COLLEGE OF MOUNT ST. JOSEPH
SPRING 2010
PHI 660
Ethical Issues in
Organizations
CLASS MEETS
Jan. 23, Feb. 20, Mar. 20, Apr 10, May 01
CL 115 8:00 AM-12:00
INSTRUCTOR
Ronald F. White, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy
Home Phone: (513) 661-1770,
Office Phone: (513) 244-4405
E-MAIL
HOMEPAGE
BLOG
OFFICE HOURS
You can visit me before or after class and by appointment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will examine some of the moral issues facing both private
and public organizations and those who occupy leadership roles
within them. Discussions will focus on timely, contemporary ethical
issues in business, society, and government.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Books
Tom Morris, If Aristotle Ran General Motors: The New
Soul of Business (Henry Holt: 1997)
Kent M. Keith, The Case for Servant Leadership
(Click here to order this book online)
Jinkins and Jinkins, The Character of Leadership:
Political Realism and Public Virtue in Non-Profit
Organizations (Jossey-Bass: 1998)
Robert Bryce and Molly Ivins, Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego,
and the Death of Enron (Perseus Books: 2002)
And several scholarly essays posted on WebCt.
Required Web Sources
Ronald F. White,
Moral Principles
And Others on WebCt
PREASSIGNMENT
1. Read Moral Principles (Chapters 1-7) and Organizations
2. Make a One-Page Outline for Each of the Five Moral Principles:
Utility, Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, Liberty, Justice.
3. PRINT UP THIS SYLLABUS AND GRADING SHEET AND BRING
BOTH TO CLASS Small Group Grading Sheets
4. We will also have a WebCt site set up for e-mail. I’ll have it up
soon. I’ll send you a message when it’s ready.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Learn the fundamentals of ethical theories and their application to
decision making within organizations, especially business and
governmental organizations. Learn to identify a moral issue and
establish a strategy for its resolution based on both facts and values.
Develop a sense of professionalism rooted in sound moral principles.
METHOD OF EVALUATION
Exam I. 20%, Exam II. 20%, Exam III 20%, Exam IV 20%, Leading
Discussion 20%
SMALL GROUPS
The first day of class we will break up into groups of 5 students. All
discussion of reading will take place in these groups. Each member of
the small group will lead discussion based on the reading
assignments. Give 15 minutes of presentation and lead discussion for
15 minutes. Bring three copies of a two page typewritten outline
to give each member of your group. Preparation for discussion
includes presenting at least three interesting questions for the group.
Grade each presentation, including your own. If a presenter is absent
indicate that on your grade sheet. On the last day of class turn in the
attached grading sheet. Print it up from here!
GRADING SCALE
I’m a “ballpark grader.” However, when I compute grades I will
basically average four exams (worth 20% each) and average the four
small group discussions (worth total of 20% ). Here's how I'll break it
down. A+ =100 points, A =95 points, A- =90 points, B+ =85 points, B
=80 points, B- =75 points C+ =70 points, C =65 points etc. I reserve
the right to raise or to lower final grades based on outstanding class
participation, marked improvement, and attendance. NOTE: If you
miss a class for any reason I will be disinclined to give you an A for
the course. Missing 20% of the class discussion will affect your
grade. You may not miss the first class.
DETAILS
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Because this class meets only five times a semester, one absence
amounts to missing 20% of the in-class learning experience.
Moreover, since much of this learning experience is achieved through
small and large group discussion, an absence also affects others in the
classroom. However, I recognize that emergencies do arise. Students
who must miss one class may do so if you notify me first. No one will
be permitted to miss the first class under any circumstances-so don't
even ask! You may not under any circumstances miss more than one
class. If you miss a class for any reason, I will not give you an A
for the course. Moreover, an absence does not excuse you from
turning in written assignments on time. If you miss class and an exam
is due that day, e-mail it to me before the class meets. If you must
miss class the work will have to be made up in the form of additional
written work to be turned in at the beginning of the class period
immediately following an absence. Contact me to get that assignment.
Failure to turn in this work on time will result in the loss of a letter
grade for the semester.
TARDINESS
We all know that traffic in Cincinnati is outrageous and that it is
difficult to get anywhere on time. However, being late for class
adversely affects the other members of your group. Being habitually
late is extremely disruptive! Do your best to be on time. Plan ahead.
More than 60 minutes late=an absence!
ESSAY EXAMS
TURN
IN
YOUR
ESSAYS
VIA
WEBCT
AS
AN
E-MAIL
ATTACHMENT. I’ll TRY TO MAIL THEM BACK TO YOU AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE, USUALLY WITHIN ONE WEEK.
Eighty percent of your grade for this course will be based on four fivepage essays in which you discuss course material. Essays must be
typewritten, double-spaced.
SOME HELPFUL HINTS
In order to get an A you must exhibit both mastery of the course
material (as outlined above) and superior writing skill. Here are some
helpful hints.
a.
Do not assume that I know the answers. You must write the
essays as if you are explaining the assignment to a non-philosopher.
That means you must explain the basic concepts in depth.
b.
It is important that your essays exhibit organization. Make up
your mind what you intend to cover before you write the essay and
put it in a detailed outline. See me before or after class or via a short
e-mail message and I'll help.
c.
Provide arguments in support of your conclusions. Do not merely
cite religious authorities to back up your views. You may, however,
include religious views supported by rational arguments.
d.
Do not quote excessively. Sparingly use only short "quotes"
referenced like this: (Morris p 66). Absolutely do not copy whole
sentences or paragraphs unless their referenced.
e. You may exceed the page length limits, but do not fall of short,
unless you are a very skillfully concise writer!
SCHEDULE
(NOTE: WATCH FOR REVISIONS)
DATE
CLASS 1
(1/23)
ACTIVITY
Organizations (PPT) and Moral Theory, and Moral Principles
(PPT)
ASSIGNMENT
Organizations, Moral
Theories, Beneficence,
Utility, Liberty, Justice,
Virtue Based Moral
Systems
8:00-8: 45
leader 1____________________
Morris: Part I, pp. 25-68
8:45-9:30
leader 2____________________
Morris Part II, pp. 69-114
CLASS 2
(2/20)
9:30-10:15
leader 3____________________
Part III, pp. 115- 172
Tom Morris,
If Aristotle Ran
General Motors
10:15-10:30 BREAK
10:30-11:15
leader 4____________________
Part IV, pp. 173-216
11:15-12
Lecture: Organizations, Morality, and Religion
8:00-8:45
leader 1____________________
Keith (all of it)
8:45-9:30
leader 1____________________
Servant 1
9:30-10:15
leader 3____________________
CLASS 3 Servant 2
3/20
10:15-10:30 BREAK
10:30-11: 15
leader 4____________________
Servant 3
11:15-12:00
Lecture: The Philosophy of Power and PPT
Kent M. Keith, The
Case for Servant
Leadership
Servant 1
Servant 2
Servant 3
(on WebCt under
“assignments”)
EXAM 1: Write a
five-page essay on
Morris.
8:00-8:45
leader 1____________________
Part I
8:45-9:30
leader 2____________________
Part 2
CLASS 4
4/10
9:30-10:15
leader 3____________________
Part 3
10:15-10:30 BREAK
Michael Jinkins,
The Character of
Leadership
EXAM 2: Write a
five page essay on
“Servant
Leadership.”
10:30-11:15
leader 4____________________
Part 4
11:15-12:00
Lecture: Nexus of Contracts Theory (PPT)
8:00-8:45
leader 1____________________
Chapters 1-17
8:45-9:30
leader 2____________________
Chapters 18-26
Bryce and Ivins,
Pipe Dreams
CLICK HERE
CLASS 5
5/1
9:30-10:15
leader 3____________________
Chapters 27-35
10:15-10:30 BREAK
10:30-11:15
leader 4____________________
Chapters 35-51
EXAM 3: Write a
five-page essay on
Jinkins.
11.15- 12:00
Group Discussion:
EXAM 4: DUE FRIDAY AFTER THE LAST CLASS:
Write a five page essay on Enron. Which of the three books we’ve read this semester
best explain the Enron debacle?