313s08

As a Distance Learning [On-Line] Course, this course is primarily designed as a form of independent study. Thus, this experience involves only electronic and telephone contact with the professor. However, the professor will be more than willing to discuss matters related to the course over the phone or by e-mail. Office visits will be impossible unless the student wishes to fly to California, where the professor lives, for a conference. The only way that learning can be assessed will be through the student's communication through writing and electronic communication. Therefore, the student will have to write more for this course than would be the case with an in-class course in order to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter.

This course has been approved as a General Education Course and for the Business Professional in a Global Society Cluster. As a course in this cluster the following objectives will be pursued:

1) To explicate what it means to be human within the dynamic context of a global society based, in part, on economic interdependence;

2) To critically understand the theory and practice of international business;

3) To examine the promise and problems of an expanding global economy for local communities, the environment, and diverse cultures and societies;

4) To develop thoughtful, ethical positions and well-constructed moral principles to become servant leaders in a global society;

5) To learn the complexity of different societies and cultures by understanding the rich diversity of their religious beliefs, artistic traditions, social organizations, political systems and histories;

6) To integrate the students' business and professional education with the scholarship of the humanities and social sciences.

TO ENGAGE IN THIS KIND OF COURSE SUCCESSFULLY, THE STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:

SELF MOTIVATION
TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS
A COMMITMENT TO MEETING DEADLINES
REASONABLY DECENT WRITING SKILLS
A WILLINGNESS TO DEVELOP SKILLS OF THEORETICAL ANALYSIS AND APPLICATION OF SKILLS TO PROBLEM SOLVING.

SINCE THIS COURSE IS CONDUCTED ELECTRONICALLY, THE STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING MINIMAL ELECTRONIC CAPABILITIES:

MSWORD for writing assignments and submitting e-mail attachments

ELLUMINATE MINIMUM REQUIRMENTS

Pentium II
233 MHz
128 MB RAM
5 MB free disk space
28.8 kbps connection speed (56 for A/V)
Microsoft Windows 95 / Windows 98 / Windows NT 4.0 workstation / Windows 2000 Professional (preferred)
Internet Explorer 5.0.1 & 5.5 (preferred) / Netscape Communicator 4.7
Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine

QUICKPLACE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Windows 98 / Windows NT / Windows 2000 / Windows XP Professional / Macintosh System 9
Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2 / Internet Explorer 5.1 (Macintosh) / Internet Explorer 6 / Netscape 4.79
Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine

This course will explore the ethical issues underlying the role of business on both a macrocosmic (global and national) and microcosmic (practices in the workplace) level. It will consider the following issues: (1) ethical frameworks for national and international business practices; (2) truth-telling and advertising; (3) the nature and moral responsibility of corporations; (4) private property and profit; (5) employer-employee relationships; (6) diversity and affirmative action; and (7) the role of business and environmental concerns; (8) the role of the business professional in the global marketplace; and (9) leadership and virtue in business practices..

There will be three (3) essay examinations with accompanying threaded discussions and one (1) case study paper. Essay questions will be posted on the website early in each period of the course to act as a study guide. [CLICK HERE for a sample.] There will be four essay questions to be answered per period and the answers to the questions should be about one (1) to two (2) pages in length, typed double-spaced. Thus, the writing that the student will do for the 3 examinations will vary from eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) pages in length. There will be a total of approximately 450 pages of required reading material from the text books and the website readings for the three examinations.

There will be three (3) threaded discussions attached to examinations during the course. CLICK HERE to see what is involved in a threaded discussion. Essentially a threaded discussion involves making a series of comments (3) on a case or topic that is posted on the website. This exercise will allow students to have some direct contact with each other even though there are no class sessions. Each of the threaded discussions will count as twenty (20) points toward each of the exams (4 essays on the exams are worth 80 points --- 20 points for each essay).

Three (3) Web Conferences (Audio Chat Rooms) will also be held during the course. These are OPTIONAL and each Web Conference will count as ten (10) extra credit points. CLICK HERE to see what is involved in a Web Conference (audio chat room).

The case study paper should be about five (5) to seven (7) pages (double-spaced or the equivalent) in length. CLICK HERE to see the case study outline. Thus, you will generate about twenty-four (24) to thirty-four (34) pages overall (including the 3 examinations and the case study) for the course. While this may look like a great deal of writing, students must remember that this work must compensate for no class meetings. The final grade will be determined by an average of the three examinations and the case study paper. The extra credit chat rooms will be figured into the total points as a basis for the average of the three examinations and case study paper.

The textbooks will be available in the bookstore prior to the end of the current term.

Donaldson, Werhane and Cording. Ethical Issues in Business: A Philosophical Approach. 8th edition. Prentice Hall, 2002. ISBN Check with Bookstore.
Newton, Lisa and Schmidt, David. Wake Up Calls: Classic Cases in Business Ethics. 2nd edition. Wadsworth, 1996. 0-324-26152-7.
Articles (Readings) selected from ERESERVE in the library.