BUS 505: Ethics, Corporate Social

Responsibility and Communications

Winter, 2015
Class Information:
Section:

B1

Day:
Wednesdays

Time:
2-4:50 PM

Room:
T 1 119

Contact Information:
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Website:
Office Hours:
Communications TA:

Dr. Michelle Inness

Business 4-21C
780 492-4693
michelle.inness@ualberta.ca
https://ulearn.ualberta.ca/webapps/login
I would be pleased to meet with you by
appointment
Richard Moran (moran1@ualberta.ca;
Humanities Centre, 3-26; Office hours by
appointment)

Course Description and Objectives

This course focuses on the application of moral principles and models for ethical decision
making to individuals and businesses. Contemporary ethical and social issues and topics
will be examined through the use of case studies, class discussions and presentations.
Topics include concepts of individual ethics, workplace issues, and social responsibility.
Simultaneous to examining ethical issues, emphasis will be placed on improving students'
proficiency levels in verbal and written communication
Course Materials
There are 3 primary sources of information in this course:
1. In-class material and discussions will constitute a critical component of this course that will not
only highlight but extend certain aspects of the readings.

2: I will be drawing on information from the book, Managing Business Ethics (Sixth Edition)
by L.K. Trevio and K. A. Nelson.
This book is available at the University of Alberta bookstore, from a variety
of online sellers including Wiley.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and
CourseSmart (www.coursesmart.com).

3.Wewillbeusingseveralcases(andanarticle)fromHarvardSchoolofBusinessPublishing.
Thesecasescanbeaccessedonlineat:
https://cb.hbsp.harvard.edu/cbmp/access/32076185
Usingthislinkwillallowyoutoaccessarticlesatareducedprice.

Classroom Expectations

Mutual respect. In the MBA program we have a unique ability to engage in mutual learning
because of our diverse array of backgrounds and experiences. The sharing of ideas and
experiences enhances our ability to think openly and creatively, critically, and take on varied
perspectives, and results in accelerated learning. As you know, effective idea sharing requires
psychological safety in order for it to be safe for you to voice your ideas and/or agreement or
disagreement with others viewpoints, you need to practice diplomacy in presenting your
viewpoints, and in responding to others viewpoints. Think respect and professionalism.

Come to class ready to participate. I follow a 2-part philosophy for education: 1. You learn
more by learning actively. That means thinking, discussing ideas, considering different
viewpoints and articulating them to others. 2. You become more engaged in the material when
you invest your own thoughts and ideas (i.e. psychological ownership). Ultimately you will retain
more information and have a greater sense of how and when to apply information and ideas
learned.
Given that we have such a big group, there can be challenges to ensuring that I get to as many
peoples comments as possible while simultaneously managing possible time constraints. I will
let discussions continue time permitting, to hear your varying viewpoints. I may occasionally
miss you if your hand is up. I will do my best to manage for these things, but please exercise
patience .
Use of technology: You may have your laptops, tablets, cell phones, and Blackberries with you.
However, no e-mail, texting, Internet surfing, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or on-line poker,

please! Any technology in the classroom should be brought in with the intention that it either
enhances your learning by assisting you with note-taking, or alerts you to urgent business or
personal matters (which I expect will be exercised sparingly). Your cell phone may be on vibrate
and calls received may be taken in the hallway.

Method of Evaluation
General note about Course Grading
Your grade will be based partly on your absolute performance in the class and partly based on
your performance relative to the other students in the class. Any student with an absolute mark of
65% is guaranteed to receive a passing grade (C+ or higher).
Deliverables
There are several components to the determination of the course grade in BUS 505. Given that a
major goal of this course is to hone communication skills, there will be deliverables related to
verbal and written communication.
1. Minor group presentation (10%): Case synopsis. Each group will be responsible for
delivering a 10-15-minute presentation one of the cases that will be assigned over the semester
(see course schedule). The goals of the presentation will be to provide a synopsis of the case
and to highlight the ethical issues, challenges, dilemmas the business is confronting. You
shouldNOTofferdiscussion,thoughtsorinsightabouthowthebusinesshandledtheethical
issuesorhowthecaselinkstocourseconceptsaswewilldothatasaclass.Thegoalhereisto
presentwhatis.All class members are required to read all cases, so the information you
deliver in your presentation is not meant to be brand new to the audience, but rather a way of
reorienting the class to main ideas.

Presentationsmustinclude:(i)asynopsisofthecase,(ii)alistofthehighlightsofthecase,
(iii)List some of the main issues/problems related to ethics/CSR in the case.Youmaybring
inadditionalinformationsuchasmoreindepthbackgroundofthebusinessand/orthemain
subjects/actorsfeaturedinthecase.AllpresentationsshouldbepreparedusingMS
OfficePowerPoint.Pleasebringyourslideswithahardcopyforme.

A grade will be assigned but this is primarily meant as a developmental exercise to help you
hone your skills in presenting. Assessmentwillbebasedonbothpresentationcontentand
style(tobediscussed).

2. Major group presentation (25%). There will be three presentation days allotted at the end of
the course (see course schedule). Groups will be self-comprised of 4 or 5 members of your

class section and each group will be allotted 25 minutes (a 20 minute presentation plus a 5
minute question period). There are several different presentation options, but the goal is to
teach your colleagues something about an ethics-related topic that hasnt been discussed in
detail in our course.
As with the minor presentation, you will be assessedonbothpresentationcontentandstyle.
Though the topic will range I will be looking for: Ethics/CSR Content (remain focused on a
topic that is relevant to ethics/CSR, clearly outline the topic or issue, explain its relevance to
ethics), accuracy, thorough coverage, linking it to course concepts. I will also be looking at the
same elements of presentation style as in your minor presentation.
Some possible ideas:
Give a thorough primer on any topic related to ethics/CSR that we have not discussed in
class (or spent much time on).
Cover a real-life event, person or news issue related to ethics/CSR.
3. Classroom contributions:
i.

In each class you will be asked to work as a group to discuss and answer some
questions related to the case(s) and/or material for that week. Ill ask you to record
your answers and submit them to me with the names of all present group members on
them. Each group will get one sheet with the questions on them with a group number
identified at the top (10%).

As a class, we will then discuss your answers to the questions. I prefer to have
volunteers but in instances that there are none I will call on groups/individuals.
The goals of this exercise are: 1. To use the cases as a leverage point to push you to
think in terms of ethics/SCR. 2. To have you discuss and formulate your collective
thoughts and articulate your thoughts clearly to others in a public forum.
ii.

A grade will be assigned for participating to the class discussion (15%). Opportunities
may include participating during the lecture component, voluntarily speaking on
behalf of your group when answering questions, or speaking in an engaged fashion
when called upon.

4. Written essays:
You will be required to write 2 essays on the following questions related to ethics. Using
concepts discussed in this course and your own reflection:

a. How can I help to ensure that I engage in ethical decisions and actions (at
work)?
b. What is needed to help ensure that a business is ethical and socially
responsible, and why are these essential to a thriving business? To answer
this you will have opportunity to draw on all course materials including the
cases as they can be used as examples of your conceptual
arguments/viewpoints.
Essay a. The first (a) will be two (2) single-spaced pages in length, due on Feb 13.
Your TA, Richard Moran, will read it and give you feedback on the communications
aspect of the essay. He will assign you a grade out of 8. I will not be reading your
essay at this time, but you will be expected to make improvements (where relevant)
and submit the revised final version to me on April 3. At that point I will also assign
a grade out of 8 on this assignment (16%).
Essay b. The second (b) will also be 3-4 single-spaced pages and due on April 3 to both
Richard and I. Richard will again read your essay for communications criteria. He will
assign a grade out of 12. I will also assign a grade out of 12.(24%)
For my grade on these two essays, I will be looking for a thorough integration of course
material (extent to which you provided good coverage, putting it together in a
conceptually cohesive way), and an accurate representation of ideas.

Approximate Course Schedule

Meeting

Date

Topics

Text Chapters/Readings

Intro to ethics

Chapter 1 Trevino and Nelson

Prescriptive approach to
ethics

Chapter 2 Trevino and Nelson

Case: Merck

Jan 14

Jan 21

Jan 28

Feb 4

Feb 11

Feb 18

Feb 25

Psychological approach to Chapter 3 Trevino and Nelson

ethics
Case: Lance Armstrong
Article: Bazerman (on HBS Publishing, with cases)
Ethics and Organizational Chapter 5 Trevino and Nelson
culture
Case: Putnam
Management and
organizational culture

Chapter 7 Trevino and Nelson

Case: France Telecom
Case: Enron

BREAK

10

Mar 4

Mar 11

Corporate Social
Responsibility

Chapter 9 Trevino and Nelson

Case: ITC
Case: Pepsi
Article (tentative): Milton Friedman

Common ethical challenges Chapters 4, 8, 10 Trevino and Nelson

Case: Morning Cereal
Article (tentative): Response to Friedman
Ethics in a global
environment

Chapters 4, 8, 10 Trevino and Nelson

Case: Ikea

PRESENTATIONS
11

Mar 18
PRESENTATIONS

12

Mar 25
PRESENTATIONS

13

Apr 1
Office hours during class time

14

Apr 8