Ethical Management and Leadership in a Global Economy

Ethical Management and Leadership in a Global Economy

MBAi 6615 TXAA

Fall Semester, 2013

COURSE SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Robert Wheatley, Ph.D.

Associate Division Chair

Management & Marketing

Professor of Management

257 Bibb Graves Hall

Sorrell College of Business

Troy University

Troy, AL 36082

334.670.3161 (TEL)

334.670.3599 (FAX)

334.670.3459 (ADM)

STUDENTS: Put “MBAi 6615 TXAA” in the subject line of any emails sent to the instructor.

Please Note: To get credit for all work, individuals and groups must submit a (keyed) hard copy to the instructor at the beginning of the class on the date specified, or, when directed,post or submit assignments (usually before 11:00 p.m. CTZ) on the date specified using ONLY the “Assignments” section of Blackboard. For items requiring a posting, please post your response to the appropriate Blackboard Course Section (for example, Class Discussion Board, CDB, or Group Discussion Board, GDB). For all other assignments, submit a (keyed) hard copy directly to your instructor, or, when directed, submit your work directly to the “Assignments” section of Blackboard; do not email your assignments (either in the email body or using an Attachment) to the instructor. ALWAYS use our protocol for submitting all assignments, and for all communications with the instructor (that is: your name/group names, MBAi 6615 TXAA, Group[ # ] if a group assignment, Week [ # ], and Assignment [ # ]—all on the first numbered TEXTpage of the assignment) so that you will be readily identified and given credit for your work. ALWAYS start the Subject line with MBAi 6615 TXAAfor individual email messages.

Always key your FULL NAME at the end of your emails; your instructor will not respond when these email (and general ethical) conventions are not followed.

Note: The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the course syllabus prior to or during the term. The instructor will notify students, via email or Blackboard announcement, when changes are made in the requirements and/or grading of the course.

COURSE PREREQUISITES

Graduate standing, admission into the MBAi program and all undergraduate business prerequisite courses or equivalent completed

OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday: 9:30a.m.-11:00a.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30a.m.-11:00a.m.
Other times by appointment

TIME OF CLASS

Wednesday, 5:30-8:15 p.m.

LOCATION OF CLASS

251 Bibb Graves Hall

ENTRANCE COMPETENCIES:

Students must have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform at the graduate level, as well as certain personal characteristics to complete the course in a timely fashion. They must also have a satisfactory level of technical competence to be able to navigate Blackboard, the Internet, and the Troy University Library online. A sufficient business academic background is required for successful course completion. Business experience would be helpful.

STUDENT EXPECTATION STATEMENT:

Academics: I expect students to read the required material in advance, review the end-of- chapter items and ask questions to check their understanding, monitor the announcements page on Blackboard for course updates, check their emails regularly, participate meaningfully in all discussions, complete exams on the scheduled day, and submit assignments—all in a timely manner as scheduled. All grades are earned, and good grades are the result of personal commitment and substantial effort.

If problems arise, students are expected to contact me as soon as possible—prior to the due date—to discuss the problem.

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

Equips students with the critical leadership skills and solid understanding of today's ethical theory they need to become effective business leaders in today's turbulent times. The class explores the latest thinking in leadership theory and contemporary practices at work within organizations throughout the world. Closely connects theory to recent world events, such as the Wall Street meltdown, ethical scandals, and political turmoil. Students examine emerging topics, leadership vision and courage, leading virtual teams, and actual leadership decisions. This is a research applications course, with a solid foundation grounded in established scholarly research. A grade of “B” or better is required.

PURPOSE:

It is often said that ethics is essential for leadership; in this course we argue that leadership is also essential for ethics. The theme of this course is that business firms today operate in a competitively- intense, technologically-complex and culturally-diverse global economy. Pressures to dodge issues and cut corners are greater than ever before. The course provides a framework to analyze those problems by combining economic outcomes, legal requirements and ethical principles. Students will learn how to convincingly present their moral points of view to others in order to jointly serve their companies, protect their careers, and improve their societies.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES/COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Identify ethical dilemmas within a multicultural setting.
Propose workable solutions to ethical dilemmas that are mutually beneficial to all parties.
Identify implementation steps.
Explain concepts and their effects on the behavior of individuals and groups in organizations.
List and describe major theories as they relate to individual behavior within organizations.
Describe processes between individuals and within and between organizations.
Show how leadership and motivational models may be used best to improve productivity and job satisfaction within organizations.
Evaluate and apply alternative approaches to organization, job, and work design.
Discuss methods for undertaking planned-change programs within organizations.
Apply concepts, theories, and strategies.
Explain the value of an evidence-based approach to leadership.
Know leadership, organizational behavior,and research terminology.
Understand concepts, theories, and methodologies.
Apply principles and theories to new situations.
Write clear, effective cases, assignments, and reports.
Give well organized presentations.
Understand relationships among concepts and theories.
Participate in activities and discussions.
Identify and explain the major factors influencing leader behavior.
Recommend best practices in each area of study.
Develop individual problem solving competencies.
Compare and contrast theoretical and implementation strategies.
Cite whether research is generally supportive or not supportive of theories, etc.

TEXTBOOK(S) AND/OR OTHER MATERIALS NEEDED:

Northouse, P. G. (2012). Leadership: Theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications

Students should have their text the first week of class. Not having your book will not be an acceptable excuse for late work. Students who add this course late should refer to the “Late Registration” section for further guidance.

OTHER MATERIALS

1. Narrow-lined notebook paper, plain unlined paper, and printer paper.

ADDITIONAL READINGS:

To Be Announced

RESEARCH COMPONENT--WRITING PROJECT/RESEARCH PAPER:

Individuals will select a topic and email that topic to the instructor using our course protocol. After review, the instructor will approve/modify/reject the topic via email. Appropriate topics and specific requirements for the research paper will be discussed in class. To meet the threshold for a B grade, no fewer than 10, non-textbook, relevant references must be used and cited [use the APA Publication Manual for citation style; this is very important for electronic sources--Internet, etc.]. At least ten sources are required; with at least eight of those sources from current (2009-2013), reputable, peer-reviewed journals. The other sources may include academic and professional periodicals, government publications (to include CD ROM resources), magazines, and newspaper articles. All work submitted must be the original work of the student, and will be checked for originality using online software (Turnitin.com). Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the project, and possible for the course [see Cheating Policy]. Topics are to be contemporary problems/issues relevant to managers today, and are approved by priority by date/time submitted. No two students may select the same topic. This paper will be between 8 and 12 pages in length--no more than 12 pages. Number all pages and use American Psychological Association (APA) format, 12-point font, double-spacing (LS = 2), paragraph indention, section headings, and submit in MS-Word format. This is expected to be a scholarly project. It will include a title page, executive summary, research report body including introduction, problem/issue, and recommendations/suggestions for managers on the contemporary problem/issue, (at least one) graphic(s), and references page. Grades will be based on scholarship, application of course material, coherence, reference quality, format, and grammatical correctness. Your work should look business-like and professional. Written assignments displaying disproportionately poor grammar or a poor quality of written communication skills will be assigned a grade that is one letter grade lower than might otherwise have been assigned. Use Turnitin.com (instructions to be provided in class) to establish the originality of all work BEFORE it is submitted for gradingif requested by your instructor.

EXAMPLES OF REPUTABLE JOURNALS (primarily in Management & Psychology, and mostly Peer-Reviewed):

Academy of Management Journal; Academy of Management Review; Administrative Science Quarterly; Organization Science; Strategic Management Journal; Management Science; Leadership Quarterly; Organizational Behavior & Human Decision Processes; Journal of Management; Journal of Management Studies; Journal of Applied Psychology; Journal of Vocational Behavior; Journal of Organizational Behavior; Personnel Psychology; Psychological Bulletin; Journal of Personality & Social Psychology; Human Relations; Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology; Harvard Business Review; Applied Psychology: International Review; American Psychologist

METHOD OF EVALUATION:

Test 1 35% of final grade
Test 2 35% of final grade
Writing Project/Research Project 15% of final grade
Assignments, Quizzes, Presentations, etc. 15% of final grade
NO “DROP PASSING” WILL BE GRANTED/RECORDED AFTER 10/21.
No extra work (beyond the work that appears on our Syllabus) will be assigned for any reason. / 30 % of final grade

ASSIGNMENT OF GRADES:

All grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

A90 – 100%

B80 – 89%

C70 – 79%

D60 – 69%

F59%and below

FA:“FA” indicates the student failed due to attendance. This grade will be given to any student who disappears from the course for three or more weeks. See the Attendance section of this syllabus for additional information.

TEST EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Our tests will consist of mostly open-ended, subjective, or applied items. Answers to questions will be evaluated, in part, using the following criteria:

1. Readability--Can I read it?

2. Did you answer the question, and all parts of the question (not some other question, and no parts of the answer are missing)?

3.Did you prominently use the material in this course to answer the question --especially, did you use a perspective developed in this course in your answer?

4. Is there a logical structure and flow to your answer?

5. Can you "integrate"--that is, put more than one idea together, or, apply a theory to a real problem?

Please especially note #3 above. An answer can be well written with excellent logic, but still fail to achieve a high grade because it doesnot clearly demonstrate a linkage to our course material.

ETHICS:

The instructor assumes that students will comply with accepted standards of academic conduct. Students will do their own work except where team assignments are clearly specified. All work must be original and your own. Students are to follow and respect the test procedures. All ethical violations are subject to disciplinary action.

The following are examples of academic misconduct or unethical behavior:

1. Getting assistance on tests, assignments, etc. from another person, online, etc.

2. Presenting copied, falsified, or improperly obtained information or data as your own.

3. Giving assistance to others in the presentation of that person’s work.

4. Cheating on tests, assignments, etc.; e.g., using notes, books, online sources, or other materials.

5. Presenting the work of another person as if that work was your own work.

6. Including the name of other persons on work in which they did not contribute.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT:

Professional and mature behavior and communications are expected. Students are expected to be courteous, respectful, and supportive of their classmates and the instructor using various communication media; especially including constructive (as opposed to destructive, rude, or cynical) critique. Students should attempt to resolve all interaction issues with their classmates. Students are expected to contact me privately over any concerns/problems as soon as possible—prior to the due date—to discuss concerns or problems, and not to complain or “comment” to group members. Inappropriate behavior (tone, address, etc.) will result in a request to leave the course.

GROUP/TEAM INTERACTION AND COLLABORATION:

Student group/team members are expected to interact positively with each other. Group members need to collaborate on group assignments. Please contact your instructor if someone in your group is not fully participating. It is unethical to include students’ names on assignments to which they contributed little or nothing. On the second occasion, that student’s grade will be lowered one letter grade. In addition, the group may be split, and/or the student warned will complete all assignments individually. At the end of the course, each group member may rate/rank all other group members and these may be counted in each student’s final grade.

INCOMPLETE WORK POLICY

Incomplete work at the end of the term will not be accepted. All work eligible to be made up will be made up within one week. No assignments in addition to those given or administered in class will be given to any individual.

HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM:

The awarding of a university degree attests that an individual has demonstrated mastery of a significant body of knowledge and skills of substantive value to society. Any type of dishonesty in securing those credentials therefore invites serious sanctions, up to and including suspension and expulsion (see Standard of Conduct in each TROYCatalog). Examples of dishonesty include actual or attempted cheating, plagiarism*, or knowingly furnishing false information to any university employee.

*Plagiarism is defined as submitting anything for credit in one course that has already been submitted for credit in another course, or copying any part of someone else’s intellectual work – their ideas and/or words – published or unpublished, including that of other students, and portraying it as one’s own. Proper quoting, using strict APA formatting, is required, as described by the instructor. All students are required to read the material presented at:

Students must properly cite any quoted material. No term paper, business plan, term project, case analysis, or assignment may have no morethan 20% of its content quoted from another source. Students who need assistance in learning to paraphrase should ask the instructor for guidance and consult the links at the TroyWritingCenter.

This university employs plagiarism-detection software, through which all written student assignments are processed for comparison with material published in traditional sources (books, journals, magazines), on the internet (to include essays for sale), and papers turned in by students in the same and other classes in this and all previous terms. The penalty for plagiarism may range from zero credit on the assignment, to zero in the course, to expulsion from the university with appropriate notation in the student’s permanent file.

LIBRARY SUPPORT:

The Libraries of Troy University provide access to materials and services that support the academic programs. The address of the Library Web site is This site provides access to the resources of all Campus and Regional Libraries, as well as to resources such as the Library’s Catalog and Databases. Additionally, the Library can also be accessed by choosing the “Library” link from the University’s home page, or through the eLibrary tab within Blackboard.

INDIVIDUAL WORK:

This work is normally completed alone. It may or may not be submitted for grading depending on the task requirement. Using the course protocol for submitting work, include your name in the heading—along with the course number and section, week number, and assignment number—all on the first numbered TEXTpageof every assignment. Completing the “Discussion Questions” at the end of each chapter and discussing those with your group members (study group) and your instructor will help you understand the material. Individual work may be rated and ranked, and grades assigned accordingly.

GROUP WORK:

This work should be accomplished collaboratively by the group. Only one work product is submitted by the group. Work should NOT be split up and recombined. The group should use a team/group leader each week whose duties to the group include managing the group work task(s) for that week, to include the final edit and submission to the instructor by the due date. The leader should use Turnitin.com to establish the originality of all work BEFORE it is submitted by the group for grading if instructed to do so by the instructor. Using the course protocol for submitting group exercises, include the group member’s names in the heading with that week’s “leader” listed first—along with the course number, course section number, group number, week number, and assignment number—all on the first numbered TEXTpageof every assignment. Group work may be rated and ranked, and grades assigned accordingly.