BUS230:7:Online Business Ethics and the Legal Environment
Discussion 1.2
Make a list of what students gain through plagiarism. Make a list of the risks. Make a list of what students forgo when they engage in plagiarism.
Discussion 2.1
Case 2.7. BP and the Deepwater Horizon Explosion: Safety First:
Evaluate the social responsibility positions of BP in light of the refinery explosion and the pipeline issue. What can companies learn from the BP experience?
Discussion 2.2
Case 2.10. What Was Up with Wall Street? The Goldman Standard and Shades of Gray:
Evaluate each of the actions or practices, using ethical analysis models other than the question “Is it legal?”
Discussion 3.1
Reading 3.5. Conscious Capitalism: Creating a New Paradigm for Business:
Explain Mr. Mackey’s theory about entrepreneurs and why they go into business.
Discussion 3.2
Case 3.9. Chipotle: Buying Local and Health Risks:
What lessons should companies take away from the Chipotle experience?
Discussion 4.1
Reading 4.2. Check moral categories. Are you able to place yourself in any of these categories? Why?
Discussion 4.2
Describe the use of steroids in professional baseball, and determine how the practice progressed layers and became so pervasive in the industry.
Discussion 5.1
Case 5.4. Subway: Is 11 Inches the Same as 12 Inches?
Evaluate Subway’s response to the public attention. Should it have done more?
Discussion 5.2
Case 5.8. “I Only Used It Once”: Returning Goods:
Who is affected by the returners and their conduct?
Discussion 6.1
Case 6.3. Pirates! The Bane of Transnational Shipping: What impact does the institutionalization of piracy in Somalia have on companies’ decision-making processes with regard to handling the pirates and preventing pirate attacks?
Discussion 6.2
Case 6.8. Nestlé: Products That Don’t Fit Cultures: If you were a hospital administrator, what policy would you adopt on discharge packs?
Discussion 7.1
Case 7.2. Trucker Logs, Sleep, and Safety: Describe the positions of the trade organizations and explain why the two groups have taken the positions they have on black boxes
Discussion 7.2
Case 7.5. JCPenney and Its Wealthy Buyer: Do you agree that both the buyer and the seller are guilty in commercial bribery cases? Is the purchasing agent “more” wrong?
Discussion 8.1 Course Feedback
Student feedback is very important to us at Potomac, please list anything that would like to see changed in this course and how it will improve the learning experience for students.
Assignment: Unit 01: Legal Reasoning
1. Joseph was taking the Economics 101 course with his friend, Allison. Joseph was struggling with the material, and he explained to Allison, “This just doesn’t make much sense to me. I know that once I get into my management major I can do it. I just have to get through this course because all the other courses I have been able to handle. Could you just let me see your answers for the online questions on the reading?” Explain what type of ethical dilemma Allison is facing in this situation.
2. Refer back to the Joseph and Allison situation, and add the following facts. Allison is nervous about allowing Joseph to have her answers. Joseph tells Allison, “Look, how many people on this campus do you think have helped people with their homework? It’s not a big deal. Nobody will know about it.” What tools is Joseph using to convince Allison?
3. Refer back to the Joseph and Allison situation, and suppose that Allison agrees to let Joseph have her answers. List who is affected by their actions.
4. Refer back to the Joseph and Allison situation, and add these facts. Allison allows Joseph to use her homework, and then Joseph says, “Allison, I am really going to need some help studying for the exam, and it would be better if we sat close during the exam so that when I get into hard areas, I can look over for some help. I will make sure no one sees me. Can you help me?” What is happening between Joseph and Allison?
Assignment: Unit 02: Legal Reasoning
1. Johnson Wheels, Inc. is a company that manufactures wheels for suitcases, skateboards, plastic tote carts, and other products that require small, flexible wheels. Because of new, durable plastic products from other companies, however, sales have been decreasing. The revenue Johnson reports has been down, and investors are nervous. As Johnson’s CFO is working on the annual financials, he has a discussion with his chief of audit about changing Johnson’s depreciation formulas. “With less depreciation, our numbers look better. I think we can increase the life of many of our production machines. Let’s recalculate adding two years and see what depreciation looks like.” The chief of audit is concerned about the change, saying, “Maybe it’s justified. You could argue either way.” Discuss the ethical issue here and what ethical schools of thought in business might apply.
2.
While the CFO and chief of audit are dealing with the depreciation issue, Johnson’s head of production has a proposal for Johnson’s CEO: “I have a new plastic that we could switch to. The customers will like it because it has a wider range of colors, but it wears out more quickly, so we could sell more wheels.” Help the CEO analyze the ethical issues with this decision.
3.Johnson’s CFO went ahead with the depreciation adjustment. The following year, the CFO and the chief of audit were discussing Johnson’s still declining sales and revenues and their first quarter financials. The CFO proposes the following: “Look, we’re coming up on the spring season when the skateboard wheels peak. Why don’t we just ship the wheels early to our regular customer and we can have a second quarter peak instead of waiting for the third quarter.” The chief of audit responds, “Well, if the customer has not ordered the wheels, I am not sure we have a sale to book.” The CFO then explains, “We can make it part of a special promotion and make the credit terms favorable.” The chief of audit worries, “It feels like we are piecing together sales and revenues and not really meeting our numbers.” Help the chief of audit discuss his concerns with the CFO.
4.When the CFO and chief of audit meet to discuss the third-quarter earnings, the CFO tells the chief of audit, “Just make some top-entry adjustments so that our sales are just flat. We can see this through, and these are only temporary adjustments.” The chief of audit does not want to make the adjustments, but the CFO is his boss. The chief of audit thinks, “I have seen him fire people for raising questions. If I say no, he will just get someone else to do it and fire me anyway. He was named CFO of the year last year by Business Perspectives. He has a great track record, even before he came to Johnson. I can’t question him.” Discuss what is happening with the CFO and in this situation.
MGMT230:7:Online Organizational Behavior
Discussion 1.2
1. Some people have suggested that understanding human behavior at work is the single most important requirement for managerial success. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
Discussion 2.1
What individual differences do you feel are most important to organizations? Why?
Discussion 2.2
Do you think that it would be easy to influence a subordinate’s attitudes, values, or emotions? Why? Which would have the largest influence on the employee’s behavior? Why?
MGMT311:7:Online Supply Chain Management
Discussion Assignment WEEK 1
Chapter One – Question # 25, #29 Page 25
Chapter # 2 – Question #2, #6 Page 72
Discussion Assignment WEEK 2
Chapter #3
Discussion – #17, #20 – page 102
Chapter #4
Discussion – #12, #21, #37 , #39 page 136
CASES ASSIGNMENT WEEK 2
Chapter #3 – D.T. Ventures Page 104
Chapter #4 – Fitz Simmons Consultants Page 138
MRKT110:7:Online Principles of Marketing
Discussion 1.2
What are some issues to consider in analyzing a company’s resources and opportunities? How do these issues affect marketing objectives and marketing strategy?
Discussion 2.1
What are the four types of competition? Which is most important to marketers?
Discussion 2.2
Where are data for marketing research obtained? Give examples of internal and external data.
