MGT 700 - Business Ethics and Social Responsibility

(3 Credits)

This is an advanced course of study that allows graduate students to examine business and organizational ethics in a broad social and societal context. While a number of actual business cases will be used, this is not, however, a study that will judge isolated actions. Participants will be required to focus on the larger corporate spectrum in terms of the relationship that exists between a business enterprise, its stockholders, other stakeholders, and the communities in which they operate. Subject areas covered will include ethics (organizational, professional, and personal), corporate mission statements, moral and ethical development within the organizational setting, corporate culture and governance, and the application of ethical analysis and audits. It is expected that each graduate student will gain an in-depth understanding of the role that business plays in society. It will be very important for each participant to understand the role that society plays within the confines of the business environment and the impact that societal trends have on a complex and integrated business world. As an advanced level course, each participant will be required to understand the nature and complexity associated with an environment in which business and society must not only coexist, but must do so in a manner that benefits rather than disrupts the other.