LP341B Professional Ethics
Spring 2006
Instructor: Jerry Gravander
Office Hours:
11-12 Tu & Th, and by appointment
(please be sure to call ahead to make
sure I am not in a meeting)
Office: Snell 305
Phones:
Office: 268-6411
Home: 265-6139 (before 9 pm)
Web Site: www.clarkson.edu/~gravande/lp341
E-Mail: gravande@clarkson.edu
Text Material:
Manuel G. Velasquez, Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases, Sixth Edition
Case material, plus other handouts from time to time.
Your own research on the topic of the group project.
Course Objectives:
* To help you develop your ability to reason about moral issues, especially those faced by
professionals B engineers, scientists, and managers B as they pursue their careers.
* To familiarize you with the details of some notorious ethical cases that brought both
managerial and technical staff to grief.
* To increase your appreciation of the interrelationships and tradeoffs among the technical,
managerial, and social aspects of Areal world@ problems and projects.
Course Structure:
Part #1--Introduction to professional ethics
During this part we will look at selected ethical concepts and practice applying these to
mini-cases.
Part #2--Case studies
During this second part, we will discuss detailed cases that are more complex and require a
more thorough and sophisticated application of ethical theory than the mini-cases in Part #1.
Part #3--Group project
During this part of the course you will be divided into interdisciplinary groups and asked to
analyze a specific ethical dilemma and/or decision. The differences between this project and
the case studies of Part #2 are:
1) you will have to do research into the details of the dilemma/decision for the project,
whereas I will provide you with the cases in Part #2,
2) you will go into more depth with the project, and
3) more dimensions will be involved in your analysis in the project since the groups are
interdisciplinary.
During Part #3 class time will be used by the groups for working sessions. Groups will be
small, and they will work with me as their consultant (this means progress reports).
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Course Work:
Part #1-- 1 In-class hour exam
Written homework (equal to an hour exam)
Part #2-- 1 Essay (equal to an hour exam)
Written homework (equal to an hour exam)
Part #3-- 1 Group presentation (oral presentation, group grade, equal to an hour exam)
1 Individual Aportfolio@ (material representing each individual=s contribution to project,
individual grade, equal to an hour exam)
That is, there are a total of six equally-weighted components of course work that count toward the
course grade, with each being worth 16.67%
Course Policies:
1. Late and/or Missed Course Work. Hour Exam: I will give a make-up for the hour exam.
However, all who miss the exam will take the make-up the same day; the time when the make-up is
given will be one which is mutually agreeable to me and those taking the make-up. Essay: Essays will
not be considered late until the essays on the original set of topics have been returned, and essays will
be accepted without penalty until that time. After the graded essays have been returned, late essays
will no longer be accepted on the original set of topics; however, there will be a set of make-up essay
topics. Homework: Homework should be turned in either during or before the period it is due; late
homework will be accepted, but there will be a grade penalty. Group Project: The deadlines for both
the group oral presentation and the individual portfolio for the group project will be absolute and
non-negotiable.
2. I expect regular attendance, and your grade will be lowered for excessive absences. My rule
on this is that each successive unexcused absence after your 3rd will reduce your course average by 2
points. Two notes: this includes the class periods devoted to the group oral presentations, and an
absence cannot be excused unless I know about it and have excused it.
3. Three words about plagiarism: DON=T DO IT! Plagiarism is the representation of someone
else=s work as your own. It can range from copying another essay word-for-word, to paraphrasing an
article from Cliff or Monarch notes, to Areading my roommate=s paper to get some ideas@ and then
repeating them in your paper. I do not expect you to have thoughts no one else has had S if nothing
else you will be drawing on class discussion. I do expect you to give credit when you build on the
ideas of others. When in doubt, credit your source or inspiration. If I am in doubt about whether your
work is your own, I will take it to the Academic Integrity Committee. (See Clarkson=s Regulations
for a description of this Committee.) Thou shalt not plagiarize in this course--especially since it is an
ethics course. CASES OF PLAGIARISM WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED.
4. Grades will be assigned according to 90-100 A, 86-89 B+, 80-85 B, 76-79 C+, 70-75 C,
66-69 D+, 60-65 D and below 60 F. I will NOT Acurve@ course grades.
5. I will use your Clarkson e-mail addresses to send you information and updates about the
course. If you do not monitor your Clarkson e-mail account, you will miss these.
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Syllabus (Subject to Change):
PART #1--INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL ETHICS B See the Web site for reading and HW assignments.
Th 1/12
Introduction to Course & Start Velasquez Ch 1
Tu 1/17
Complete Ch 1 & Mini-Cases from Ch 1
Th 1/19
Ch 2 -- Ethical Principles in Business
Tu 1/24
Ch 2, continued
Th 1/26
Ch 2, continued
Tu 1/31
Mini-Cases from Ch 2 & Michael Davis Handout
Th 2/2
Ch 6 -- The Ethics of Consumer Production & Marketing & Mini-Cases from Ch 6
Tu 2/7
Ch 5 -- Ethics and the Environment & Mini-Cases from Ch 5
Th 2/9
Ch 7 -- The Ethics of Job Discrimination
Tu 2/14
NO CLASS B WINTER BREAK
Th 2/16
Mini-Cases from Ch 7
Tu 2/21
Ch 8 -- The Individual in the Organization & Mini-Cases from Ch 8
Th 2/23
PART #1 EXAM
PART #2--CASE STUDIES B See the Web site for details.
Tu 2/28
Case Discussion & Organizational Meetings for Team Projects
Th 3/2
Case Discussion
Tu 3/7
Case Discussion
Th 3/9
Case Discussion
Tu 3/14
NO CLASS B SPRING BREAK
Th 3/16
NO CLASS B SPRING BREAK
Tu 3/21
Case Discussion
Th 3/23
Case Discussion
Tu 3/28
Case Discussion
Th 3/30
Case Discussion
PART #3--GROUP PROJECTS B See the Web site for details.
Tu 4/4
Work on Projects
Th 4/6
Work on Projects
Tu 4/11
Work on Projects
ESSAY FOR PART #2 DUE
Th 4/13
Work on Projects
Tu 4/18
Presentations for Part #3
Th 4/20
Presentations for Part #3
Tu 4/25
Presentations for Part #3
Th 4/27
Presentations for Part #3
M 5/1
INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIOS FOR PART #3 DUE MAY 1st
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