Vanguard University
School for Professional Studies
Degree Program
“Organizational Ethics”
BUOM 478
Student Guide
REQUIRED TEXTS
Velasquez, M. G. (2006). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases 0131930079. (7th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Gill, David W. (2008). It’s About Excellence: Building Ethically Healthy Organizations. Provo,
Utah: Executive Excellence Publishing.
January 14, 2013
DPP
2/06
V2.1
DS 01/10
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
A study of ethical situations in organizations, accountability in government, respect for human
rights, and responsibility for ethical and contemporary life choices. Ethical theories and personal
values are examined through readings and analysis of situations in organizations.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Organizational ethics is approached through utilizing cases to illustrate the value of reflecting on
ethical issues in the marketplace. Several major ethical theories are reviewed with special
attention given to understanding a Christian approach to business. Students are asked to examine
and integrate personal values and faith commitments through readings, case studies, and the
development of a workplace case. The goal is to begin to formulate a business ethic that takes
into account management accountability, human rights, justice, and a responsible lifestyle.
COURSE OVERVIEW
Organizational ethics is an applied study in the larger field of ethics. Managers, entrepreneurs,
shop owners and manufacturers regularly confront moral and ethical issues. What is right or
wrong in this or that management decision? What standards, principles and organizational
practices are appropriate for a given decision? In addition, how does one’s personal
commitments impact how one operates in the field of business? Is a Christian ethic possible in
business or must one simply leave one’s faith compartmentalized for private concerns? This
course addresses these and other issues that confront persons who work in the marketplace.
Organizational ethics is concerned not only with rules, both legal and ethical, that guide
organizational practice, but it also must address the character of the business person. This course
will deal with the fundamental categories of ethics as they apply to business using the case study
approach. This means that a good part of the course will be approached inductively through
actual cases that invite ethical reflection on organizational practices.
This course should help you better understand your own values and faith commitments and how
such values and commitments relate to the "business world" in which they function. It is
important to help you understand that the key word here is "better." It is not assumed that you
have no values or have never thought about the relationship between such values and your
"professional activity." What is being assumed, rather, is that all of us can benefit by taking time
to discuss these issues in a systematic, logical manner with special attention being given to how
our faith informs our business practices.
All colleges want to produce technically proficient students. However, Christian liberal arts
colleges also desire their graduates to better understand their faith, themselves and the world.
They are then better equipped to communicate to others about who they are and what they
believe. Now, of course, all the courses in the School for Professional Studies are concerned
with both the "technical" and "personal." But while some courses emphasize the former, this
course emphasizes the latter. To this Vanguard adds our unique perspective on the relationship
between business ethics and faith.
TEXTS AND MATERIALS
Velasquez, M. G. 2012, Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall, Inc., 2012.
Gill, David W. 2008, It’s About Excellence: Building Ethically Healthy Organizations. Provo,
Utah: Executive Excellence Publishing.
Recommended texts:
Aristotle. The Nicomachean Ethics. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1926.
http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Birch, Bruce and Larry L. Rassmussen. Bible and Ethics in Christian life. Revised. Minneapolis:
Augsburg, 1989.
Fletcher, Joseph. Situation Ethics: The New Morality. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1966.
Frankena, William K. Ethics. 2d ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
Gilligan, Carol. In a Different Voice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1982.
Hauerwas, Stanley. The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer in Christian Ethics. Notre Dame, IN:
University of Notre Dame Press.
Hays, Richard M. The Moral Vision of the New Testament. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1996.
Holmes, Arthur F. Ethics: Approaching Moral Decisions. Edited by C. S. Evans. Contours of
Christian Philosophy. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. 1984.
Kant, Immanuel. The Moral Law; or Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. London:
Hutchinson, 1948.
MacIntyre, Alasdair. After Virtue. Wd ed., Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1984.
Niebuhr, Reinhold. An Interpretation of Christian Ethics. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1935.
Nielson, Kai. ―Ethics, Problems of.‖ In The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, vol. 3, pp. 117-134.
Pieper, Josef. The Four Cardinal Virtues. Notre Dame IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1965.
Plato. Euthyphro. In Five Dialogues. Translated by G.M.A. Grube. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1981.
Pojman, Louis P., ed. Ethical Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings. Belmont:
Wadsworth Publishing Co. 1989.
Schnackenburg, Rudolf. The Moral Teaching of the New Testament. New York: The Seabury
Press, 1965.
Sher, George, ed. Moral Philosphy: Selected Readings. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1987.
Stringfellow, William. An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land. Waco,TX:
Word, 1973.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. Identify the key vocabulary terms of ethics associated with ethics and business.
2. Compare major ethical traditions generally applied to ethical reflection and moral action.
3. Develop a process of ethical reasoning to recognize, evaluate and analyze how moral
decisions are made; and
4. Apply the tools of ethical decision making to ethical dilemmas in specific contexts of life and
business.
STUDENT EVALUATION
Class and group participation, short answer questions, essays, oral presentation, and a vocabulary
exam will assess the student’s comprehension, synthesis, and critical evaluation of course
materials. Students will receive a grade for this course based on their performance in the
following areas:
1.
Readings. The readings offer background materials, inform class content, and supplement
class discussion. Reading assignments for each week are indicated on the Course Outline
below. You are expected to complete reading prior to coming to class. You should plan to
spend adequate time for each class session completing the readings.
2.
Classroom participation/discussion. The primary format for the course will be lectures
and guided and group discussions. Attendance is expected. You cannot get a participation
grade for a class in which you were not present. The professor will grade you on how
actively you participate in small group activity and in class discussions. (100 points; 20
points per week)
3.
Short Answer Assignments. The short answer assignments are based upon the textbooks
and media presented in class. These assignments will be distributed each week. (200
points; 50 points per week for weeks 1-4)
***Note: The short answer assignment to be completed prior to the first class is attached.
4.
Short Essays. Three essays related to a specific ethical dilemma (each not to exceed 1,200
words) and the final written essay corresponding to the Oral Presentation (not to exceed
2,500 words) will be the focus of the written assignments for this course. The essays must
be analytical and should incorporate the ethical concepts, principles, and approaches
covered in the lectures and readings. The three shorter essays are worth 100 points each
and are due on Weeks, 2, 3, and 4.
Essays should be double spaced, written in Times New Roman font, 12 pt. In addition to
the quality of content, the organization, mechanics and style will be taken into
consideration so be sure to edit and proofread the essay before you turn it in. In a header,
place your last name and the page number in the upper right corner of the second and
subsequent pages. Please do not provide report covers; a simple staple in the upper lefthand corner will do nicely.
Footnote and bibliographical form should conform to the APA rules of style and
formatting. For a variety of online Style Guides please go to the Vanguard Library
website at http://library.vanguard.edu/citing-sources or go to / http://www.docstyles.com/
5.
Examination. The exam will be an objective exam based on the vocabulary of ethics
(exam given Week 3 during the first hour). A ―Glossary of Terms‖ is posted on Moodle.
(100 points)
6.
Final Project: The final case study will provide an opportunity for the student to apply
the principles and strategies learned in class to a contemporary business moral issue. This
assignment includes both oral and written presentations. The Oral and Written
Presentations are worth 150 points each. The Oral Presentation is due on Week 5 and the
Written Presentation (2,500 words) is due 3 days later.
Summary of grading distribution:
Class participation
Short answer assignments
Essays
Objective Exam (Vocabulary)
Final Project
Oral Presentation
150 points
Written Presentation 150 points
5@20
4@50
3@100
100 points
200 points
300 points
100 points
300 points
When the points you earned have been added together, you will receive a letter grade
according to the following scale:
Percentages Points
Grade
Significance
GPA
93-100%
90-92.9%
87-89.9%
83-86.9%
80-82.9%
77-79.9%
73-76.9%
70-72.9%
67-69.9%
63-66.9%
60-62.9%
00-59.9%
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Exceptional
4.00
3.67
3.33
3.00
2.67
2.33
2.00
1.67
1.33
1.00
0.67
0.00
930-1000
900-929
870-899
830-869
800-829
770-799
730-769
700-729
670-699
630-669
600-629
000-599
Above Average
Average
Below Average
Failure
LOGISTICS CHART
Hour
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Introduction
of Course
PART III:
Ethical
Reasoning
Objective Exam:
The Vocabulary
of Ethics
PART V:
Ethics and
Employees
Ground Rules
1
PART I:
An Introduction
to Business
Ethics
Teleology/Utility
(Costs and
Benefits)
Break
Break
PART II:
Concepts and
Principles in
Ethics
Deontology
(rules, rights &
justice)
Job Discrimination
Oral
Presentations
Break
Break
Break
PART IV:
The Ethics of
Consumer
Production and
Marketing
Affirmative
Action
Oral
Presentations
2
3
Ontology
(virtues)
A Framework for
Ethical Decision
Making
Case discussion
and application
Case discussion
and application
(continued)
CONCLUSION
Contracts
Advertising
Case discussion
and application
The Rational
Organization
Case discussion
and application
Oral
Presentations
4
(continued)
Course
Evaluation
STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK ONE
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ETHICS AND ETHICAL REASONING:
This week presents an introduction to the basic principles of ethics in general and shows how
these principles are relevant to business.
READINGS
Velasquez, ―Ethics and Business‖ in Business Ethics, 3-72.
Gil, ―Ethics isn’t Pretty (but the alternatives are really ugly)‖ in It’s About Excellence, 17-30.1
SHORT ANSWER ASSIGNMENT
Respond to the following questions from Business Ethics and It’s About Excellence prior to the
first class. Your answers, one or two paragraphs per question, should be typed.
From Business Ethics
1. What are the six characteristics that distinguish moral standards? Why is each of them
necessary to define moral standards in general?
2. What are the three basic types of ethical issues? Come up with an example of an ethical
issue for each type.
3. How do moral obligations apply to business organizations? Can companies be held
accountable for what they do, or are the individuals who make up the company the ones
we must hold accountable? Discuss the major arguments concerning corporate
responsibility.
4. What special ethical issues face multinational corporations? How should they, and
society, respond to these issues?
5. What is ethical relativism? What are the difficulties with the theory? What does it have to
offer us, even if it seems largely mistaken?
6. What are the three criteria used to evaluate the adequacy of moral reasoning?
7. What considerations are relevant when we assign blame for an injurious act? What is the
distinction between excusing conditions and mitigating circumstances?
1
David Gill begins every chapter with a short Executive Summary.
From It’s About Excellence
8. How would you rank the helpfulness and importance of each of the six test questions for
ethics given in Gill, 17-30? Why did you rank them in the order you selected?
FOR CLASS DISCUSSION ONLY (there is no need to respond formally)
1. Why did the officials at Merck finally decide to produce the ―river blindness‖ medicine,
even though it seemed unlikely that they would recoup their investment? Should
corporations be required to act as Merck did?
2. When evaluating an ethical dilemma, does the closeness of a stakeholder relationship
influence the outcome of how it is dealt with?
3. Be prepared to discuss in class the following cases from Velasquez:
 Merck & Co., Inc., pp. 4-7.
 Slavery in the Chocolate Industry, pp. 64-67.
 Aaron Beam and the HealthSouth Fraud, pp. 68-71.
WEEK TWO
THE FORMS OF ETHICAL REASONING
This week presents an overview of the traditional approaches used in ethical reasoning and moral
decision making, identifies their strength and weaknesses, and shows how they can be used to
clarify the moral issues that arise in business.
READINGS
Velasquez, ―Ethical Principles in Business‖ in Business Ethics, 73-148.
Gil, ―Ethics Carrots & Sticks: The Motivational Challenge,‖ in It’s About Excellence, 30-60.
SHORT ANSWER ASSIGNMENT
From Business Ethics
1. What are the distinctions between traditional utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism? Why
did theorists come up with rule utilitarianism in the first place?
2. Do Chinese have basic human rights that are different from those of American workers?
Do American companies have a responsibility to protect those rights?
3. What is the difference between a negative and a positive right?
4. What are the ethical rules that govern contracts? Why is each of these rules necessary?
5. What are the two formulations of Kant’s Categorical Imperative? Do you think they are
really saying the same thing? Explain.
6. What are the three categories of justice? How are they distinguished?
7. What is a moral virtue and how is it acquired?
8. What are the principles behind the ethics of care?
SHORT ESSAY
Write an ethical analysis of the case: ―Traidos Bank and Roche’s Drug Trials in China,‖ pp. 143145).
Instructions for Writing the Essay
The essay must be analytical and should incorporate the ethical concepts, principles, and
approaches covered to date in the lectures and readings. Your analysis should include responses
to questions such as:






Which ethical principles seem to be the most relevant in this situation? Why?
How might utilitarianism provide a defense for Roche and how might a rights-based ethic
condemn them?
What principles backed up the positions of both sides?
Do Chinese and Americans workers have the same basic human rights regardless of
where they might live?
Is Traidos justified in excluding Roche’s stock from their investment portfolio?
Is it ethical for Roche to continue testing?
You should utilize ―A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making” as your guide (see Appendix).
Also see Some Helps for Writing an Essay (Appendix). The essay is worth 100 points.
The essay, not to exceed 1,200 words, should be double spaced, written in Times New Roman
font, 12 pt. In addition to the quality of content, the organization, mechanics and style will be
taken into consideration so be sure to edit and proofread the essay before you turn it in. In a
header, place your last name and the page number in the upper right corner of the second and
subsequent pages. Please do not provide report covers; a simple staple in the upper left-hand
corner will do nicely.
Footnote and bibliographical form should conform to the APA rules of style and formatting. For
a variety of online Style Guides please go to the Vanguard Library website at
http://library.vanguard.edu/citing-sources or go to / http://www.docstyles.com/
FOR CLASS DISCUSSION ONLY (there is no need to respond formally)
1. Be prepared to discuss in class the following cases from Velasquez:
 Should Companies Dump Their Wastes in Poor Countries?, 80.
 Working for Eli Lilly & Company, 92.
 ExxonMobil, Amerada Hess, and Marathon Oil in Equatorial Guinea, 113.
 Unocal in Burma, 145-148.
2. Be prepared to discuss in class what motivates behaviors and ethics in business from Gill:
 Twelve Reasons for Business Ethics, 31.
WEEK THREE
THE ETHICS OF CONSUMER PRODUCTION AND MARKETING
This section examines the ethical issues raised by product quality related to safety, relationships
between business and its customers, and the duties and responsibilities of business. Ethical issues
related to advertising and privacy will also be explored.
READINGS
Velasquez, ―The Ethics of Consumer Production and Marketing,‖ in Business Ethics, 303-344.
Gill, ―Chapters 3-5,‖ in It’s About Excellence, 61-138.
SHORT ANSWER ASSIGNMENT
From Business Ethics
1. According to the contract view of business’ duties to customers, what are the four basic
duties a firm has to its customers? Why are they necessary? How is this relevant to
consumer protection issues?
2. What characterizes the due care theory?
3. How does the social costs view extend the due care theory and the contract view? Why
do critics say that the social costs view is unfair? Do you agree?
4. What are the social effects of advertising? Do you think it really creates consumer desires
in the way that Galbraith maintains?
5. How does advertising become unethical? What steps must each part of the advertising
―communication‖ process take to ensure that it remains ethical?
6. Why do consumers have a right to privacy? Why does industry have a right to know
consumers’ personal information? How do we strike a balance between them? What
considerations are relevant when striking this balance?
From It’s About Excellence
7. Based on Playbook Genius: Principle Guided Business Practices, Gill, pp.139-160
complete Gill’s Ethical Guidelines Worksheet, pp. 152-153.
SHORT ESSAY
Write an ethical analysis of the case ―Becton Dickinson and Needle Sticks,‖ pp. 335-339.
Instructions for Writing the Essay
The essay must be analytical and should incorporate the ethical concepts, principles, and
approaches covered to date in the lectures and readings. Your analysis should include, but not
limited to, responses to questions such as:
The Ethical Dilemma
Did Becton Dickenson (BD) have an obligation to provide the safety syringe in all sizes? Should
BD be held liable for failing to market all the products for which they held exclusive rights when
someone’s injury could have been prevented had they marketed the product?
Key Important Principles
Which ethical principles seem to be the most relevant in this situation?
Ethical Reasoning
A simple strategy for ensuring that ethical perspectives are incorporated into one's moral
reasoning is to inquire systematically into the utility, rules, rights, justice, and virtue involved in
a given moral judgment (from Velasquez). For example, ask a series of questions about an action
that one is considering:
a) Teleological/Utilitarianism: (standards that consider net social benefits and net social costs).
From the utilitarian's viewpoint, what is the best course of action? Does the action, as far as
possible, maximize social benefits and minimize social injuries? What facts support the
conclusion?
b) Deontological: (standards that specify how individuals must be treated— consideration of a
person’s welfare, rights and fair distribution of benefits and burdens). From a deontological
perspective (rules, individual rights, justice), what is the best course of action? What facts
support your case? Is the action consistent with the moral rights of those whom it will affect?
Will the action lead to a just distribution of benefits and burdens? Be sure to consider contract
and due care theory.
c) Ontological: (Standard of actions that promote or develop a morally virtuous character).
From an ontological point of view (virtue/character), what would be the most appropriate action?
Consequences/Alternatives
Do these perspectives/viewpoints converge on a course of action or do they diverge? If they
diverge, which viewpoint should take priority?
Make a Decision
What is the recommendation, decision or action plan?
You should utilize ―A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making” as your guide (see Appendix).
Also see Some Helps for Writing an Essay (Appendix). The essay is worth 100 points.
The essay, not to exceed 1,200 words, should be double spaced, written in Times New Roman
font, 12 pt. In addition to the quality of content, the organization, mechanics and style will be
taken into consideration so be sure to edit and proofread the essay before you turn it in. In a
header, place your last name and the page number in the upper right corner of the second and
subsequent pages. Please do not provide report covers; a simple staple in the upper left-hand
corner will do nicely.
Footnote and bibliographical form should conform to the APA rules of style and formatting. For
a variety of online Style Guides please go to the Vanguard Library website at
http://library.vanguard.edu/citing-sources or go to / http://www.docstyles.com/
FOR CLASS DISCUSSION ONLY (there is no need to respond formally)
1. Based on Advertising Ethics, Velasquez, pp. 280-287, bring to class next week examples
of advertisements, print or video that are: 1) informative and helpful and 2) misleading
and/or unethical. What makes each example either ethical or unethical?
2. Describe something you have purchased which either immediately broke, was unsafe, or
was not what you thought it would be based on the advertisement that induced you to
purchase it. What losses did you incur? Were you treated fairly by the
producer/manufacturer?
3. Be prepared to discuss in class the following cases from Velasquez:
 The Tobacco Companies and Product Safety, 316.
 Selling Personalized Genetics, 320.
 Advertising Death to Kids, 324.
 Reducing Debts at Credit Solutions of America, 339-343.
WEEK FOUR
THE ETHICS OF EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS:
The section examines the nature and extent of discrimination followed by discussions of the
ethical aspects of discriminatory behavior in employment and of diversity and affirmative action
programs in business.
READINGS
Velasquez, Chapter 7, ―The Ethics of Job Discrimination,‖ in Business Ethics, 347-398. (Please
note there is no short answer assignment for this chapter)
Chapter 8, ―Ethics and the Employee,‖ in Business Ethics, 399-457.
Gil, ―Chapters 6 and 7‖ in It’s About Excellence, 139-178.
SHORT ANSWER ASSIGNMENT
From Business Ethics
The following questions are based on Chapter 8, 399-457.
1. What defines the rational organization?
2. Why should employers care about their employees’ level of job satisfaction? Why are so
many employees unhappy? What do you think can be done about it?
3. When should an employee engage in whistleblowing? What are the rules?
4. What is the distinction between the right to due process and employment at will?
5. How should employers conduct themselves when they engage in downsizing or face a
plant closure?
6. Why should employers care about their former employees?
7. What characterizes the caring organization?
From It’s About Excellence
There are no written questions from It’s About Excellence.
SHORT ESSAY
Write an ethical analysis based on the case ―Who Should Pay?‖ pp. 456-457.
Instructions for Writing the Essay
The essay must be analytical and should incorporate the ethical concepts, principles, and
approaches covered to date in the lectures and readings. Your ethical reasoning should include:
The most pertinent of the five key principles informed by the specific moral arguments from
Velasquez for ―establishing fair working conditions‖ and ―morally responsible for working
conditions.‖
The five principles, value of life, welfare (avoiding harm and doing good), justice (fair and just
distribution of good and bad), honesty and truthtelling, and dignity (individual freedom), apply to
business ethics.
Participants are obligated to be honest and tell the truth; be fair and just in dealing with others; be
honest and trustworthy in executing and carrying out agreements and contracts; create a safe
atmosphere for employees to work in and be loyal to employees within reasonable limits.
Specifically an employer has the responsibility or obligation to establish fair working conditions
and be morally responsible for those working conditions.
Establishing Fair Working Conditions
•Eliminating risks when cost is reasonable, studying potential risks of a job, informing workers
of known risks, compensating workers for injuries.
–Providing compensation for job risks similar to risk premiums paid in other jobs.
–Providing adequate medical and disability benefits.
–Working with other firms to collect information about job risks.
Morally Responsible for Working Conditions
•Employer is morally responsible for bad working conditions if the employer:
–Can and should improve conditions
–Knows about the conditions
–Is not prevented from changing conditions
You should utilize ―A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making” as your guide (see Appendix).
Also see Some Helps for Writing an Essay (Appendix). The essay is worth 100 points.
The essay, not to exceed 1,200 words, should be double spaced, written in Times New Roman
font, 12 pt. In addition to the quality of content, the organization, mechanics and style will be
taken into consideration so be sure to edit and proofread the essay before you turn it in. In a
header, place your last name and the page number in the upper right corner of the second and
subsequent pages. Please do not provide report covers; a simple staple in the upper left-hand
corner will do nicely.
Footnote and bibliographical form should conform to the APA rules of style and formatting. For
a variety of online Style Guides please go to the Vanguard Library website at
http://library.vanguard.edu/citing-sources or go to / http://www.docstyles.com/
FOR CLASS DISCUSSION ONLY
1. Have you ever witnessed any of the political tactics mentioned in this chapter? How did
they work?
2. More personally, have you ever been a victim of unethical political tactics? What did you
do?
WEEK FIVE
FINAL CASE STUDY: ORAL AND WRITTEN PRESENTATIONS
This assignment, both oral and written, provides an opportunity for students to engage in moral
reasoning by applying what they have learning to a contemporary ethical issue drawn from their
own business, workplace or professional experience. The oral presentation of this case will be
given to the class in the fifth week. The final written form of the case should incorporate the
comments and critiques to the oral presentation received from the professor and fellow students
and be uploaded on Moodle no later than three days after the last class.
THE ORAL PRESENTATION
For your Oral Presentation, students will present a case study representing an ethical dilemma
drawn from their own experience.
Note: If we decide to have group rather than individual presentations, please form your own
group of two or three people. You know best whom you can communicate with the easiest. If you
do not find a group, let me know and I will assign you to one. Please let me know the members of
your group as soon as you can.
Select one ethical dilemma. Your presentation can be as creative as you wish. The presentation
should be approximately 15 minutes in length followed by an additional 10 minutes of feedback
and discussion. Please clear the description of the ethical dilemma with me prior to your
presentation.
The oral presentation of this case should follow the format of case analysis developed through this
course. After defining the ethical dilemma, you should identify the stakeholders and outline facts
and assumptions that are pertinent to the case. List the ―First Important Principles‖ pertinent to
your case. Succeeding sections should work through these ethical principles by way of the three
approaches we have utilized in the ethical reasoning process. You should also identify any
tensions that exist between competing ethical considerations. Be sure you work through the law of
unintended consequences and explore any other viable alternatives for moral action. The final part
of your presentation should state what ought to be done and why.
Your presentation will be graded on the following basis: (1) the strength of the case you select
and the adequacy of the description of the facts of the case; (2) the identification of the moral
issues at stake in the case and the outcomes; rules/rights/justice; and virtues, which this case
reveals. Here the mastery of the course readings, glossary, and related materials will be important
in isolating issues and developing strategies for case clarity and resolution; (3) the ability to
reason to an ethical conclusion and demonstrate an ability to bring ethical reasoning to bear on an
individual or organizational/ministry practice or problem; (4) the presentation must be properly
documented if outside sources are utilized.
THE WRITTEN PRESENTATION
For your written presentation: The essay must be analytical and should incorporate the ethical
concepts, principles, and approaches covered to date in the lectures and readings. The essay is
worth 150 points.
Follow ―A Framework for Ethical Decision-Making‖ as your guide. See Instructions for Writing
the Essay included in the Appendix.
The essay, not to exceed 2,500 words, should be double spaced, written in Times New Roman
font, 12 pt. In addition to the quality of content, the organization, mechanics and style will be
taken into consideration so be sure to edit and proofread the essay before you turn it in. In a
header, place your last name and the page number in the upper right corner of the second and
subsequent pages. Please do not provide report covers; a simple staple in the upper left-hand
corner will do nicely.
Footnote and bibliographical form should conform to the APA rules of style and formatting. For
a variety of online Style Guides please go to the Vanguard Library website at
http://library.vanguard.edu/citing-sources or go to / http://www.docstyles.com/
The final essay is due in the Degree Completion office three days following the final session of
this module.
APPENDIX
1. A Framework for Ethical Decision Making
2. Some Helps for Writing an Essay
3. Criteria for Grading an Essay
An Ethical Decision-Making Model
1. Define the Ethical Dilemma
a. Determine precisely what must be decided.
2. Gather the Facts
a. Distinguish solid facts from beliefs, desires, theories, suppositions, unsupported
conclusions, opinions, and rationalizations.
b. Consider the credibility of sources, especially when they are self-interested, ideological
or biased.
c. Evaluate the assumptions.
d. Make a judgment about what you believe is not true.
3. First Important Principles*
a. Develop at least three ethically justifiable options.
b. Examine each option to determine which ethical principles and values are involved.
e. Do any of the options require the sacrifice of any ethical principles?
a. Prioritize the order so that you can choose which principles seem to be the most critical
for your case.
4. Moral Reasoning
a. Teleological/Utilitarian: Costs and Benefits
b. Deontological: Rules, Rights, Justice
c. Ontological: Virtues
5. Alternatives and Consequences
a. Formulate and devise the full range of alternatives.
b. Eliminate patently impractical, illegal and improper alternatives.
c. Consider whether ethically questionable conduct can be avoided by changing goals or
methods, or by getting consent.
d. With regard to each alternative, carefully consider the benefits, burdens and risks to each
stakeholder. Determine who will be helped the most and harmed the least.
e. Consider the viewpoints of others.
f. Consider the worst-case scenario.
g. Apply four "ethics guides."
 Are you treating others as you would want to be treated?
 Would you be comfortable if your reasoning and decision were to be publicized?
 Would you be comfortable if your children were observing you?
 Would you be comfortable to go to sleep at night?
6. Decision
Make a decision based upon your ethical reasoning.
Continued on the following page . . .
Important Principles
Value of Life
Welfare (do no harm, prevent harm, remedy harm, when possible do good--aka beneficence and
non-maleficence).
Justice
Truthtelling
Dignity (respect)
Always ask,
Is it legal?
Does it violate company or professional codes of ethics?
Does it harm anyone irresponsibly?
Does it violate my conscience or personal values?
Would I be comfortable if my reasoning and decision were to be publicized?
Would I be comfortable if my children were observing me?
Would I be comfortable to go to sleep at night?
SOME HELPS FOR WRITING AN ESSAY
Purpose Statement and Organization
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Is the ethical dilemma clearly defined?
Are the facts of the case logical, relevant, accurate, complete and consistent?
Have you articulated goals/questions/claims that aim to fulfill your purpose?
Is the paper organized with headings that match the essay’s goals with an argument that
fulfills your purpose?
 Does each paragraph advance your argument?
 Are there logical and smooth transitions between paragraphs?
Content
 Is there a clear understanding of the moral standards and what they require, prohibit, value or
condemn
 Is the moral reasoning process by which behaviors, institutions, or policies are judged in
accordance with or in violation of moral standards?
 Are ethical principles meaningfully applied to this issue across the three traditional ethical
approaches?
 Are the general points/arguments clear and significant and supported by evidence?
 Does the argument(s) represent fairly both sides of the issues? Would those who hold
different points of view agree to your characterization of their claim and argument?
 Is the moral decision based upon the moral reasoning process?
Mechanics, Style and Format
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Is the paper free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors?
Are sentence structures strong with minimal lapses? (Run-on sentences, fragments, etc.).
Was the passive voice used sparingly?
Were personal pronouns used only in the introduction and application sections?
Did you properly cite and document all paraphrases and quotes?
Is the paper consistent in the formatting of pages, margins and numbering, reference notes
and bibliographic data, headings and sub-headings?
 Is your name and course prefix/number in your file name that was uploaded on Moodle?
NOTE: For a variety of online Style Guides please go to the Vanguard Library website at
http://library.vanguard.edu/citing-sources or go to / http://www.docstyles.com/
CRITERIA FOR GRADING AN ESSAY
Typically an A paper has the following elements:
 Clear thesis statement and method
 Logical and clear arguments supporting the paper’s thesis; each argument supported
by evidence. Each paragraph has a central idea.
 Stays on message
 Well organized with very few errors in sentence structure, spelling, and mechanics
 Well researched with appropriate sources, footnotes and bibliography (if a research
paper)
Typically a B paper has the following elements:
 Adequate thesis statement; it is clear but not sharply stated; I have to hunt a bit for the
method
 Advances fairly logical arguments and tries to supply evidence or examples to back
up argument; sometimes not very strong.
 Fairly well written with few errors
 Several sources consulted
Typically a C paper has the following elements:
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Thesis statement is incomplete, foggy, ambiguous
Arguments are jumbled; I have to sort them out
Problems with articulation of ideas, transitions, organization, spelling and mechanics
Uses quotes excessively
Gets off message
Inadequate sources
Before submitting the essay, go through it one paragraph at a time asking yourself over
and over—the single point, relationship to the material before and after, relationship to
the central theme, and whether the paragraph addresses the central theme (stays on
message).
Check sheet
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Have I defined the thesis/dilemma in a single sentence?
Do I have the pertinent facts?
Is the case presentation organized? Can I outline it?
Have I presented both sides of the argument?
Have I stayed on message?
Is my analysis on message?
Did I run a spell check? Grammar check?
Have I done a proof read? (Read it out loud)