ethical
Guidelines
Case 12: Livedoor: Ethical Issues in Japan (p. 311)
Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
LRC Final
Week
12/10/13
Chapter 11: Evaluating Corporate Ethics
Case 22: Walmart: But We Do Give Them a 10 Percent
Employee Discount (p. 409)
Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
Week 11
12/17/13
Due this week
Study Guide
Case Study
Summary
Discussion Topic
LRC Presentation
Portfolio
FINAL EXAM
Week 12
Additional Readings: [include supplemental websites and LRC resources]
ProQuest database
http://business-ethics.com/
http://www.societyforbusinessethics.org/
http://business-ethics.org/
http://www.springer.com/social+sciences/applied+ethics/journal/10551
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/category.cfm?cid=11
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http://www.ethics.org/nbes/
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