Faculty Advisor: Adjunct Professor, Loyola Marymount University

Research Practicum Introduction

How would a business leader act when executing the 'common good' in the pandemic? What are the company’s duties to help maintain sustainability?

This program focuses on the interaction and importance of social, political, economic and environmental forces in business and society. Using the framework of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), students will study the moral responsibility of business for societal and environmental impacts. Case study methodology will be used and cases from the medical, technology, and financial sectors will be used. Emphasis is placed on applying ethical decision models to a variety of stakeholder issues, which will include a substantial investigation into the underlying normative ethical theories and socio-political factors that impact business’ broader responsibilities.

Final Deliverables

Students will each write a research proposal or paper on an organization of their choice to include an analysis of an ethical decision made during the pandemic. They will also complete a group project that collaborates with the UN’s Aim2Flourish academic initiative.

The final work will be 3-5 page long, examining the questions of ethics and sustainability as it relates to this business practice. It must include extensive research, referencing the five frameworks listed on the Markkula Center. Students should also use the multiple case studies and references from class discussions.

Program Topics

• Overview of ethics and ethical reasoning

• Relativism vs. Absolutism

• Fairness vs. Justice

• Concepts and case studies on utilitarianism

• Rights and duties

• Organizational ethics

Standards of Assessment

• Successful completion of this program involves:

• Completion of all weekly assignments on time or by negotiated extension

• Completion of final project

• Thoughtful and engaged participation in discussions

• Being on time for each session

Program Detail

• Cohort Size: This cohort is limited to 5-10 students

• Workload: Average 3 hours per week (including class and homework time)

• Target Students: 7-9th grade students interested in Business, Ethics, Sustainability or other Social Science subjects. Students must be fluent in English and demonstrate self-management skills. This project is best for students with genuine curiosity in the subject, diligence, and initiative.

• Schedule: TBD (Meetings will take place for around one hour per week, with a weekly meeting day and time to be determined a few weeks prior to the class start date.)