Business culture, Business ethics
Winter - Spring 2012
Instructor Marc Idelson
Email marc@idelson.net
Office hours Fridays 17:20-18:50 (in C-102 or C-208)

Objective
Values conflicts are an expected part of doing business, with costs and benefits
neither unusual nor daunting compared with other business challenges.
The prime objective of this course is to enable students to understand their
own culture and values, and to develop the capability to critically, rationally prepare
themselves for delicate situations, including career-threatening ethical dilemmas.
Teaching
This course is a three-pronged andragogical process of (i) lectures with
attaining quizzes, (ii) individual & team-based class exercises, and (iii) narratives of
varying form in class also with attaining quizzes, within which students acquire,
reflect and apply knowledge and know how garnered either in previous or current
sessions to real or realistic ethical dilemmas.
All students should come to class equipped with pen and paper in adequate
quantity. Printed matter, including dictionaries, is allowed during class, quizzes and
tests. Electronic devices, unless prior medical justification has been established to
the instructor’s satisfaction, are prohibited in class and tests.

Assessment
Students are individually assessed.
The individual final grade is a composite of the regular quizzes conducted
during class and the Midterm and Final examination. Individual & team-based class
exercises, designed to further student personal development, are not graded.
Team membership will be assigned by the instructor and is not negotiable.
Students all start with 100 pts from which may be individually subtracted:
- up to 30 pts through grading of the midterm paper handed in,
- up to 50 pts through grading of the final paper handed in.

Penalties
May be individually subtracted from student grades:
- exactly 2 pts for each late appearance to class or from break,
- exactly 3 pts for each assignment handed in late, incl. quizzes,
- exactly 5 pts for each use of an electronic device during class,
- exactly 10 pts for any unjustified absence in the view of the instructor.
Points may also be individually subtracted for other unbecoming behaviour,
—e.g. speaking in others languages than English.
All detected indication of potential ethical misconduct will be investigated and
any may be potentially prosecuted by PHBS.

Partial References
M. H. Bazerman and A. E. Tenbrunsel, Blind Spots: Why We Fail to Do What's Right and What to Do about It
A. W. Crosby, The Measure of Reality: Quantification and Western Society, 1250-1600
L. Donaldson, The Meta-Analytic Organization, introducing Statistico-Organizational Theory
M. C. Gentile, Giving Voice to Values curriculum collection
E. Goffmann, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
M. J. Hatch, Organization Theory: Modern, Symbolic, and Postmodern Perspectives
A. O. Hirschman, Exit, Voice, and Loyalty: Responses to Decline in Firms, Organizations, and States
P. d’Iribarne, La Logique de l’Honneur
P. Jorion, Comment la Vérité et la Réalité furent inventées.
F. Jullien, Le Détour et l’Accès
F. Jullien, L'invention de l'Idéal et le destin de l'Europe
F. Jullien, Si Parler va sans Dire
J. Kay, Obliquity: Why our goals are best achieved indirectly
K. L. Lai, An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
R. M. Kidder, Moral Courage: Taking Action When Your Values Are Put To the Test
M. E. P. Seligman, Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
施耐庵, 水浒传

Schedule
Session Theme Date
1-2 Fundamentals week ending Feb 17th 13:30-17:30
3-4 Fundamentals, cont’d week ending Feb 24th 13:30-17:30
5-6 Fundamentals, end & midterm week ending Mar 2nd 13:30-17:30
7-8 Structure week ending Mar 9th 13:30-17:30
9-10 Power week ending Mar 16th 13:30-17:30
11-12 Knowledge week ending Mar 23rd 13:30-17:30
13-14 Media week ending Mar 30th 13:30-17:30
15-16 Measure week ending Apr 6th 13:30-17:30
17-18 Paths & Breaks week ending Apr 13th 13:30-17:30
Final tentatively scheduled Apr 14th or 15th