UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
Romain College of Business
Management Department
Dr. Nancy Kovanic
MNGT 361
Business Environmental Factors
Dr. Nancy Kovanic, Ph.D.
(Business Ethics)
Spring 2015
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
BE3028
nkovanic@usi.edu
INTRODUCTION
This course builds on the introductory courses in Management and Marketing to provide
students with a broader view of the business organization. The primary objectives of the
course are to enhance students’ awareness of the various stakeholders of an organization
and increase students’ understanding of ethics and social responsibility in organizational
decision-making. “If the challenge for executives in the 1990s was to transform corporate
behemoths into nimble competitors, the challenge in the coming years will be to create
corporate cultures that encourage and reward integrity as much as creativity and
entrepreneurship” (Business Week Special Report, “The Crisis in Corporate Governance,”
May 6, 2002). How can an organization create such a culture?
Note: MNGT 201: Survey of Management or MNGT 305: Management of Organizational
Behavior and MKTG 201: Introduction to Marketing or MKTG 305: Principles of Marketing,
are prerequisites for this course.
READINGS/MATERIALS
Students should obtain the following book/material:
Peter Stanwick, Sarah Stanwick. Understanding Business Ethics, 2 nd Edition.
Publications, Thousand Oaks, California.
ISBN: 9781452256559
Sage
The instructor will supply the following book free of charge:
Kovanic, N., Johnson, K. Lies and Truths: Leadership Ethics in the 21st Century.
(Rule of Thumb Publishing, 2005).
Supplemental Readings
Much of the information about trends in management that you will obtain as a manager will
come from business periodicals, such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and
Fortune. It is important to learn how to read these sources quickly and critically. As you do
so, you should keep in mind the following questions: (1) What is the “story” that the article is
telling? And (2) What kind of evidence does the article use (should we believe the article’s
conclusions)?
All supplemental readings are intended to reinforce, elaborate upon, or provide additional
examples of material contained in the text and lecture.
Wall Street Journal
Students are encouraged to purchase a subscription to the Wall Street Journal. Students can
subscribe at www.wsj.com/student. The cost of a 15 week subscription is approximately $29.95.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS, METHODS OF EVALUATION, AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition to the required reading, there will be three exams and a number of individual and
group exercises. Any assignments turned in late will receive zero points. Students are not
permitted to email assignments to the professor. All assignments are due in-class or by
submission through the Blackboard course site.
C0NDUCT
No electronic devices such as cell phones or any other devices are permitted in the
classroom. Absolutely no texting during class is allowed. Laptop usage is only for class
related lectures and activities. Anyone wishing to use a laptop computer is required to be
seated in front rows/aisle in full view of the instructor and with prior instructor permission.
Food and drinks are allowed in the classroom. Personal discussion is distracting and
disrespectful and is not permitted during lectures or other times of instruction.
Late to Class: It is expected that students will be on-time for class. Assignments are due at
the beginning of class, which is at the designated class start time as posted in the USI
Bulletin.
Any student who is late for class will receive zero points for the
assignment/attendance/participation.
In-class activities – In order to receive full points for an in-class activity, discussion, or
assignment, students must actively engage. A student who uses a laptop or cell phone during
an in-class activity will automatically receive zero points. During an in-class activity, a
student who is late (activity has begun) or leaves early (while the activity is being
conducted) will receive zero points.
Written Assignments
All assignments due in-class should be typed and double spaced. The name of the student,
course number, and description of the assignment should appear at the top left corner
of the first page for those assignments required to be submitted in-class.
Written assignments are due at the beginning of the class. Those students, who are late to
class, therefore submitting an assignment after the beginning of the class, will receive zero
points. There are no make-up assignments for missed classes. The instructor will not accept
assignments by email.
In order to receive full points for written assignments, students should write clear, detailed
responses. For those questions that have a yes/no response, a simple yes/no is not
acceptable. Students should write in detail, enough that the instructor has a full
understanding of the answer. For example, a response of one to two sentences is inadequate
and will result in a reduction of points.
Students must identify the item number/letter and type each question, followed by a
response.
Inclement Weather/Cancelled class
If USI is closed due to weather conditions, the instructor will notify students by email and/or post
information on the course website. Students will be provided a make-up assignment/other, if
applicable and detailed information will be posted on the Blackboard course website.
In the event the instructor may need to cancel a class due to an emergency, students will be notified
via email and/or information regarding the class should be posted under announcements on the
Blackboard course site.
Method of Evaluation
Grades will be assigned as follows:
A
900-1000 POINTS
B+
880-899 POINTS
B
800-879 POINTS
C+
780-799 POINTS
Description
C
D+
D
F
700-779 POINTS
680-699 POINTS
600-679 POINTS
LESS THAN 600 POINTS
Points
Introspective Personal Ethics (in-class & written assignments)…………….……. 100
Exam #1 …………………………………………………………………………….
100
Exam #2 ………………………………………………………………………………
100
Exam #3 ………………………………………………………………………………
100
Attendance, Participation………………………………………………………….. 100 Assignments/Activities
Quizzes………………………….…………………....……
300
Final Exam……………………………………………………………………………
100
-------TOTAL
1000
Tentative Outline
Management 361
Session/Date
Chapter/Assignments/Exams
1/12
Course Introduction/Syllabus Review
1/14
Introspective Personal Ethics: In-class Activity
What is Business Ethics?
Personal Values
What is Business Ethics?
1/16
Spring 2015
1/19
1/21
1/23
No Class – Martin Luther King Day
How Values are Formed
Introspective Personal Ethics
1/26
1/26
1/30
Introspective Personal Ethics
Introspective Personal Ethics
Introspective Personal Ethics
2/2
2/4
2/6
Chapter 1 – Understanding Business Ethics
Chapter 1 – Understanding Business Ethics
Current Ethical Issues in Business
2/9
2/10
2/13
Chapter 2 – Understanding Business Ethics
Chapter 2 – Understanding Business Ethics
Chapter 2 Quiz online
Exam information posted in Blackboard
2/16
2/18
2/20
Exam Review
Exam #1
Chapter 3 – Stakeholders & Corporate Social Responsibility
2/23
2/25
2/27
Chapter 4 – Ethics & Financial Reporting
Chapter 4 – Ethics & Financial Reporting
Current Ethical Issues in Business
3/2
3/4
3/6
Chapter 4
Online Activity
Chapter 5 – Ethical Leadership & Corporate Governance
3/9
3/11
3/13
No class – Spring Break
No class – Spring Break
No class – Spring Break
3/16
Chapter 5 – Ethical Leadership & Corporate Governance
3/18
3/20
Current Ethical Issues in Business
Chapter 5 – Ethical Leadership & Corporate Governance &
Exam Review #2 Chapters 3, 4, & 5
3/23
3/25
3/27
Exam #2 Chapters 3, 4, & 5 Understanding Business Ethics
Current Ethical Issues in Business
Chapter 6 – Strategic Planning
3/30
4/1
4/3
Chapter 6 – Corporate Culture/Compliance
Current Ethical Issues in Business
No class – University Closed
4/6
4/8
4/10
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Current Ethical Issues in Business + Exam Review
4/13
4/15
4/17
Exam #3 Chapters 6 & 7 Understanding Business Ethics
Chapter 8
Current Ethical Issues in Business
4/20
4/22
4/24
Current Ethical Issues in Business
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
4/27
4/29
4/30-5/6
Chapter 9 and Final Exam Review
No Class – Study Day
FINAL EXAM – According to USI schedule