Business

Students are expected to conduct research on a topic related to the course. This research may be conducted using various resources, including but not limited to various library and Internet options. The paper is expected to be between 10 pages, in length and use the APA style of documentation. Your paper must be submitted as a word document or in rich text format. The paper must be submitted via Vanco Hall using the assignment submissions.

The purpose of the paper and its message are to be explained in the opening paragraphs, particularly the ethical dilemmas identified from the historical event.

Topic: Small Business Ethics,

First Draft with primary conclusions (7-8 pages) Up to 50 points Citations Properly Footnoted in Text per APA Up to 25 Points Citations 8-15 Sources)Up to 25 points Maximum= 100 Points

Final Draft 10 pages of text with conclusions and recommendations. Complete APA citations and bibliography. 250 Points

Scoring Rubric for Final Paper is :

Structure (10 points) The abstract (1pts), introduction (2 pts), thesis and arguments (5 pts) and conclusions (2 pts).

Content (50 points) Expanding on the outline below is critical if the student wishes to earn the highest possible grade.

You should reference “The Ethical Cycle” from your text to guide your paper format (Stanwick and Stanwick, 3rd ed. P 108, Ist ed p.19). Here are excerpts from Stanwicks’ work with notes from your instructor:

“The presentation of the Ethical Cycle allows the student to understand the ethical decision making process from a linear perspective. The students should be able to quickly grasp the sequential step process in making ethical decisions. It should be stressed that it can be open to interpretation of the “facts” that are collected at each step in the Ethical Cycle.” (Stanwick and Stanwick, 2009)

Moral Problem Statement (20 points) The identification of the moral problem could be viewed differently by different decision makers. For example, those issues which may be “legal” but may not be “ethical” could result in some decision makers determining that there is not a moral problem. For example, if India “allows underage” girls to sew garments together is there a moral issues since this could be the legal age of work in India.

Problem Analysis (30 points)

Analyze the history of the event from several perspectives- inside the company as the decision maker, as a member of management with knowledge of the issue, as a director, and as employee. Identify the stakeholders and their ability to influence the decision or outcome or their level of exposure to gain or lose from the decision or outcome.

“The problem analysis step in the ethical cycle sets the tone for the decision maker to incorporate factors beyond simply using his or her heuristics to develop a solution. It is critical that the students understand that decision makers must consider others who are impacted by their decisions. That is why stakeholder theory is intertwined within all the chapters of the textbook. Decision makers must understand the wants and needs of other vested parties to their decision process. Furthermore, the decision process must have boundaries in order to help guide the course of action. Therefore, the decision must be within the boundaries of the moral values of the individual and the firm. The third critical point is determination of the relevant facts. Again, this can be a subjective process. Each individual will

make their own determination of what facts are “relevant” and which facts are not. As a result, a different interpretation of “relevance” can result in a different analysis of the problem (Stanwick and Stanwick, 2009).”

Options For Action (50 Points- Managements 10 points, alternatives 40 points)

Provide several alternatives, and you may cite your text and the case studies for these, as well as obtaining outside references and then conclude with your selected strategy, why you agree or disagree with the actions of management, and explain your decision and compare your chosen and next best alternative in terms of the stakeholders identified

“The students must understand that options for action should not be considered “lightly” in this analysis. Different viable alternative courses of action must be considered by the decision maker. Each decision must result in obtainable results that can be measured against the overall goals and objectives of the firm (Stanwick and Stanwick, 2009).”

Ethical Judgment ( 50 pts)

The decision maker needs to balance the interests of the stakeholders, often choosing between agency, acting in the direct interest of a controlling stakeholder, and stewardship, considering the long term value creation for the controlling stakeholder and finding a balance between immediate and long term interests.

“It is the responsibility of the decision maker to “maximize” the level of satisfaction for the stakeholders of the firm. As a result, the decision maker must always reconcile his or her actions with the demands of the stakeholders which occur during the ethical judgment step in the Ethical Cycle. (Stanwick and Stanwick, 2009).”

Reflection (30 points) Reflection is a time in which the decision maker pauses the process to reflect on how the decisions were made and how the decisions will be impacted by others. The reflection stage allows the decision maker one more chance to ensure that the course of action developed to resolve the moral problem is in the best interest of all the vested stakeholders of the firm.”

Please conclude your paper with a summary of your strategy and arguments in support of your conclusion or recommendation. Please be creative in the use of sources, and support your arguments with empirical (observable direct) data and multiple sources.

Writing(10 points) Grammar and spelling checked, style concise and cogent. We will use automated software to grade the level of writing. College level- 5 pts, HS senior B 4 pts; HS Junior 3 pts; HS Sophomore 2 points, Below High School Sophomore-0 pts. Your paper must be submitted as a word document or in rich text format. The paper must be submitted via Vanco Hall.

Proper Attribution of Sources (10 points) A minimum of eight scholarly sources from the online library, cites properly embedded in text. (5 points), mix of 8 scholarly and lay sources properly cited, (4 points); 5 sources properly 3 points, Less than 5 sources or not properly embedded (-5 points)

More than 8 sources- 1 point per scholarly source up to 12 Maximum Points

Paper will be returned ungraded if another’s work has not been properly cited in the text and within the bibliography. You will find APA basic citation explained in the “Cite YOUR Sources” Resource.