Ethical Practice: Leading Through Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and System Design

Instructor Insights

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 15.270 Ethical Practice: Leading Through Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and System Design as it was taught by Dr. Leigh Hafrey in Spring 2016.

This course introduces seminar participants to aspects of ethics in business, with a focus on general management. Students explore both the philosophy driving ethics and the daily challenges that managers face; they also engage with the subject with guest faculty and business and other professional practitioners. Individual sessions take the form of moderated discussion, with occasional short lectures from the instructor.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

• Explore three ever-wider circles of ethical complexity: 1) individual and professional commitments; 2) the rights and responsibilities of corporations; and 3) the social and ethical underpinnings of business as an activity
• Define terms central to each of these circles
• Conduct a brief historical assessment of business and capital in the early 21^st century

Instructor Insights

"My teaching assistants and I provide feedback as another version of the dialogue I hope to foster among the students themselves."

— Leigh Hafrey

Below, Dr. Leigh Hafrey describes various aspects of how he teaches 15.270 Ethical Practice: Leading Through Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and System Design.

• Fostering Meaningful Discussions
• The Role of Teamwork
• Giving Students Feedback

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

None

Requirements Satisfied

None

Offered

Every spring semester

Assessment

Grade Breakdown

The students’ grades were based on the following activities:

40% Class participation 30% Three team papers 30% Individual paper

Instructor Insights on Assessment

Dr. Leigh Hafrey shares his insights about providing students with feedback.

Student Information

Enrollment

32 students

Breakdown by Year

Mostly graduate students

Breakdown by Major

Mostly Sloan MBA students

Typical Student Background

Many students come to the course with experience in the non-profit sector.

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 6 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

In Class

• Met 2 times per week for 1.5 hours per session; 13 sessions total.
• Individual sessions took the form of moderated discussion, with occasional short lectures from the instructor.
• One session included a panel on Business and the Professions.

Out of Class

• Team writing assignments
• Individual paper
• Readings