PHI 361 (D)

Ethical Issues in Business

Course Introduction and Overview

Instructor Dr. Kort
Instructor Email edkort@uncg.edu
“Office” Hours If you have any questions or need any help at all, please feel encouraged to email me!!
I will get back to you as soon as possible—usually within 24 hours of your email. If you
email me during the “office hours” listed below, I will get back to you before the end of
the office hours for that day. If you do not hear back from me within these time frames,
please check to make sure you sent your message to the correct address (as listed
above)!

Office Hours:

Tuesday/Thursday: 10am-Noon
Monday/Wednesday: Noon-2pm

University Catalog Ethical Issues in Business

Course Description
Ethical theory and its application to business: economic justice, corporate responsibility,
self-regulation and government regulation, conflict of interest, investment policy,
advertising, and environmental responsibility.
.
Text Business Ethics: A Textbook with Cases, William H. Shaw (Get the 9th edition)
Welcome! Welcome to Ethical Issues in Business!

I hope you will enjoy this opportunity to explore ethical theory and its application to
business! This is a 300-level philosophy course (although you do not need to have had
any philosophy before), and the ethical theories with which you will be presented are
philosophical theories of ethics. Learning to apply ethical theory to business cases will,
then, include becoming familiar with what the theories state, understanding how they
work in application, and appreciating some features of application that are unique to
cases in business. So look under “Student Learning Outcomes,” and you will see some
items covering the theories themselves and others focusing on analytical tools offered
in the application of these theories in business.

Another important objective of the course is to encourage you to evaluate both about
the theories and the ways they can be applied to business cases. The course material
will be used to offer examples of ways ethical theories are applied so that you can think
critically about their pros and cons and develop your own opinions about them.
Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes
Course Objectives 1. Exploration of central philosophical theories of ethics
(General things to 2. Familiarity with applications of central philosophical theories of ethics in
learn/skills to develop) business
3. Ability to form arguments and use case studies
4. Development of critical thinking skills such as evaluating philosophical claims
and arguments used to defend them
Student Learning 1. Critical evaluation of specific issues employing philosophical theories of ethics
Outcomes (Specific 2. Engagement in philosophical discussion applying ethical theories in business
areas to master) 3. Ability to take and support a position on a specific topics in business ethics
Course Logistics
Course Requirements Extension Requests: To avoid loss-of-points due to lateness, turn your work in on time.
and Extension Requests Check in regularly, and plan accordingly. But note: If you have an emergency situation
or other complicating circumstances that make it unlikely that you will be able to
complete an assignment on time, you may request an extension. Do so BEFORE the
assignment is due. I will try to honor your request, but I may not offer the extension on
ethical grounds. Why? Understand that I have to make decisions that are fair to the
class—fair for all students. Putting deadlines in place is a way to make things fair;
everyone gets the same amount of time to complete the work. If you are sick or have
an emergency, I may restore the balance, so to speak, by granting an extension. If you
just didn’t manage your time well one week, then I may not see the need to restore
balance and may see the need to encourage you to better manage your time; so I may
not grant the extension. It is also my responsibility to help you to keep up with the
course and not get behind. These, among other considerations, may prevent me from
granting your request.

Final grade percentages:

65% of the final grade: Quizzes and Final Exam

Quizzes (45% of your course grade):

There are two kinds of quizzes: “reading” quizzes on your reading assignments
and “content/comprehension” quizzes on the material we cover, generally
speaking. The reading quizzes will not be timed, and they are aimed to assist
you as you complete your reading assignments. The content/comprehension
quizzes will be timed, so you will want to prepare carefully for them in advance.

*Note that while the quizzes aim to highlight certain points in the material we
are covering, they are assessments. Do not think of them as study materials in
themselves.

But, also note, however: As you complete your readings for reading quizzes,
etc. take notes and/or the like to create study materials that you can use for the
content/comprehension quizzes and then for the final exam. Pay careful
attention as you take the reading quizzes because, in addition to leading your
through the reading assignments, they will give you a good sense of what you
should be focusing on for these other assessments. (So caution! If you don’t
actually read but just spot check for answers for reading quizzes, you will miss
out on the process of reading but also find yourself in a poor position for
preparing for your content quizzes and final).

**Note: Please note that our reading list will include some work of philosophers
who are writing for other philosophers. So be sure to make time for yourself to
read these at leisure so you can appreciate how the philosophical points we are
studying are treated/presented in these texts.

Final Exam (20% of your course grade):

 The final exam will be timed, cumulative, and available according to the
University’s final exam schedule (specific times TBA (there is usually a
comfortable window of several days during finals week for distance finals)).

25% of the final grade: Assignments and Exercises

The purpose of the assignments and exercises is to give you an opportunity to work
actively with the material that we will be covering. Working actively with the material
will assist you in seeing the ways it can be employed and/or help you develop certain
skills associated with it. The more effort and care you put into these assignments the
more you will get out of them!! Some assignments will be completed individually, others
with a group, and others individually but shared with a group or the class as a whole.
I will give you the details of what to do and how you will be graded on each of these
assignments/exercises as I assign them.

10% of the final grade: Paper

I will give you details about the paper at the time of assignment. Before the time of
assignment, I will give you a list of specific topics so that you can choose something
you will enjoy writing about.

Grading Scale
A+ 97-100
A 93-96
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F Below 60

Weekly Schedule There are two main points to note about our weekly schedule.

(1) We will be working together through the course “as a class”. You will need to check
for what to do each week. So each week, I will post the assignments that will be due the
following week. I will not be using the calendar to post your due dates. So check in each
week on Wednesday. This will keep us in tempo for group assignments and the like.

(2) OUR “WEEK” WILL RUN FROM Wednesday to Wednesday. That is, I will post the
assignment for the week each Wednesday around/a bit before 5:00pm, and it will be
due the following Tuesday at midnight. Why a W-W schedule?? As you know, a “work
week” is usually considered to be Monday through Friday with weekends (Saturday and
Sunday) considered as days for other things rest/relaxation/other sorts of tasks.
However, I realize that you may be taking an online class because you have a weekday
 job schedule. I have found that some students have more time to spend on coursework
Monday through Friday and others more time on the weekends. So rather than use the
traditional M-F work week, let us use a Wednesday-Wednesday work week for our class.
This places the weekend squarely within our work week. I hope this schedule works out
best for everyone!!

SO, again:
OUR “WEEK” WILL RUN FROM Wednesday to Wednesday. That is, I will post
assignments for the week each Wednesday before 5:00, and the deadline for that
week’s assignment will (usually) be the following Tuesday night at midnight. Also note,
however, that in a couple of cases, I will ask you to engage in group discussion through
the course of the week. So be sure to check in each Wednesday to see what is due and
when for that week.

Class Etiquette Conduct yourself in a civil and thoughtful manner; treat others with respect.
Philosophical discussion can be difficult and intense – but if we are going to make
progress, it is together, as a community of reasoners. Reports of unwelcome contact
and disrespectful communication may result in University sanctions
Academic Integrity Students are expected and required to maintain University standards for academic
integrity. Any failure to do so will result in inquiry and sanctions as determined by
University policy.

To be clear about what constitutes violations of UNCG Academic Integrity Policy,

students should refer to the Student Policy Handbook or visit
http://sa.uncg.edu/dean/academic-integrity/. Violations in academic-related areas will
be documented in an incident report filed with the Office of the Dean of Students, and
may result in a lowering of the course grade and/or failure of the course with an Honor
Code F.

So...NEVER, for example,

• turn someone else’s work in as your own
• copy a sentence and rewrite it in order to pass it off as your own
• copy text or images from somewhere without giving credit
•forget to put quotations in quotation marks
Other Important Matters
Additional Needs Please feel encouraged to discuss additional needs you may have to access the course
material or complete assignments. Also note this welcome from the Office of
Accessibility Resources and Service: UNC Greensboro invites you to visit its new website,
accessibility.uncg.edu. This website will serve as a hub for web accessibility support
services and educational resources for faculty, staff and students. For questions and/or
feedback regarding the site, or to schedule a session to learn about the site’s key
features, contact UNCG Accessibility Coordinator Melanie Eley at
accessibility@uncg.edu.
Covid-19 Statement As UNCG returns to face-to-face course offerings in fall 2020, the campus
from Our Campus community must recognize and address concerns about physical and emotional
Community Leaders: safety. As such, all students, faculty, and staff are required to uphold UNCG’s
culture of care by actively engaging in behaviors that limit the spread of COVID-
(Note that this is 19. Such actions include, but are not limited to, the following:
general information.
Some of it will not ● Wearing a face covering that covers both nose and mouth
● Observing social distance in the classroom
apply for our course,
which is online. I am ● Engaging in proper hand washing hygiene when possible
including the full ● Self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19
statement, however, so ● Staying home if you are ill
that you can prepare ● Complying with directions from health care providers or public health
for all sections you may officials to quarantine or isolate if ill or exposed to someone who is ill.
be taking):
Instructors will have seating charts for their classes. These are important
for maintaining appropriate social distance during class and facilitating
contact tracing should there be a confirmed case of COVID-19. Students
must sit in their assigned seat at every class meeting and must not move
furniture. Students should not eat or drink during class time.

A limited number of disposable masks will be available in classrooms for

students who have forgotten theirs. Face coverings will also be available
for purchase in the UNCG Campus Bookstore. Students who do not follow
masking and social distancing requirements will be asked to put on a face
covering or leave the classroom to retrieve one and only return when they
follow these basic requirements to uphold standards of safety and care for
the UNCG community. Once students have a face covering, they are
permitted to re-enter a class already in progress. Repeated issues may
result in conduct action. The course policies regarding attendance and
academics remain in effect for partial or full absence from class due to lack
of adherence with face covering and social distancing requirements.

For instances where the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS)
has granted accommodations regarding wearing face coverings, students should
contact their instructors to develop appropriate alternatives to class participation
and/or activities as needed. Instructors or the student may also contact OARS
(336.334.5440) who, in consultation with Student Health Services, will review
requests for accommodations.

Health and well-being impact learning and academic success. Throughout your time in
the university, you may experience a range of concerns that can cause barriers to your
academic success. These might include illnesses, strained relationships, anxiety, high
levels of stress, alcohol or drug problems, feeling down, or loss of motivation.
Student Health Services and The Counseling Center can help with these or other issues
you may experience. You can learn about the free, confidential mental health services
available on campus by calling 336-334-5874, visiting the website
at https://shs.uncg.edu/ or visiting the Anna M. Gove Student Health Center at 107 Gray
Drive. For undergraduate or graduate students in recovery from alcohol and other drug
addiction, The Spartan Recovery Program (SRP) offers recovery support services. You
can learn more about recovery and recovery support services by
visiting https://shs.uncg.edu/srp or reaching out to recovery@uncg.edu

COVID-19 Spartan Shield Video

UNCG Chancellor Frank Gilliam has challenged us to create a Culture of Care at UNCG
where we all wear face coverings and social distance, less to protect ourselves but rather
more to protect everyone around us. It shows that you care about the wellbeing of
everyone around you. We have created this video featuring your student body
presidents to better explain how and why this is so important.

Please watch this video before the first day of classes:

https://youtu.be/Mb58551qxEk
 Course Content

Unit 1: Moral Philosophy and Business

Chapter 1: The Nature of Morality

Part 1: to Midterm
Chapter 2: Normative Theories of Ethics

Chapter 3: Justice and Economic distribution

Unit 2: American Business and its Basis

Chapter 4: The Nature of Capitalism

Chapter 5: Corporations

Unit 3: Stakeholders

Chapter 6: Consumers

Chapter 7: The Environment

Part 2: to Final
Chapters 8 and 9: The Workplace (1 and 2)

Chapter 11: Job Discrimination

Chapter 10: Moral Choices Facing employees

Let’s Have a Great Semester!