Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 1
Mana 4340 - Business & Society –
Ethics and Stakeholder Management
First of all, adaptation of Carroll & Buchholtz, Business & Society – Ethics and
Stakeholder Management is used at the undergraduate level to meet the AACSB
requirements. In addition each exam question provides the AACSB
designation related to learning outcome.
Learning Outcomes – Mana 4340
1. Students will be able to recognize elements of our pluralistic society
characterizing business and society interrelationships. (Chapter 1 –
AACSB Requirement 1)
2. Students will be able to identify basic philosophies of proponents
regarding CSR (corporate social responsibility). – Chapter 2 – (AACSB
Requirement 2)
3. Students will be able to recognize the pros and cons of both sides of each
moral dilemma. – Chapter 7 – (AACSB Requirement 5)
4. Students will be able to recognize and explain the major ethical theories
that are used in the decision making process of leadership. – Chapter 8
(AACSB Requirement 3)
5. Students will be able to identify the major stakeholders and how they
are affected by different ethical philosophies used in decision-making. –
Chapter 8 (AACSB Requirement 2 & 3)
6. Students will be able to identify the principles and practices of sound,
responsible corporate governance as a deterrent to unethical behavior
– Chapter 4 (AACSB Requirement 4)
7. Students will be able to apply the necessary steps to reach decisions
which are both ethically and socially responsible. – Chapter 8,
Chapter 2 – (AACSB Requirement 2)
8. Students will be able to identify the basic characteristics of a profession
(HRM), and provide insights to the ethical codes that make one a
professional within a specified field – Several Chapters - AACSB
Requirement 5)
Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 2
AACSB Requirement 1
Where do students learn about the responsibility of business in society? What assurance
is there that these learning opportunities are effective?
The course structure demonstrates that “It is essential for business in general—
and management education students in particular—to understand the symbiotic
relationship between business and society, especially in terms of the moral
dimensions of the power placed in the hands of owners and managers.” Business
schools address this need in many ways and at many points in their curricula.
Schools and review teams should confirm that the coverage is adequate to ensure
that all students understand this important relationship.
Mana4340 - Chapter 1—The Business and Society Relationship
Learning Outcome
Recognize elements of our pluralistic society characterizing business and
society interrelationships. (Chapter 1 – AACSB Requirement 1)
Examination Question
the following is not a weakness of pluralism?
prevention of concentrations of power
pursuit of self-interest
overlapping goals, causing confusion about which groups best serve particular
interests
d. emphasis on conflict
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: 8-9 NAT:
AACSB Analytic | Environmental Influence
Which of
a.
b.
c.
Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 3
AACSB Requirement 2
Where do students learn and practice ethical decision making? Do any of the examples involve
ethical issues from the students’ own experience? What assurance is there that these learning
opportunities are effective?
Providing students the opportunity to learn and practice multiple models for ethical decision
making is an important step in supporting their ability to make good personal choices and business
decisions in the future. To ensure that they internalize the application of the model when they are
close to the choices, it is helpful to utilize some examples from their own sphere of experience.
Schools and review teams should consider whether there is assurance that the opportunities for
learning and practicing ethical decision making are adequate for all students.
Mana 4340 - Chapter 8—Personal and Organizational Ethics
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to identify basic philosophies of proponents regarding
CSR (corporate social responsibility). – Chapter 2 – (AACSB Requirement 2)
Apply the necessary and appropriate steps to reach decisions which are
both ethically and socially responsible. – Chapter 8, Chapter 2 – (AACSB
Requirement 2)
Examination Question
Corporate social responsibility emphasizes
a. obligation and accountability.
b. action and activity.
c. outcomes and results.
d. socially responsible investing.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 35 NAT:
AACSB Ethics | Ethical Responsibilities
Which of the following is the most basic assumption we make in discussing personal and
managerial ethics?
a. With effort, the "right" answer can be reached.
b. The object of ethical principles is to minimize harm done to others.
c. The object of ethical principles is to maximize benefits to others and ourselves.
d. People want to behave ethically.
ANS: D
PTS:
1
REF: 292 NAT: AACSB Ethics | Ethical Responsibilities
Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 4
AACSB Requirement 3
Where do students learn about their responsibilities for ethical leadership in organizations?
What assurance is there that these learning opportunities are effective?
While most students will not proceed to leadership positions immediately upon graduation, they
still must develop a basic understanding of ethical leadership. With luck they will move quickly to
supervisory positions where their abilities in this important area will first be tested. Regardless of
their progression, it is important to note that all group and organizational members are in a
position to exercise informal leadership at selected times and on selected issues. Schools and
review teams should consider whether or not there is assurance that the opportunities for learning
about ethical leadership are adequate and effective for all students.
Chapter 8—Personal and Organizational Ethics
Learning Outcome
Recognize and explain the major ethical theories that are used in the
decision making process of leadership. – Chapter 8 (AACSB Requirement 3)
Examination Question
Ethical leadership is founded on two pillars. These are
a. rewards and punishments.
b. the manager as a moral person and a moral manager.
c. ethical climate and ethics training.
d. ethics principles and ethics tests.
ANS: B PTS: 1
REF: 321 NAT:
AACSB Ethics | Leadership Principles
Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 5
AACSB Requirement 4
Where do students learn about corporate governance? What assurance is there that these learning
opportunities are effective?
This class teaches that “Knowing the principles and practices of sound, responsible corporate
governance can also be an important deterrent to unethical behavior.” To help reduce the
probability of corruption, students should encounter the principles of and practice compliance with
good governance in their coursework. Schools and review teams should consider whether there is
assurance that the opportunities for learning about corporate governance are adequate and
effective for all students.
Chapter 4—Corporate Governance: Foundational Issues
Learning Outcome
Identify the principles and practices of sound, responsible corporate
governance as a deterrent to unethical behavior – Chapter 4 (AACSB
Requirement 4)
Examination Question
The primary purpose of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is to
a. provide rules regulating the relationship between CEOs and boards.
b. limit the power of corporate boards.
c. restrict the flow of corporate money into politics.
d. provide better protection for investors in public companies by improving the
financial reporting of those companies.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 135 NAT: AACSB Analytic | Legal Responsibilities
Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 6
AACSB Requirement 5
Where do students learn about specific ethical issues and guidelines relating to other content
areas? What assurance is there that these learning opportunities are effective?
There is a danger that implicit ethical issues will be ignored in the coverage of disciplinary
content. While general ethical education is important, ignoring ethical implications during the
discussion of detailed subjects sends a message that ethical conduct may be relegated to certain
areas and ignored in others. This encourages students to disregard the ethical implications of some
decisions and assume there will be no consequences. A short list of examples of ethical
components is shown below to stimulate thinking on the part of schools and review teams. They
should be concerned that there is assurance of coverage of ethical issues in the disciplinary
content.
Specific Areas: Sample Ethical Component
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to recognize the pros and cons of both sides of each
moral dilemma. – Chapter 7 – (AACSB Requirement 5)
Explain the basic characteristics of a profession (HRM), and provide
insights to the ethical codes that make one a professional within a specified
field – Specific Chapter Below - AACSB Requirement 5)
Auditing
Corporate Strategy
Mana4340 - Chapter 5—Strategic Management and Corporate Public Affairs
Examination Question
Which of the following is not one of the steps in the strategic management process?
a. goal formulation
b. strategy implementation
c. problem identification
d. environmental analysis
ANS: C
PTS: 1 REF: 164 NAT: AACSB Analytic | Strategy
Human resource management
Mana4340 - Chapter 10—Ethical Issues in the Global Arena
Examination Question
The main
a.
b.
c.
two factors of concern in management and control of global operations are
organizational structure/design and human resource management.
tax laws and currency exchange rates.
manufacturing processes and marketing plans.
Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 7
d. political parties and economic systems.
ANS: A PTS: 1
REF: 401 NAT: AACSB Analytic | HRM
Specific Areas: Sample Ethical Component (Continued)
Environmental impact
Chapter 15—The Natural Environment as Stakeholder
Examination Question
Human denial of responsibility for the misuse of the environment is reflected by:
a. OPEN
b. NIMBY
c. BAMA
d. CLOSE
ANS: B PTS: 1
REF: 593
NAT: AACSB Analytic | Environmental Influence
Privacy management
Censorship and privacy
Mana4340 - Chapter 18—Employee Stakeholders: Privacy, Safety, and Health
Examination Question
Which of the following is not one of the major workplace privacy issues?
a. integrity testing
b. drug testing
c. monitoring employees
d. hourly pay and benefits
ANS: D
PTS:1
REF: 691
NAT: AACSB Analytic | HRM
Fairness in selection and promotion procedures
MANA 4340 - Chapter 19—Employment Discrimination and Affirmative Action
Examination Question
The concept that preferential treatment for minorities and women leads to harms to other
groups is called
a. compensatory justice.
b. reverse discrimination.
c. "what goes around comes around."
d. legalized discrimination.
ANS: B
PTS:
1
REF: 759
NAT: AACSB Analytic | Legal Responsibilities
Mana4340 – Dr. Beverly George – Spring 2009 - 8
AACSB Requirement 6
AACSB Question not applicable to classroom setting of Mana4340.
10. What proportion of the business school faculty are involved in the activities covered by
questions five through nine?
Faculty involvement is an important indicator of the salience of issues in academic environments.
Relegation of ethical issues to a small fraction of the faculty or to those perceived as having low
status vitiates the power of the educational experience. Also, in an environment where concern
over ethical issues has risen sharply, lack of business school faculty involvement may indicate a
disconnection between the academic experience and the real world. If ethics content is taught
primarily by faculty from outside the business school, questions should be raised as to what is
done to convey the relevance of ethics in business practice.