The Syllabus for Lithuania MBA Business Ethics: Virtues and Vices in Business

• Randy Richards, Ph.D.

• Chair of the Managerial Studies Department

• Professor of Philosophy and Management Studies

• St. Ambrose University

What do I expect from you?

• See the syllabus for each class session before coming to class; please get the exercises and worksheets you need before coming to class each time. You are responsible to download and bring all necessary material for each session.

• Come to class ready to participate and share your insights and comments on the topics.

• All work is done in class (no homework, no tests) so I expect you to participate fully in the class exercises, worksheets and discussions.

• That the work you turn in is your work. If I find you cheating on any work, I will flunk you for the whole class. I do not tolerate cheating.

What will class be like? 

• In class we will often have large group/small group discussions where I present problem, issue, then I break the class into several small groups. In these groups you discuss and decide what to do, then you will report back to large group.

• Class is often loud, chaotic, confrontational, controversial, disconcerting, challenging and fun. 

• My job is to stimulate a great conversation about these critical issues of ethical behavior on the job. Do not expect a lot of answers - do expect a lot of questions and a challenge to your ideas and thinking. 

Class Schedule: Thursdays

18.00 – 19.30 val. until the 9th of October

19.40 – 21.10 val. until the 9th of October 

Week One

1. Plato, The Ring of Gyges
2. Worksheet on Selfishness Self Interest and Rewards
3. Worksheet on Getting What You Want In Life

Week Two

1. Understanding Business Ethics as broader than does and don't, laws, rules, and policy. Class conversation about work, "a well-lived life", introspection and choices for work and at work. What are the excellences necessary for well lived life in a business settting?
2. Cicero’s Famine at Rhodes
3. Famine at Rhodes In Class Worksheet
4. Munchie Free Market Exchange Exercise - for Friday and Saturday

Week Three

1. The Munchie Freemarket Exchange Exercise and discussion
2. Ideal Market Theory
3. Worksheet on Free Market Theory
4. PowerPoint Slide Show on Market Virtues - to print this, open file, go to Print, under Print What select Handouts and then choose 3 per page under the Slides Per Page choice. This will give a handy set of pages with small pictures of the slides and a place to take notes.
5. Questionnaire on attitudes about the free market. 

Week Four

1. Mini-Cases in Business Honesty and Worksheet
2. Guided discussion on honesty and lying in the workplace.

Week Five

1. Place Magazine Case
2. Questions for Place Magazine Case: In Class Worksheet
3. Leading through influence, a discussion

Week Six

1. Building Stakeholder Relationships
2. Powerpoint Slideshow Stakeholder

Week Seven (est. 4 hours work)

1. Read and write a 4 page report on the article When a boss asks you to act unethically. Email to me
2. Two pages summarizing the article and two pages of critique on some portion of the article in which you either agree or disagree.

Week Eight (est. 5 hours work)

1. Read and write a 4 page report on the article Corporate Social Responsibility in the Global Supply Chain. Email to me
2. Two pages summarizing the article and two pages of critique on some portion of the article in which you either agree or disagree.

Week Nine (est. 6 hours work)

1. Assess the value of the course to you on the job in a 6 page paper using the following questions:
2. How will the material covered in the course effect your on the job performance?
3. What did you learn that challenged your on the job behaviors? Why?
4. What did you learn that re-enforced your on the job behaviors? Why?
5. What can you use from the course to help initiate changes in your organization? Describe how you might attempt this change.

Email to me when done.

Evaluation methods

• Attendance and participation (6 x 50)  = 300
• Two Papers (25 each) = 50
• Final assessment paper = 50
• Total = 400 points

IBS Scale:

• 380-400 = 10
• 360-380 = 9
• 340 - 360 = 8
• 320 - 340 = 7
• 280 - 320 = 6
• 240 - 280 = 5
• 200- 240 = 4
• 160 - 200 = 3
• 120 - 160 = 2
• Less than 120 = 1