1

1

BUSINESS LEADERHSIP AND HUMAN VALUES

The Moral Compass Essay

Learning Objective The purpose of the Moral Compass Essay is to articulate a thoughtfully reasoned system of values, principles, and practices as a human values framework and branding for business leadership.

Overview The Moral Compass Essay is a critically reflective personal essay defining and articulating personal values and explaining how they guide your character, conscience, and conduct in business, society, and professional life. It should be written in your own words in the first person narrative voice as a brief synopsis of your personal moral compass. You may refer to the BLHV Course Manual or Moral Compass Workbook (available in Course Documents) as a resource when working on the assignment.

2

Execution You will work on the Moral Compass Essay for several weeks of this course (Modules 1-4). Your final deliverable should address each of the questions in each section of the outline below.

Section Deliverable instructions

Personal Integrity Statement

What is your understanding of a moral compass as a foundation for personal integrity and social conscience? From which Wisdom Tradition(s) do you draw in constructing your moral compass? What do you value and question about this Wisdom Tradition?

Moral Compass Elements

• MORAL VISION: What is your vision of a good life? What values anchor your moral vision? What symbol, song, image, or story motivates and inspires your moral vision? How does your Wisdom Tradition influence your moral vision?

• MORAL CODE: What are the rules or principles of your moral code? How does your moral code align with your moral vision? How does your Wisdom Tradition influence your moral code?

• MORAL FITNESS: What practices constitute your moral fitness regimen? How do you use these practices to cultivate personal character and integrity? How do these practices align with and reinforce your moral vision and code? How does your Wisdom Tradition influence your moral code?

• DEFINING MOMENT: What moral challenge has been a key defining moment for you? How has this challenge tested, clarified, and defined your character and values? If you could, how would you rewrite the script for this event in your life? Why? How does your Wisdom Tradition influence your moral understanding of this challenge?

Your Future as a Business Leader

Drawing from the wisdom of your moral compass, how do you envision the role of human values in your future as a business leader?

Reflection What is your key take-away from this assignment?

Format • Double-spaced with Calibri 11 pt, Times New Roman 12 pt, or Arial 10 pt font.

• Paper length about 1500 words (5-6 double-spaced pages)

• References and citations are not required because this is about you, but if you do include quotations or ideas from other writers, citations and a References section must follow APA format. You do not need to reference the Moral Compass Workbook unless you include a direct quote.

Academic Integrity Your submission must include a signed Academic Integrity Cover Page (see next page template) to be accepted.

3

Assignment Cover Page THIS PAGE MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE COMPLETED ASSIGNMENT

Business Leadership and Human Values MORAL COMPASS ESSAY

Instructor Name: Section Number: Student Name: Date of Submission: I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE CAREY ACADEMIC ETHICS POLICY. I attest that this Moral Compass Essay is entirely my own original work, even if I have collaborated with others in discussing it. I attest that it does not contain material from other sources unless properly cited and referenced. I understand that including material from other sources without giving proper citation is a violation of academic integrity that will result in sanctions according to the Carey Ethics Policy

Signature of Student

MORAL COMPASS ESSAY RUBRIC (Revised August 2018) Exemplary (A)* Proficient (B)* Developing (C)* Unsatisfactory (F)

Personal Integrity Statement 20%

• Synthesizes personal experience, empirical observation, independent inquiry, wisdom traditions, and other sources in articulating a uniquely personal value system.

• Draws thoughtfully from personal observation and experience, wisdom traditions, and other sources in articulating a personal value system.

• Draws superficially from personal experience and/or conventional norms in articulating a personal value system.

• Statement is missing or grossly insufficient in content.

Moral Compass Elements 50%

• Addresses assigned questions thoughtfully and completely.

• Reflects a deeply critical and creative understanding of the Moral Compass, its roots in wisdom traditions, and competently applies tools of ethical discernment in personal examples.

• Demonstrates morally courageous self-disclosure

• Awareness of proactive moral wellbeing

• Reflects a thorough understanding of human values and the Moral Compass, its roots in wisdom traditions, and understandingly applies tools of ethical discernment in personal examples.

• Demonstrates conventional self-disclosure

• Attends reactively to moral wellbeing

• Does not address questions as assigned or addresses them partially or only superficially.

• Demonstrates a superficial understanding of human values and the Moral Compass and its roots in wisdom traditions.

• Does not sufficiently apply tools of ethical discernment to personal examples.

• Avoids self-disclosure

• Inattentive to moral wellbeing

• Most elements of the Moral Compass are missing or grossly insufficient in content.

Your Future as a Business Leader 15%

• Demonstrates deep thought and critical understanding of human values and ethical challenges of business leadership.

• Thoroughly critiques personal values and social and business norms from multiple perspectives.

• Demonstrates insight about the role of human values in business leadership.

• Critically scrutinizes personal values and social and business norms.

• Demonstrates little insight about the role of human values in business leadership.

• Does not question personal values or social and business norms.

• Does not address this component.

Guidelines 15%

• Imaginatively applies the Moral Compass Essay format and workbook content in a unique, compelling essay

• Flawless, eloquent composition

• Proper attribution and creative use of sources

• Follows the Moral Compass Essay framework to address assigned questions thoughtfully and completely

• Clear and error-free composition

• Proper attribution of sources

• Does not follow the Moral Compass Essay framework or fully address assigned questions

• Poor composition: Incoherent organization; spelling, grammar, and syntactical errors

• Improper attribution of sources

• Papers that are late may be penalized.

• Any violation of the Carey Honor Code (plagiarism) will be handled according to appropriate Carey protocol.

* Note: At instructor’s discretion, a plus (+) or minus (-) maybe given to designate a letter grade that overlaps with the adjoining criteria.