Syllabus for MOL 710 Leadership Ethics
Randy Richards, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy and Management Studies
Office (Ambrose Hall 426) 563-333-6172
Cell 309-781-7064
Skype: randy.richards1
The best way to contact me is through my e-mail, skype me, my office number and then my cell number.
I try to keep the atmosphere in the class as informal as possible. Therefore, I have no problems with you bringing coffee or snacks into the room as long as you clean up afterwards. Smoking, on the other hand, is not allowed in the classroom.
You are responsible to download, printout and bring to class all text material listed for each class. I do not hand out material in class. Once you are in class, I will give you the electronic location of the articles. You are responsible to download them and bring them to class.
This is a readings and discussion seminar. Learners will be expected to take the lead the classroom discussions.
Preclass work – due before the first day!
Review Peter Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice (your original textbook from Leadership Theory class), on various leadership theories
Download and read: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/21/flores.html;
Download and read: The myth of charismatic leaders, Raelin (in the electronic filing cabinet)
Write an article review of either the Flores article in Fast Company or the Raelin article on charismatic leadership. See below for guidelines on article reviews.
Week One:
· Review of leadership theories highlighting ethical dilemmas
· http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/21/flores.html;
· The myth of charismatic leaders, Raelin (in the electronic filing cabinet)
Week Two: (all articles on e-reserve)
· Ethics and Propaganda
· Virtue, Friendship and Philosophy
· The necessary art of persuasion
Week Three:
· “Valuing Autonomy and Respecting Persons: Manipulation, Seduction, and the Basis of Moral Constraints”, Sarah Buss (in the electronic filing cabinet)
· “Analysis of interpersonal manipulation”, Kligman and Culver, e-reserves
Week Four:
· “Ethics, Character, and authentic transformational leadership” Lernard M. Bass and Paul Steidlmeier, Center for Leadership Studies, School of Management (in the electronic filing cabinet);
· “Marketing and the vulnerable”, Brenkert (in the electronic filing cabinet)
Week Five:
· “The TARES Test: Five Principles for Ethical Persuasion”, Sherry Baker and David Martinson, Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 16 (2&3), 2001, pp 148-175, e-reserves
· “Emotional strategies and rationality”, Patricia Greenspan, (in the electronic filing cabinet)
Week Six:
· “Paternalism”, Gerald Dworkin, E-reserve
· “The Dark and Bright Sides of Leadership: Some Theoretical and Practical Implications”, Micha Popper (in the electronic filing cabinet);
· Film review: “Thank Your for Smoking”
Week Seven: Politics and Manipulations, Mills (in the electronic filing cabinet); class presentations
Week Eight: “When Deontology and Utilitarianism are not enough,” Ladkin (in the electronic filing cabinet); class presentations
Evaluation criteria
Attendance and Participation 25 points per session = 200
Article reviews 25 per article = 200
Written project = 100
Total = 500
A= 450
B= 400
C = 350
Guidelines for article reviews:
Article review are to be done in 12 point type, 1 inch margins all around. They are to be three single spaced pages - no more, no less. This is in part an exercise in comprehension and disciplined writing. I would like two pages of summary of the article. In this section, you are simply to show that read and understood the main points of the article. You are not to render an opinion on the article. Then, you need to write a one page critique - either positive or negative or both - (I actually prefer the 'both' approach) about one or two points in the article you find noteworthy.
Be advised, this is serious graduate level reading and you will need to read these articles MORE THAN once. You should expect to struggle to read and understand what the author means.