Business Ethics
Dr. Smillie; Fall, 2006
Business Ethics Project
Revised: October 31, 2006
A “Cafeteria style” Business Ethics project
For this assignment, you may pick from the following options, in any combination, to add up to your desired number of points. However, you may not go over 150 points. You must decide how you will achieve your number of points prior to beginning, and indicate this in a “Learning Contract” due to me by October 31. Submit the parts of this assignment via email as you do them. Generally, my grading will be lenient, but I reserve the right to reject inadequate/poorly done work, or for some options, lower the point values. The project should be ongoing throughout the rest of the semester, with materials submitted as you complete them; the final due date for material submission is December 7 (last day of class). However, I will accept no more than 50 points worth of work (per person) during any one week of the semester (or one assignment, if that assignment is worth more than 50 points), including the last week of class.
Your options are
1. Business Ethics article review and critiques.
(Single spaced/12 point type) Write a one page summary of the key points in
the article plus one page personal reflection on one of the key points based
on your own experiences at work, school or elsewhere. This reflection should
be a specific as possible. No vague generalizations but a reflection about
a specific instance or instances. One page means one full page, no more,
no less. This is a form of disciplined writing. Worth 40 points each; maximum
number is 2 or 80 possible points. You may write reviews of the articles
assigned for class or in Ethics at Work, or of other articles from me or
that you discover on your own.
2. Book reviews and critiques
You can write reviews and critiques of books related to business ethics. You
may select books from “The Approved
Business Ethics Book List” without
prior approval. For books not on the list, you must gain approval ahead of
time. Reviews must include a brief summary of the overall material and a
critique of some part of the book that you find worthy of special attention.
Reviews should be at least 5 pages (1" margins, 12 pt type, double-spaced
text). Up to 60 points for the review; you may do no more than one book
review.
3. Movie/Play Reviews
Reviews of movies and plays related to business issues and problems. Movies
must be approved ahead of time by the instructor if they do not show up on
the “Business Ethics Approved Movies” list.
Reviews should be at least 2 pages (1" margins, 12 pt type, double-spaced
text). Up to 40 points per movie; maximum of two movies.
Special: Attend a Carroll’s upcoming performance of “Working,” and
write a review--worth up to 45 points. This will count against the maximum
movie total.
4. Interviews
You may interview businesses or professionals about ethical issues in their
industry or at their organization. Prior approval of the instructor is needed
and a list of questions should be submitted to me for review before the interview
takes place. A write up of the interview includes the questions and responses
and a summary analysis of the interviewee’s opinions. Worth up to 75
points. A maximum of one interview.
5. Creative option: classic dilemmas in the modern corporation.
You will read a classic story that involves ethical choices and/or dilemmas,
and then rewrite the story into a modern business context. Choose
from my list of approved stories or choose your own piece of classical literature. The
rewrite must be 4-5 pages (1” margins,
12 pt type, single-spaced text). Up to 75 points and a maximum of one.
6. Smorgasbord
A project of your own devising that is relevant to business ethics. Possibly
a good option if you are (or are planning) to write an honors thesis or working
on a project in another class or have a special interest that is not covered
above. Or to devise something worth a smaller amount of points to bring you
up to your desired total. (You may not submit one assignment to two different
classes for credit.) Prior
approval
of the
instructor
is
required;
you will
need
to submit
a plan
to me for my review and we can discuss your ideas. This may include oral
as well as written aspects. Value of the project will be variable, and depend
on the amount of time and work involved. However, no more than 80 points.
Grading Scale:
• A: 150-135 (15-13.5 out of 15)
• B: 134-120 (13-12 out of 15)
• C: 119- 105 (11.5-10 out 15)
• D: 104- 90 (9.5-9 out of 15)
• F: 89-
You may start as soon as you like. The list of approved books and movies is
available on the webpage. The learning contract is due to me on October 31.
You may revise it later if you need.
Business Ethics
Dr. Smillie