AGEC BADM 457 557: BUSINESS ETHICS
3 Credit Hours
Summer 2025, Internet Delivery
South Dakota State University
Instructor: George Langelett Ph.D.
Email:
[email protected]Office: 244 Harding Hall
Phone: 605-688-4865
Required Text Book: Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity & Social
Responsibility, 6th Edition by L. Hartman, J. DesJardins and C. MacDonald;
Supplemental Reading: How Do I Keep My Employees Motivated? by G. Langelett
Book ISBN: 978-1-938416-73-6, E-book ISBN: 035703385X
This book is available at Amazon, and Barnes & Noble online. Locally: Barnes & Noble in
Sioux Falls
Instructional Methods
Online, this course is taught online and will be delivered through Desire2Learn.
Email
I check my regular email address, [email protected] at least once a day Monday
through Friday and will normally get back to you within 48 hours.
Office Hours
If you have any questions or comments, you may email me and set up an appointment with
me. We can either have a private conversation in Zoom or by email.
Time Zone
US Central Time
Course Description
This course is a study of the ethical implications of managerial decisions. Topics covered include
the responsibility of the organization to the individual and society, the role of the individual
within the organization, and ethical systems for American business. The course provides an
examination and assessment of current American business practices. Specific topics include:
Ethics in Business
The Ethical Decision-Making Process: Personal and Professional Contexts
Philosophical Ethics and Business
The Corporate Culture – Impact and Implications
Corporate Social Responsibility
Ethical Decision Making: Employer Responsibilities and Employee Rights
Ethical Decision Making: Technology and Privacy in the Workplace
Ethics and Marketing
Business and Environmental Sustainability
Trust in Corporate Governance, Accounting, and Finance
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Minimum technology requirements and Skills
To complete this course, a student is required to have a computer (MAC or Windows) and
internet access with computing power sufficient to run Desire to Learn©. Also a web browser is
required find references to back up claims made by students in discussion posts.
Prerequisites
BADM 457 557 has no prerequisites.
Feedback and turnaround time
Each exam taken using D2L exams will be graded instantly upon completion.
All discussion posts and assignments will be graded within 3 days after the submission deadline.
Academic Support
Wintrode Student Tutoring Program is available at:
https://www.sdstate.edu/wintrodetutoring
Student Support
Including advising, mental health can be found at: https://you.sdstate.edu/resources
Writing/citation support
The SDSU Writing Center is located at: https://www.sdstate.edu/writingcenter
Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to demonstrate their understanding by discussing,
analyzing and applying the following: The role of ethics in organizations.
1. Identify and address common ethical issues that arise for individuals, managers, and
organizations
2. Recognize and understand the need to regard business ethics in the context of ethical decision
making, personal integrity, and social responsibility
3. Demonstrate the ability to analyze and resolve ethical dilemmas using contemporary and
classical frameworks
4. Determine indicators that identify individual differences and cognitive barriers that influence
ethical judgement
5. Identify key organizational tools, policies, systems and laws that impact ethical conduct
6. Recognize the impact of and implications of culture on ethical behavior
7. Identify potential ethical challenges by functional area and recognize conflict
8. Understand the relationship between environmental sustainability and ethics
Free Tutoring Available to SDSU Students
For more information, click on the Wintrode Tutoring Program tab in D2L.
Courses Requirements and Evaluation Procedures
Your grade for the course will be based on exams, book review, and discussion; in addition
case studies for graduate students.
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Exams
There will be five weekly exams and no makeup exams. Each exam will be multiple choice,
with a 2-hour time limit. Upon completion your exam score will be immediately posted in the
D2L gradebook. The questions are generated from a test bank library. Your lowest exam
score will be dropped, and you will be graded on your four highest exam scores. Each exam
will be 100 points or count for 16.6% of the course grade -- so 67% of the course grade is
based on the exams.
Discussion
Under the communications Tab, use the Discuss Tab in the Desire2Learn, your weekly
discussion involves:
1. Every Monday, I will post the discussion questions for the week. Chapter discussion
questions will be open until the day of the exam, at which time all discussion topics will close
when the exam closes. Until the test deadline, post your responses in your discussion area.
2. You may also respond to any class-relevant topics your classmates start to discuss. For
instance, if you have questions about a concept or a theory, you can post a message in your
chapter discussion area, and other classmates can respond. I firmly believe that the best way
to learn a new skill is to teach it to others.
4. There are two forums entitled “Course Issues” and “Human Resource Management
Questions”. If no one can answer your question, post your question in these forums, and I
will answer your question.
Please note:
1. Not only respond to my questions but carry on a dialogue with your classmates as well.
This is a discussion, not just a question-and-answer session. It is one of the items that make a
good online course and establishes community. If you only respond to my questions, it makes
our discussion more of an "exam" rather than a dialogue.
2. When you reply to a post, do not just say "I agree" or “I disagree”. Explain why you agree
or disagree.
3. Each test period, two posts are the bare minimum. You need to discuss any interesting
issues you read from the textbook, or comment on other students’ posts. More is expected for
a good discussion grade. Late posts do not count. You should also plan on posting on more
than one or even two days to allow yourself to stay involved with the class.
Weekly discussion will make up 16% of the course grade in all. I will use the following
guidelines for grading your discussion.
1. For an "A": a weekly discussion grade of "A" will require you to have all your postings
completed by the deadlines, demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding of the
week's readings, responses, and questions for your classmates, and at least five quality
postings spread out before each exam.
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2. For a "B": a weekly discussion grade of "B" will require you to have all your postings
completed by the deadlines, demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the week’s
readings, responses, and questions for your classmates, and four good postings spread out
before each exam.
3. For a "C": a weekly discussion grade of "C" will require you to have your postings
completed by the deadlines, demonstrate average knowledge and understanding of the
week's assignments, responses, and questions for your classmates, and three good postings.
4. For a "D": a weekly discussion grade of "D" will require you to have two posts
demonstrating some knowledge of the week's assignments and responses and questions for
your classmates.
5. For an “F": simply do nothing or offer only postings that are strictly your opinion without
any support from the class materials. Rudeness to your classmates also helps you achieve this
goal.
Book Review Paper
The Questions for your book review of How Do I Keep My Employees Motivated? can be found
under the content tab of this course. Your paper is to be double spaced, typed, one-inch margins
and 12-point Times New Roman font. The review paper is to be 2 to 5 pages in length. Please
see course calendar for review due date. It will not be accepted after Friday, June 27 th, 2025. Your
book review paper can be placed in your D2L Dropbox under the “Assessment” tab. Your book
review paper will be graded and placed in the D2L grade book within one week after submission.
Graduate Students
A weekly case study will also be required for graduate students. Each case study will come from
our textbook, and your answers to the weekly case study questions are to be deposited in the class
drop box. In total, weekly case studies are worth 100 points.
Grades:
Four exams @ 100 pts. 400 points
Review paper @ 100 pts. 100 points
Class Discussion 100 points
Total Points 600 points
Graduate Students (additional work)
Weekly case studies 100 points
Total Points 700 points
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Grade policy
In accordance with the 2024-2025 South Dakota State University General Catalog for
undergraduate programs, the following grade policy applies to this course.
Letter Grade Description Performance
A Exceptional 90% and above
B Above Average 80%-89%
C Average 70% – 79%
D Lowest passing 60% – 69%
F Failure Below 60%
60% is required to pass the course. This scale will not be raised.
Help with Desire to Learn (D2L)
1. If you need assistance to login, SDSU Support Desk has hours: Monday - Thursday:
8:00am - 6:00pm; Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm; Phone Number: (605) 688-6776. Email:
[email protected].
Features of Online AGEC BADM 457 557: Business Ethics
1. Course homepage will link you to the various course materials and tools.
2. Course Content. Course material is organized by chapters. You can access each
chapter from the Course Content page. The chapter page will include links to
PowerPoint notes, Case Study assignments, and Book Review assignment paper.
3. Communications Tab.
Discuss--in a sense the discussion area is the classroom for an online course. You
interact with your classmates and answer weekly discussion questions in the
discussion area. You can interact with me and ask me questions in the Ask the
Instructor area. I will typically answer the question within 48 hours.
4. Calendar will indicate dates for each exam dates, discussion deadlines, and movie
review deadlines.
5. Quizzes. This is where you can find the five-chapter exams.
6. Dropbox. For weekly case studies and book report.
7. Grades will show your scores on discussion, exams, and movie review papers.
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Tentative Schedule
Weeks Readings Exams and Due Dates
Discussion
5/27 – 5/30 Chapters 1 and 2 “Introduce Yourself” Monday 6/2
and 5 Discussion Posts
Exam 1
(Case Study 1 –
Graduate students)
6/2 – 6/8 Chapters 3 and 4 5 Discussion Posts and Monday 6/9
Exam 2
Case Study 2
6/9 – 6/15 Chapters 5 and 6 5 Discussion Posts and Monday 6/16
Exam 3
Case Study 3
6/16 – 6/22 Chapter 7 and 8 5 Discussion Posts and Monday 6/23
Exam 4
Case Study 4
6/23 – 6/27 Chapter 9 and 10 Book Review Friday 6/27
5 Discussion Posts and
Exam 5
Case Study 5
ADA Statement: South Dakota State University strives to ensure that physical resources,
as well as information and communication technologies, are reasonably accessible to
users in order to provide equal access to all. If you encounter any accessibility issues, you
are encouraged to immediately contact the instructor of the course and the Office of
Disability Services (Phone: 605-688- 4504; Fax: 605-688-4987; E-mail:
[email protected] or [email protected]; Address: Room
271, Box 2815, University Student Union, Brookings South Dakota 57007), which will
work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Please note: if your home institution is
not the institution you are enrolled at for a course (host institution), then you should
contact your home institution’s Office of Disability services. The disability services at the
home and host institution will work together to ensure your request is evaluated and
responded.
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Freedom in Learning Statement: Under Board of Regents and Regental Institutions
policy, student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not
on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Discussion and debate
are critical to education and professional development. Students should be free to take
reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve
judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of
any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic
evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct
unrelated to academic standards should contact their home institution to initiate a review
of the evaluation.
Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct: Cheating and other forms of academic
dishonesty and misconduct run contrary to the purposes of higher education and will not
be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, copying
answers or work done by another student (either on an exam or an assignment), allowing
another student to copy from you, and using unauthorized materials during an exam. The
Regental Institution’s policy and procedures on cheating and academic dishonesty can be
found in SDSU Policy 2:4 and the governing Board of Regents policies can be found in
BOR Policy 2:33 and BOR Policy 3:4. The consequences for cheating and academic
dishonesty are outlined in policy.
Acceptable Use of Technology: While Regental Institutions strive to provide access to
computer labs and other technology, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure adequate
access to the technology required for a course. This may include access to a computer
(not Chromebooks, iPads, etc.), webcam, internet, adequate bandwidth, etc. While
utilizing any of the information technology systems students, faculty and staff should
observe all relevant laws, regulations, BOR Policy 7.1, and any institutional procedural
requirements.
Emergency Alert Communication: In the event of an emergency arising on campus
under BOR Policy 7:3, your Regental Home Institution will notify the campus
community via the emergency alert system. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure
that their information is updated in the emergency alert system. The student’s cell phone
will be automatically inserted if available and if not, their email address is loaded.
Students can at any time update their information in the student alert system.
Complaint Procedure and Academic Appeals: South Dakota State University’s
primary objective is to assist students in meeting their academic goals through a positive
and rigorous academic experience. In the case that a student has a concern, the
University’s procedures should be followed to address these concerns and/or complaints.
Policy 2:4 outlines procedures for academic appeals.
Student Success Services and Supports: Information about student success services and
supports, including tutoring and supplemental instruction, can be found at the Wintrode
Student Success and Opportunity Center website.
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