Lesson Plan
Course Title: Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance
Session Title: Let’s Talk About Ethics
Performance Objective:
The student will intelligently discuss the meaning of ethical business practices and relate this concept
to workplace topics.
Specific Objectives:
(2)(A) Distinguish between ethical and unethical business practices.
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to the activities
may result in the elimination of one or more of the TEKS listed.
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
Economics
§118.2. Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, High School (c)
The student is expected to:
(c) analyze the ethics policy of a selected business.
English:
§110.42. English I (c) The student is expected to:
(8)(B) read in such varied sources as diaries, journals, textbooks, maps, newspapers, letters,
speeches, memoranda, electronic texts, and other media;
(6)(A) expand vocabulary through wide reading, listening, and discussing; and,
(4)(F) compile written ideas and representations into reports, summaries, or other formats and draw
conclusions.
Instructor/Trainer
References:
1. http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/manage/lead/SERV_BETHICS.html (US SBA, Business
Ethics)
2. http://www.careersolutionspublishing.com/ItsForReal.htm (It's for Real Series I, What’s the Big
Deal? PDF paper version)
3. http://www.careersolutionspublishing.com/ItsForRealSeriesIIIandIV.htm (It's for Real Series III,
Wait on Me! PDF paper version)
Instructional Aids:
1. Optional: Overhead, SmartBoard, Internet, ELMO
2. Optional: All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
Materials Needed:
1. Handouts: What’s the Big Deal? and Wait On Me! One copy of the two-page handout.
Supplemental Activities pages 7 – 10 of What’s the Big Deal? and, pages 4-8 of Wait On Me! for
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1
2.
3.
4.
5.
each of the students. And, one copy of the Teacher Guide from both the aforementioned Series I
and Series III topics.
Flipchart
Post-it notes (in 4 different colors)
Markers
Highlighters
Learner Preparation:
Learners will review vocabulary terms the night before.
Lesson Plan
Vocabulary:
Business practice (noun)
Methods, procedures, processes, and rules employed or followed by a firm in the pursuit of its
objectives.
Code of ethics (noun)
Written guidelines issued by an organization to its workers and management, to help them conduct
their actions in accordance with its primary values and ethical standards.
Ethical (adjective)
Conforming to accepted standards: consistent with agreed principles of correct moral conduct.
Ethics (noun) The philosophy of interpreting and applying moral concepts.
Moral (adjective)
Involving right or wrong: relating to issues of right and wrong and to how individual people should
behave.
Unethical (adjective)
Not ethical: not conforming to agreed standards of moral conduct, especially within a particular
profession.
(2009). In Business Dictionary.com. Retrieved December 4, 2009, from
http://www.businessdictionary.com/.
Introduction (LSI Quadrant I):
From birth, we are taught the ideal of right versus wrong in an effort to shape good character or
morality. We are introduced to the Golden Rules of societal conduct in very basic language: Be
honest; play fair; share; be responsible; show compassion; and, respect others are all examples.
These rules are embedded in our natural fiber and affect both our heads and our hearts.
Ethics. This is the philosophy of interpreting and applying moral concepts. It is a topic that is
encountered by both the young and old. Anyone who is starting a job should first understand the
meaning of ethical behavior. One obtains a job based on merit. One retains that job based on
responsible, ethical behavior – making good decisions about correct conduct (business practices).
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2
Learning correct conduct will provide an excellent foundation for years to come. We will approach
ethics as it relates to the business environment and relate it to the high school student, starting with
understanding the company’s interpretation of what is acceptable conduct (Code of Ethics). And,
ending with activities that will reveal our interpretation of ethical practices.
Outline
Outline (LSI Quadrant II):
Instructors can use the PowerPoint presentation, slides, handouts, and note pages to support and
reinforce the following outline.
MI
Outline
Notes to Instructor
I.
Application – Guided Practice
I.
Application – Guided Practice
A. PowerPoint, page 2
A. View Code of Ethics from two
B. PowerPoint, pages 3-6
companies
1. Utilize flipchart or
B. Identify Ethical Conduct
technology
1. Identify common topics
C. PowerPoint, pages 7-8
C. Discuss unethical business
practices
II.
Application – Independent
1. Collaboratively discuss
Practice
how modern topics relate
A. Distribute Wait on Me!
to unethical business
handout and Supplemental
practices
Activity 1 – Check Your
Reading
II. Application – Independent Practice
B. Complete Wait on Me!
A. Discuss scenarios involving an
Activity 3 – How Responsible
ethical decision
are You?
B. Assess personal ethicality
1. Solutions are on page 10
C. Distribute What’s the Big
Deal? handout and
Supplemental Activity 1 –
Check Your Reading and
Behind the Scenes
D. Complete What’s the Big
Deal? Activity 2 – How Much
Does One Pizza Cost? on
pages 8 and 9
1. Solutions are on page 6
Summary
I.
Summary Review Questions
I.
PowerPoint, page 9
Evaluation
I.
Students create and deliver a
3- to 4-minute skit based on an
unethical situation and its
resolution
Evaluation
I.
PowerPoint, page 9 and rubric
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3
Copy and paste Multiple Intelligences Graphic in appropriate place in left column.
Verbal
Linguistic
Logical
Mathematical
Visual
Spatial
Musical
Rhythmic
Bodily
Kinesthetic
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Naturalist
Existentialist
Application
Guided Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
1. Brainstorm general topics that could be part of a company’s Code of Ethics. (See PowerPoint
slides entitled Code of Ethics for ideas.)
2. Develop a list of unethical business practices. (See PowerPoint slide titled Unethical Actions
Examples for ideas.)
Independent Practice (LSI Quadrant III):
1. Consider a situation that involves making an ethical decision. (Assign handout and
Supplemental Activity 1 - Check Your Reading.)
2. Complete a self-assessment on ethical behavior. (Assign Supplemental Activity 3 – How
Responsible Are You?)
Summary
Review (LSI Quadrants I and IV):
• Question: Define morals.
• Answer: Involving right or wrong: relating to issues of right and wrong and to how
•
individual people should behave.
•
•
Question: What is the difference between ethical and unethical business practices?
Answer: Ethical business practices are in compliance with a company’s Code of
Ethics.
•
•
Question: Describe information found in a Code of Ethics.
Answer: A legal corporate document that specifically states acceptable company
business practices performed by employees, i.e., rules on conflict of interest;
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accounting records; asset management; confidentiality.
•
•
Question: Compare moral values to ethical business practices.
Answer: Moral values are character-based virtues that shape an individual’s conduct
in society. Ethical practices focus on right and wrong conduct in the
business environment.
•
•
Question: Describe some unethical behaviors.
Answer: Removing hardware/software from company premises for personal use.
Sabotaging company files.
Possessing material ownership interest in a supplier’s company.
Evaluation
Informal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III):
1. Collaboratively complete and discuss Assessment on Wait on Me! page 8.
Formal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III, IV):
1. Students create and deliver a 3- to 4-minute skit based on an unethical situation and its
resolution. Guidelines are noted in the PowerPoint, page 9. Rubric is attached.
Extension/Enrichment (LSI Quadrant IV):
1. Complete What’s the Big Deal? Supplemental Activity 3. Interview a Human Resources
manager.
2. Encourage students to research articles that include ethical choices. The students will present
their findings to the class.
3. Research Code of Ethics published by various types of organizations.
4. Create a Code of Ethics for a specific type of business. Examples include restaurant, beauty
salon, construction company, dry cleaner, grocery store.
5. Complete an exercise entitled Acceptable vs. Tolerable – a deeper look at unethical practices
from the perspective of management. Talk about issues in the workplace with a Human
Resources manager.
6. Consider other activities found at the following website:
http://www.careersolutionspublishing.com/PDFs/IFR3Complete.pdf
UNT in partnership with TEA. Copyright, all rights reserved. Copyright © Texas Education Agendy, 2011. All rights reserved.
Page 5 5
Skit - Formal Assessment
Let's Talk About Ethics
Student Names:
CATEGORY
Problem
________________________________________
Excellent (20 points)
It is very easy for the
audience to
understand what
problem the main
character(s) face and
why it is a problem.
Good (18 points)
It is fairly easy for
the audience to
understand what
problem the main
character(s) face and
why it is a problem.
Fair (16 points)
It is fairly easy for
the audience to
understand what
problem the main
character(s) face but
it is not clear why it
is a problem.
Poor (14 points)
It is not clear what
problem the main
character(s) face.
Connections/Transi Connections between
tions
events, ideas, and
feelings in the story are
creative, clearly
expressed and
Vocabulary
Uses a varied
vocabulary appropriate
for the audience, and
also successfully tries
to enlarge the
audience's vocabulary.
Connections
between events,
ideas, and feelings in
the story are clearly
expressed and
Uses a varied
vocabulary that is
appropriate for the
audience.
Connections
between events,
ideas, and feelings in
the story are
sometimes hard to
Uses a varied
vocabulary that is
occasionally a little
too simple or a little
too hard for the
audience.
The story seems
very disconnected
and it is very
difficult to figure
out the story.
The vocabulary was
not varied OR was
routinely
inappropriate for
the intended
audience.
Voice
Always speaks loudly,
slowly and clearly. Is
easily understood by
all audience members
all the time.
Usually speaks
loudly, slowly and
clearly. Is easily
understood by all
audience members
almost all the time.
Usually speaks
loudly and clearly.
Speaks so fast
sometimes that
audience has trouble
understanding.
Speaks too softly or
mumbles. The
audience often has
trouble
understanding.
Solution to
Problem in Story
The solution to the
The solution to the The solution to the
problem is easy-toproblem is easy-to- problem was a little
understand and is
understand and is
hard to understand.
logical. There are no
somewhat logical.
loose ends.
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No solution was
attempted or it was
impossible to
understand.