Business Ethics

COURSE OBJECTIVE

Ready to explore the challenges and decisions shaping the future of business? Business Ethics takes you on a journey through the principles of responsible decision-making in today’s corporate world. From managing public relations and advertising to addressing environmental concerns and navigating globalization, this course delves into what it means for businesses to act with integrity. You’ll engage with real-world scenarios that highlight the complexities of ethical dilemmas and uncover how companies balance profitability with social responsibility.

Whether your interests lie in business, marketing, entrepreneurship, environmental science, political science, or technology, this course offers valuable insights into the ethical challenges and frameworks shaping these fields. Through dynamic lessons, thought-provoking case studies, and debates on real-world dilemmas, you’ll develop critical thinking skills that set you apart. Gain the tools to help businesses build trust, foster meaningful relationships, and thrive ethically in an interconnected world.

Join us to become a future leader who prioritizes values alongside success!

COURSE FORMAT

The class meets 90 minutes twice a week (M/W or T/Th) for 20 weeks.  Like all other courses in our curriculum, Business Ethics consists of two components:  asynchronous and synchronous learning.

1. The asynchronous flipped classroom portion of the course makes up 30% of your overall grade. It is based on the Business 108: Business Ethics course developed by Study.com, which we have supplemented with lessons from their Business 310: Advanced Business Ethics and Business 318: Management Ethics courses.

2. Your academy instructor will facilitate the virtual in-person synchronous portion of the course. This makes up 50% of your overall grade.

Asynchronous Learning

The  Business 108: Business Ethics courses developed by Study.com was created by panels of expert instructors who break down concepts with bite-sized, animated video lessons organized into topical chapters that improve comprehension and retention, making learning fun and engaging.  Each video is approximately 5-8 minutes long and comes with a quick quiz to help you measure your "first exposure learning" during the pre-work phase before the actual class. At the end of each chapter, you will complete a chapter test to see if you're ready to move on or have some material to review.

You should expect to spend 40-60 minutes per week on these homework assignments. The academy intentionally schedules no classes on Fridays to provide dedicated time for homework assignments and out-of-class projects.

Synchronous Learning

Our academy instructor, who will also serve as your Gamemaster, will facilitate the live, virtual classroom sessions, which will supplement and build upon the content introduced in the asynchronous portion of the course. Additionally, they will answer any questions you may have about the asynchronous material.

Our in-person sessions are designed to make learning fun and interactive! Here's what you can expect:

• Interactive discussions:  We will delve deeper into key concepts from the asynchronous material and address any common misconceptions.

• Game-based activities:   Earn points and badges, and climb the leaderboard as you embark on edventures through grammar and !

Exams

There will be a comprehensive mid-term exam over all content covered during the first quarter and a comprehensive final exam over all content covered during the second quarter. Both of these exams are weighted equally, and the combined average will make up 10% of your course grade.

COURSE TOPICS

Chapters: 18; Lessons: 123

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INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Each chapter features an interactive discussion board powered by Discussion Hero, a gamified platform developed by Northwestern University. Students choose between "hero" and "villain" roles and avatars, earning points for their contributions. This fosters a sense of competition and engagement, making discussions even more rewarding.

Benefits of Participating in Discussions:

1. Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills:  Go beyond memorization and passive learning by analyzing information, evaluating different perspectives, and forming your own conclusions.

2. Enhance communication skills:  Practice clear communication, learn to articulate your ideas effectively, and develop respectful listening and rebuttal skills.

3. Fosters a collaborative learning environment:  Learn from each other, share knowledge, and collaborate on problem-solving, creating a dynamic and enriching learning community.

4. Deepen your understanding of the content:  Actively engaging with the course material through discussion solidifies and expands your understanding beyond lectures and readings.

5. Provides diverse perspectives:  Discussions expose you to different viewpoints and interpretations, encouraging critical thinking and broadening your understanding of the subject matter.

6. Offers opportunities for self-reflection:  Examining your own thoughts and arguments in response to prompts and engaging with others' perspectives helps solidify your learning and identify areas for further exploration.

7. Apply knowledge to real-world scenarios:  Apply course concepts to real-world situations through discussions, enhancing the material's relevance.

8. Build a digital learning portfolio:  Discussions serve as a reference for your learning journey, allowing you to revisit key concepts and track your progress.

9. Develop digital literacy:  Discussions provide a platform to practice online communication etiquette, including respectful disagreement, constructive argumentation, and responsible information sharing.

To actively engage in meaningful learning and reap the benefits mentioned above, participation in each chapter's discussion board is expected and will contribute to your overall grade. Your instructor will provide a clear rubric within Discussion Hero outlining the expectations for participation and how your contributions will be evaluated. This ensures consistent and transparent assessment while allowing you to showcase your understanding and critical thinking skills throughout the course.

VIRTUAL SIMULATIONS

Simulations are digital game-like exercises that allow students to learn by doing. They apply business theory and skills to real-world scenarios. Students carry out business strategies and work through unexpected outcomes in real-time. Every decision your students make has consequences and presents new opportunities. The simulation helps students see the connections between the course material and the real business world.

Students must consider all the company’s stakeholders and deal with ethical, environmental, and sustainability issues alongside the usual challenges of running a business.

Whether they play in teams or individually, students compete against other companies in the simulated market. The competitors can be other classmates or computer-generated. Competition between classmates challenges students to make strategic decisions and fortifies conceptual knowledge. Students sharpen their business acumen as they adjust strategies to beat their competitors. In team-based simulations, students work together to build a profitable business. To keep ahead, they’ll have to continuously apply knowledge in intricate ways, naturally developing skills and internalizing core business principles. Strong communication is essential for winning teams. Students learn how to lead and encourage each other as they aim for victory.

COURSE OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Define business ethics and recognize its role in shaping organizational behavior and decisions.

• Understand the responsibilities of businesses in relation to public issues and how ethical decision-making impacts stakeholders.

• Examine the structure and functions of Public Relations (PR) departments, focusing on their ethical role in shaping corporate image and managing public perception.

• Identify key ethical considerations in managing public relations and addressing crises, including transparency and accountability.

• Recognize the importance of stakeholder engagement and how businesses can ethically build and maintain relationships.

• Evaluate the ethical implications of media influence on businesses, including bias, responsibility, and the impact on public perception.

• Analyze the historical development of media ethics and its current role in business communication and decision-making.

• Explore the ethical responsibilities of businesses to protect consumer rights, including safety, privacy, and redress.

• Discuss the ethical issues related to consumer protection laws and how businesses can navigate regulatory frameworks responsibly.

• Understand the ethical concerns surrounding advertising, including truthfulness, manipulation, and the marketing of vulnerable populations.

• Evaluate advertising practices through the lens of ethical decision-making, focusing on how businesses can promote their products responsibly.

• Identify and assess the ethical strategies used by special interest groups and how businesses can respond to activism while maintaining ethical practices.

• Understand the ethical issues related to technology in business, including privacy, data security, and the impact of digital innovation on stakeholders.

• Analyze the relationship between technology, business innovation, and ethical challenges, including the responsible use of emerging technologies.

• Examine the ethical dimensions of environmental issues, including sustainable development, corporate responsibility, and pollution control.

• Understand how businesses can ethically address environmental concerns and comply with regulations that promote ecological sustainability.

• Examine the ethical dilemmas in international business, including bribery, labor practices, and corporate social responsibility.

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites for this course.

COLLEGE / DUAL CREDIT

Business 108: Business Ethics has been evaluated and recommended by ACE for 3 semester hours and may be transferred to over 2,000 colleges and universities. If you're seeking college credit, after completing this course, you can take the online proctored exam at any time for an additional fee.