This course is a part of:
Associate's Degree Program
Bachelor's Degree Program

The purpose of this course is to address the challenges and leadership requirements in developing and implementing ethical business strategies, not just preventing unethical conduct. Business ethics are not a cost; rather, business ethics is a benefit that contributes to organizational success. There is adequate evidence that developing an ethical culture in an organization contributes to employee commitment, customer satisfaction, successful stakeholder relationships, and improved profit/shareholder value.

Through the readings, cases, and debate issues covered in the course, we will address specific business ethics issues, many of which affect the reputation and success of the entire firm. In this course, you will learn that that business ethics is a team activity that requires knowledge and leadership at all levels of management.

The objective is to help identify risks associated with ethical decisions and how to address those risks in the context of an organization. As the manager of a company, there is a need to identify and address ethical risks to avoid or minimize misconduct. The course will be highly interactive and challenges you to apply what you learn through a variety of in-class exercises.

You will also be able to take the NASBA Center for the Public Trust Ethical Leadership Certification (online certification program developed with NASBA & the Daniels Fund Ethics initiative).

Course Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this course, the student will have acquired knowledge of and the skills to:

• Describe how the ethical responsibilities of managers and how ethical decision making occurs in an organization
• Identify ethical risks and issues in making ethical decisions in the workplace, specifically in business
• Analyze the responsibilities of ethical leadership
• Synthesize the relationships between ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability of the firm
• Describe how manages are important gatekeepers with internal and external stakeholders
• Evaluate the social responsibility activities of firms
• Examine external pressures for ethical decisions related to regulatory and self-regulatory organizations
• Formulate a particular position on a business ethics issues and defend it in a professional business manner through writing that position
• Apply rules of netiquette and use clear writing in web-based interactions with colleagues on issues of social responsibility and business ethics