MNGT 3711: Business Ethics and Society
Students explore the complex business environment and the relationships organizations have with civil society, the natural environment, and each other. Through this examination, students learn that ethical decision-making is critical to the successful management of any organization. Topics include primary and secondary stakeholder groups; the impacts of various organizational-stakeholder relationships; the varying levels of responsibility of stakeholder groups; the biases, influences, and reasons that drive stakeholder perspectives; changing economic, political, social, and cultural forces and their influences on business and society; the continuum of socially responsible management and ethical business practices; and the challenges and opportunities that influence where an organization fits on the continuum.
Learning outcomes
- Describe the various primary and secondary stakeholder groups.
- Analyze impacts of various organizational-stakeholder relationships.
- Analyze organizational issues from multiple stakeholder perspectives.
- Discuss the varying levels of responsibility of stakeholder groups.
- Identify biases, influences, and reasons driving stakeholder perspectives.
- Discuss the changing economic, political, social, and cultural forces and their influences on business and society.
- Explain the continuum of socially responsible management and ethical business practices and describe the challenges and opportunities that may influence where an organization fits on the continuum.
Course topics
- Module 1: Stakeholder Interrelationships
- Module 2: Ethics and the Social Responsibility Continuum
- Module 3: Broad Forces in Global Society
- Module 4: Internal Forces and Stakeholders (Internal "Circle of Influence")
Required text and materials
Students will need to source the following textbook on their own:
- Lawrence, A., & Weber, J. (2017). Business & Society: Stakeholders, Ethics,
Public Policy (15th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Type: Textbook. 1. ISBN-13: 978-1-259-31541-1
Assessments
To successfully complete the course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Project.
| Assignment 1 | 15% |
| Assignment 2 | 15% |
| Assignment 3 | 15% |
| Assignment 4 | 15% |
| Major Project (mandatory) | 40% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
