Chabot College
Fall, 2002
Replaced Fall 2010
Course Outline for Business 17
BUSINESS ETHICS
Catalog Description:
17 - Business Ethics
3 units
Past and current political, social and ethical behavior of big business in the American
society. Emphasis on the ethical responsibility of business toward customers,
employees, stockholders, competitors, suppliers, government and the community at
large. Strongly recommended: Eligibility for English 1A/52A. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
demonstrate understanding of the economic role of big business in the United
States;
define the social and ethical responsibility of corporations;
compare the approaches to moral reasoning in business;
contrast the major criticisms of big business and point out their strengths and
weaknesses;
contrast the elements and uses of business profit;
point out the valid and invalid arguments used to defend traditional business
philosophy;
cite examples of exemplary business conduct as well as examples of business
abuses;
develop and articulate a philosophy concerning the basic obligations of big
business towards its customers, employees, suppliers, government,
stockholders, competitors and the community at large.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
How big is big business
What is social responsibility
a. Social power and social response
b. The iron law of social responsibility
c. Making socially responsible decisions
d. How to measure the social worth of any institution
Business in a pluralistic society
a. The elements of a pluralistic society
b. Advantages of pluralism
c. Weaknesses of pluralism
Cost-benefit analysis
a. Economic and social tradeoffs
b. Functional/social analysis
Technology and social change
a. The business role in technological advancement
b. Functional analysis for deciding who does what job
Business ideology
a. The evaluation of business values
b. Business reform, development of social awareness and responsibility;
Chabot College
Course Outline for Business 17, Page 2
Business Ethics
Fall 2002
Course Content, (Continued)
7.
Approaches to moral reasoning in business
a. Utilitarian ethics
b. Egoist theory
c. Obligation to a formal principle
d. Ethics of interdependence
8. Business ethics
a. Ethical guidelines used by managers
b. Written codes of conduct
c. Concept of ethical responsibility
9. Business and its environment
a. The macroenvironment
b. The immediate environment
10. Multinational business and its environment
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lectures
Discussions
Case studies
Group projects
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
2.
Typical Assignments
a. Homework
b
Group projects
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Examinations
b. Case studies
c. Projects
d. Classroom participation
e. Final examination
Textbook(s) Typical:
Business, Government and Society, A Managerial Perspective, George A. Steiner,
John F. Steiner, 9th Edition, Irwin-McGraw Hill, 2001.
Business and Society, Corporate Strategy, Public Policy, Ethics, Anne T. Lawrence,
James E. Post, James Weber, Irwin-McGraw-Hill, 2001.
Special Student Materials:
None.
mc 11/26/01
COBUS17