TUSCULUM COLLEGE
GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
COURSE SYLLABUS
MANAGERIAL ETHICS AND THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT - MGMT 518
MAOM ______
Instructor Name
Phone (w)
E-mail
Course Dates
(h)
Course Description:
An examination of ethical and legal concepts in the field of management. Case
studies of the relationship of business society and ethics in private and publicsector organizations. (3 credit hours).
Required Texts:
Hosmer, L.T. (2003). The ethics of management, (4th ed.). Chicago, IL: Irwin.
Steiner, G.A. & Steiner, J.F. (2003). Business, government, and
society: A managerial perspective (10th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Indicate any other supplemental materials.
Course Goals:
This course will:

increase the student’s ability to recognize ethical problems.

examine the norms, beliefs, and values that comprise the field of ethics.

provide a logical, structured means of ethical analysis.
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Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

examine the interactions and relationships between business and its
surrounding environments.

understand the concepts of “power theories” and how they influence decision
making.

understand the concept and influence of “stakeholders” with regard to
decision making;

compare and contrast various classifications of business critics.

discuss the development and implementation of corporate social
responsibility from both the individual and organizational levels.

evaluate the effectiveness of a business in dealing responsibly with its
surrounding environment.

discuss the effect of current global trends on corporate social responsibility.

discuss the effect of changing corporate governance on corporate social
responsibility.
Advanced Competencies:
The five Advanced Competencies must be addressed in the course.
The Advanced Competencies are:
1. Critical Thinking—narrowing of focus, sorting ideas generated,
identifying the most reasonable ones. This involves recognizing
opinions vs. facts, being honest with oneself, resisting manipulation,
overcoming confusion, asking questions, acknowledging complexity,
finding connections between subjects, and being intellectually
independent.
2. Synthesis of Information—taking independent bits of information,
understanding their relevance, and bringing them together into a
meaningful order.
3. Problem Solving—defining the problem, thinking about problem is both
narrowed and expanded, possibilities are generated, a plan is created
and performed.
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4. Ethical Decision Making—values and plan in life are clear to the
student, information needed to make decisions is available, values are
applied to information, and action is taken.
5. Data Analysis and Interpretation—organizing qualitative and/or
quantitative data, selecting appropriate analyses or statistical tools,
gleaning for similar content/calculating, deriving a finding, interpreting,
and practically applying it.
These competencies will be addressed in this course. You should indicate how
each is addressed in your course format. Some suggestions are listed below,
in italics.

Critical Thinking - Students will apply textbook theories to current events.
Given the various styles of management, the students must select a
particular style based on effectiveness and efficiency, then defend their
selection.

Synthesis of Information - Students will discuss managerial issues and their
implications throughout various facets of the environment. Because the
issues will have varying effects/remedies given different perspectives (i.e.
company insider, external related parties, and/or external non-related
parties), the student must take into consideration all known perspectives and
formulate a solution that suits the “big picture”.

Problem Solving - Students will apply alternative solutions to management
problems through case studies and current events.

Ethical Decision Making - Students will focus on the importance of
managerial values/ethics as they relate to organizational culture. Debates of
marginal ethical misconduct will foster a greater appreciation of the role
subjectivity plays in this arena.

Data Analysis and Interpretation - Students will compare companies and
their unique responses to similar situations. By analyzing the outcome of
different responses to similar situations, students can see the
benefit/detriment of rational/poor ethical planning and modeling.
Students With Disabilities:
Tusculum provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to
participate in educational programs, activities, and services. Students with
disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet
course requirements should contact Lori McCallister at (423) 636-7300,
extension 651 or 1-800-729-0256, extension 651.
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Tusculum College Learning Center: If any student requires additional
academic support, they may obtain it through the Tusculum College Learning
Center. For this service, please contact Lori McCallister at (423) 636-7300,
extension 651; 1-800-729-0256, extension 651, or by e-mail at
lmccalli@tusculum.edu. The Learning Center is located in Room 100 of Annie
Hogan Byrd. The mailing address is Tusculum College Learning Center, Box
5025, Greeneville, Tennessee, 37743.
Course Schedule:
Include a description of Weekly Individual Assignments and a description of
Weekly Study Group Assignments. Include both individual and study group
assignments prior to the first class meeting.
Grading System:
Instructors must reveal their own grading system.

The grading system should include the relative weights and percentages of
assignments, tests, etc.

Instructors should be specific on how the percentages are derived and what
assessment measures are utilized to determine the grade. Separate criteria
to measure a particular assignment should be included either here in the
syllabus or provided as an attachment to the syllabus. Grading criteria
should be aligned with the learning outcomes.

Grading for study group assignments should be included in the system (the
study group assignments should equal around 20% of the grade). Individual
performances of study group members should be evident in the grading of
study group assignments. Instructors should guard against some members
of the study group “carrying” weak students.
Grading Scale:
The scale set forth by Tusculum College must be used for all courses. The
grading system used by instructors must be converted to this grading scale.
95 - 100
90 - 94
87 - 89
83 - 86
80 - 82
77 - 79
A
AB+
B
BC+
5
73 - 76
70 - 72
0-69
C
CF
Explanation of Assignments:
All assignments should be described. Information may include nature and
objectives of assignments, length, grading criteria, due date, and any other
relevant information. Collectively, all of the assignments, tests, and any other
activities should contribute to measuring the extent to which students are
performing on the course objectives and the Advanced Competencies. All
individual and study group assignments should be included in this section.
Research Assignment:
Faculty members should ensure that there is a specific research assignment that
requires the students to utilize the Tusculum College library resources either in
person or via the Tate Library website: http://library.tusculum.edu. Librarians
are available to assist faculty in developing assignments and in instructing and
assisting students in their research. Several of the online resources may also be
accessed from home with a username and password provided by library staff.
For more information, contact Anne Reever, Asst. Library Director for Distance
Education, in Greeneville at 423-636-5320 or 1-800-729-0256 extension 5801 or
Mary Halliburton, Distance Education Librarian Southeast, in Knoxville at 865693-1177 or 1-800-729-0116 extension 5016.
Course Attendance Policy:
The Tusculum College Professional Studies attendance policy is found in the
college catalog. Please note that attendance is mandatory and is monitored
across the program, as well as in individual courses. Sanctions may be imposed
for excessive misses across the program. Within each course, any student
missing more than one third of any course will receive an “F”. Instructors must
adhere to Tusculum’s policy, but may specify additional policies on attendance,
lateness, and making up work.
Instructors must carefully document student attendance including late arrivals
and early departures. Any combination of missing that is greater than 1/3 of the
class time is an automatic “F” and the student is to be assigned the “F” by the
instructor. Instructors are expected to hold students accountable for class time
missed due to absences. Instructors are encouraged to require additional
assignments/activities be completed to ensure that the student has covered the
material missed. A statement to this effect and how the absence may affect the
grade should be included.
Academic Dishonesty:
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Plagiarism is a violation of the Ethics of Social Responsibility competency. As
stated in the Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook and
Research Guide and the Tusculum College Catalog, plagiarism is a form of
academic dishonesty. It consists of knowingly presenting in writing or in speech
the intellectual or creative work of others as if it were one’s own. This includes,
but is not limited to:
1. Failing to identify direct or word-for-word quotations by use of appropriate
symbols and reference to the source
2. Restating in your own words the work (ideas, conclusions, words) of
another without reference to the source
3. Presenting as your own the creative work (for instance, music or
photographs) of another without proper acknowledgement.
See the Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook and Research
Guide and the Tusculum College Catalog for other forms of academic dishonesty
and the sanctions for dishonest performance.
Other Policies:
Instructors should provide students with any other policies to which they will
adhere during the course.
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NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS: The following section is for your use only and
serves as a guide in establishing Study Group activities. It is not to be
included in the syllabus given to the students.
Sample Study Group Activities
(Make sure that students have meaningful assignments that fulfill the
requirement of meeting an additional four hours per week in study group. The
faculty member may want to have a weekly assignment as well as a large project
that will take several weeks of preparation.)
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



Case studies involving assessment of an ethical situation from varying
perspectives. Students are assigned to different “roles” in an organization
(i.e. CEO, CFO, Human Resource Manager, Department Manager, Line
Supervisor, Employee), then must address the situation solely from their role.
At the end, they must come together as a group and form an organizational
solution.
Case studies involving a company with a current ethical dilemma utilizing past
failed ethical responses by competitors as an aid in decision making.
Apply a theory in a practical situation and see if the student can identify the
theory used.
Give the history of a firm and how it operates with hidden ethical problems
and see if the students can spot the ethical issues and propose remedial
suggestions.
Have students write about a personal current ethical issue and how it could
have been avoided (can adjust the assignment by asking them to write from a
victim/violator’s perspective)