BUSINESS ETHICS (201)

2ND TERM PGP, IIM KOZHIKODE

Credits: 2 Text book: Sessions: SECTIONS A, B Instructor: Deepak Dhayanithy [#433, 94950 55400, deepak@iimk.ac.in] Daniel Albuquerque, Business Ethics: Principles and Practices [Indian Ed.] [DA] 16 X 75min

INTRODUCTION
The Business Ethics (BE) course addresses the ethical challenges of decisions facing a firm in the relationships with its investors, employees, customers, society, environment and government. To navigate these decisions in an ethical manner, the business manager needs to be ethically alert and understand various ethical approaches on one hand, and at the same time be aware of her own personal values vis--vis the decision. These underpinnings are introduced and discussed in sessions 1 and 2, and later reinforced in session 8 (refer Session plan). The remaining sessions, as their titles suggest, take a closer look at decisions vis--vis various firm stakeholders. Through the case discussions, linkages with the theoretical perspectives will be drawn. Being a case based course, it is important for participants to carefully think about the decision facing the protagonist from different perspectives to develop defensible positions.

OBJECTIVES
1. The course will help and challenge the students to develop and defend an ethically sound approach to business decision making 2. It will help students communicate and debate their ethical positions with stakeholders and peers by making appropriate use of extant theory 3. It will help the students to perceive the contemporary business landscape while being alert to its ethical challenges and opportunities

SESSION PLAN 1. Introduction to business ethics

1-paragraph; How ethical?; Bidding game; Outline teleology, deontology, intuitionism; oriental teachings; contract HBS, 9-384-105, Ethical Frameworks for Management, Kenneth E. Goodpaster DA, chapters 1 - 4

2. Frameworks of business ethics

Ethical Racing Case prepared for classroom discussion in Business Ethics, 2012, 2nd term Deepak Dhayanithy (to be handed out in class) DA, chapters 1 4 Uncle Toms cabin Excerpted from Harriet Beecher Stowes book, for classroom discussion in Business Ethics (to be handed out in class)

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3. Stakeholders
Antegren: a beacon of hope* HBS case, 9-408-025, Joshua Margolis, Thomas Delong, Terry Heymann HBS, 9-307-059, Ethics: A Basic Framework, Lynn Sharp Paine DA, chapters 1 - 4

4. Stakeholders contd
Antegren: a beacon of hope (B), (C), (D) HBS case, 9-408-026 to 9-408-028, Joshua Margolis, Thomas Delong, Terry Heymann

5. Personal and Public

The Big Short whistle blowing? http://salempress.com/store/samples/magills_literary_annual_2011/magills_literary_annual_2011_short.htm - Frank Day DA, chapter 11 Project Big Short B-Plan Project introduction, objectives, timelines, and clarifications

6. Customers a career move?

Conflict on a Trading floor (A), (B) HBS case, 9-394-060, Prof. Joseph Badaracco Should have challenged the no-fly zone?

7. Customers product efficacy

Vibram FiveFingers Blue Ocean? Case prepared for classroom discussion Deepak Dhayanithy, Saji Gopinath DA, chapter 5

8. Business Government interactions

Guest Lecture by Mr. C. K. Ramachandran Lecture material to be distributed prior to the class

9. Customers behavioral ethics

Chris and Alison Weston (A), (B), (C) HBS case, 612-019 to 612-021, Sandra J. Sucher and Celia Moore HBS, Reprint R1104C, Max H. Bazerman, Ann E. Tenbrunsel

10.

Government and Resources

Coal Blocks Auctions The Hindu, Monday, Aug 27, 2012, p16, Business Review, Of Resources and rent-seekers, Raghuvir Srinivasan The Hindu, Tuesday, Aug 28, 2012, p11, Op-Ed, Opposition-ruled states opposed competitive bidding

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11.

Investors

The Analysts Dilemma (A), (B) HBS case, 9-394-056, 057, Prof. Joseph Badaracco, Jerry Useem DA, chapter 8

12.

Employees

Two Tough Calls (A), (B) HBS case, 9-306-027, 028, Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr. DA, chapter 9, 10

13.

Society

Aspire Foundation charting a Bricoleurs growth Case prepared for classroom discussion Deepak Dhayanithy DA, chapter 15

14.

Employees Differences at Work

Erica (A), Jenny (A), Will (A) HBS case, 9-408-015, 017, 013, Sandra J. Sucher, Rachel Gordon DA, chapter 12

15.

Environment

South Side Restaurants Low Carbon Wine List Ivey, W11278, Prof. Mike Valente (from HBSP online resource) DA, chapter 17

16.

Project Presentations and Wrap up PROJECT BIG SHORT B-PLAN

The Business Ethics project will have students working in teams of 5. Each team will present their plan (Max. 5 A4 pages) of a Big Short business or trade. The objective is to identify and detail a business or a trade which is a short position o f a socio-economic situation that you think (and can convincingly justify) will make profits. You will have to present and justify as ethical your short position. It is not adequate to only justify your ethical stance or the business/ trades soundness both are equally important and this balance will be the basis of evaluation of your business plan.

EVALUATION COMPONENTS
Project 25, CP 15, Midterm 20, End term - 40

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