Course Syllabus


PSY 833: Ethics and Leadership: Psychological and Social Processes


Overview

CATEGORY INFORMATION
Credits 3
Prerequisites PSY 532
Delivery Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com)
Dates See the Calendar.
Instructor See the Orientation module under the Modules tab.

Description

This course provides a broad exploration of important psychological, cognitive, and social issues in leadership that will introduce students to the basic principles of operating as an ethical leader in organizations. This course will focus on subject matter that will better prepare students for the role that leaders play in shaping the ethical actions of their organization, an issue that continues to grow in importance. In the investigation of the course material, students will be exposed to the core principles of ethical leadership from a psychological framework, as well as a series of real-world case examples and experiences using the field of psychology as the primary lens of interpretation and guidance. In addition, students will share their personal experiences and work through the often challenging and difficult decisions that surround ethical leadership.

In particular, the course investigates the foundations of ethical behavior from a psychological perspective; developmental and cognitive approaches to understanding ethical decision making; traits of ethical and unethical leaders; the psychology of ethically leading small groups; globalism and ethical leadership; and the psychological principles of ethical leadership during crises. Each topic will be presented with an emphasis on psychological, cognitive, and social aspects of leading ethically, which have been drawn from industrial and organizational psychology and organizational behavior literature. Although the philosophical components of ethical leadership will be acknowledged, they will not serve as a substantive focus in the course, and as noted, the content will be based on the field of psychology.

Students will gain an understanding of the basic psychological, cognitive, and social views on ethically leading others; the capacity to effectively assess potentially difficult ethical decisions; and the capacity to utilize knowledge about ethical leadership to model appropriate behaviors for followers such that ethical behavior is increased across the group and organization. On the whole, the aim of the course is to prepare students to be more effective leaders and to behave in ways consistent with social and normative values.

Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Use ethics terminology to describe and analyze behaviors, situations, and decisions in the workplace.
  2. Apply the five general principles of the APA ethics code in the workplace.
  3. Locate other relevant ethics codes, identify pertinent aspects, and apply them in the workplace.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of human subjects research ethics by passing CITI training.
  5. Synthesize ethical concepts from throughout the course to design strategies to solve applied ethical issues in particular types of situations (e.g. leading small groups, creating and facilitating an ethical organizational climate, crises, and global/multicultural situations).

Competencies

The assignments in this course are designed to provide opportunities to practice and demonstrate leadership competencies.

ASSIGNMENT COMPETENCIES
Discussions • Communication
• Critical Thinking
Initial Thoughts • Critical Thinking
Reflections • Critical Thinking
Unit 01 Discussion • Communication
• Critical Thinking
Unit 02 Assignment:
Conflict-of-Interest
Resolution Paper
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Innovation
Unit 03 Assignment:
CITI Certificate
• Critical Thinking
Unit 04 Discussion • Communication
• Critical Thinking
Unit 05 Assignment:
Ethics Case Study
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Innovation
• Execution
• Agility

Organization

This course is made up of 13 lessons divided into 5 units.

For a typical unit, you will complete the following assignments:

  • Submit your initial thoughts about a scenario.
  • Complete a unit assignment.
  • Submit your reflection about the scenario.

For a typical lesson, you will complete the following activities and assignments:

  • Explore online course content.
  • Read a few assigned readings.
  • Participate in a discussion.

Online Learning and Attendance

This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.


Materials

Texts

The following text is required:

  • Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. [ISBN: 978-1506362311]

The following text is optional:

  • *Lefkowitz, J. L. (2017). Ethics and values in industrial-organizational psychology (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. [ISBN: 978-1138189935]

*E-Book Option: An online version of one or more of your texts is available at no cost as a Penn State Libraries E-Book, which is indicated by an asterisk (*). You can access the E-Book through the Library Resources tab in the course navigation menu. Some E-Books will only be available online, while others will be available to download in full or in part. You may choose to use the E-Book as an alternative to purchasing a physical copy of the text. For questions or issues, you can contact the University Libraries Reserve Help (UL-RESERVESHELP@LISTS.PSU.EDU).

In addition to the above noted texts, students will be required to review a series of SAGE business cases to complete the discussion assignments in Lessons 06-09.  The SAGE business cases are accessible via Library Services (more detail on the full scope of Library Services can be found below) and there will be links to the applicable cases included within the assignment instructions for the discussion assignments in Lessons 06-09.

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

Course Reserves

There are electronic resources on reserve for this course that can be accessed through the Penn State Libraries. To access your Course Reserves, please use the Library Resources tab in the course navigation menu. For any questions you may have about viewing or printing your Course Reserves, refer to the View and Print Electronic Course Reserves page (Links to an external site.) at https://libraries.psu.edu/services/course-reserves/using-electronic-reserves/view-and-print-electronic-course-reserves.


Grading

Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.

Scale

LETTER
GRADE
MINIMUM
PERCENT
MINIMUM
POINTS
A 93 372
A- 90 360
B+ 87 348
B 83 332
B- 80 320
C+ 77 308
C 70 280
D 60 240
F 0 0

Due Dates

All assignments are due by 9:00 AM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-2891.

As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (e.g., hospitalization, jury duty, family emergency, or military service) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Notes

  • To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.
  • Late Assignments: Late assignments will lose the point equivalent of 10 percent per calendar day, and they will not be accepted later than 10 calendar days after the due date. Given the time-sensitive, interactive nature of discussions, replies will not be accepted after a lesson ends.

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.

You can expect meaningful feedback on assignments within 7 days of their due date.

Method

The guidelines below apply to most assignments, but there may be exceptions (e.g. Initial Thoughts assignments). Make sure to read all assignments' directions AND rubrics in their entirety.

  • Content quality: Generally speaking, there is no right or wrong answer for these assignments, but you must make your arguments/points based on theory, concepts, research, and/or factual evidence and in a clear and concise manner. This means with clear thesis statements; detailed explanations; apparent connection between theory, concepts, etc. and behaviors/decisions; and strong organization.
  • Citations and references: Generally speaking, it is necessary to cite, quote, and reference ideas that you have used. Paraphrasing is preferred to quotes as that demonstrates your grasp of the ideas, but if you use someone else’s words, make sure to quote, cite, and reference. If you paraphrase, remember to cite and reference.

Note on Turnitin (Unit 02 Assignment and Unit 05 Assignment): Please be aware that Turnitin will produce an originality report. See the Academic Integrity section for information about the potential consequences of plagiarism and other violations of academic integrity.

ASSIGNMENT
GROUP
POINTS
Discussions 100
Initial Thoughts 20
Reflections 40
Unit 01 Assignment 30
Unit 02 Assignment 50
Unit 03 Assignment 25
Unit 04 Assignment 30
Unit 05 Assignment 105
Total 400

Discussions

Value: 10 x 10 PTS, 100 PTS total

The purpose of the discussion assignments is to analyze course concepts as a class on a deeper level than in the readings or to use the readings to facilitate a deeper understanding. You will interact with classmates and the instructor by sharing thoughtful discussion ideas in the discussion forums. The most important aspect of this assignment is that it is an interactive assignment. It is important to interact with your classmates as they will provide diverse perspectives on the topics at hand, which will expand your knowledge of the concepts immensely.

There are 10 discussions in the course, and you are required to participate in all of them. The first nine discussions are found within Units 01-04. The final discussion, the Course Reflection Discussion, is found within the Course Wrap-Up module. There are no discussion assignments in Unit 05. (The Unit 05 Assignment will take more time than the other unit assignments, and you will apply much of what you learn within Unit 05 to your Ethics Case Study Project.)

For every discussion, you will make an initial reply and respond to the questions in the discussion forum's directions. In addition, you will make at least two replies to classmates or the instructor. Your initial reply is always due a few days earlier than your replies to classmates or the instructor. We encourage you to make your initial reply as early in the week as possible so that everyone else in the class has a chance to respond to your ideas. Your replies to classmates or the instructor are due at the end of the week. Reply by 9 AM ET on the dates on the Calendar.

Your discussion contributions will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality, content quantity, content timeliness, and citations and references. For more information, see the rubric in each discussion forum.

Initial Thoughts

Value: 4 x 5 PTS, 20 PTS total

At the beginning of Units 01-04, you will read a leadership scenario and respond to a few related questions. The purposes of this assignment are for you to articulate your prior knowledge and to create a baseline for comparison at a later time. We are not looking for "right answers," so you should NOT perform any research. Simply respond to the questions to the best of your ability.

Your submission will be graded for completeness and timeliness.

Reflections

Value: 4 x 10 PTS, 40 PTS total

At the end of Units 01-04, you will revisit the leadership scenario and respond to a few related questions. The questions will be the same as (or similar to) the Initial Thoughts questions for the unit. In addition, you will self-assess your progress toward the unit goals after comparing your initial thoughts and final thoughts on the scenario. The reflections are an opportunity for you to think about what you have learned within the unit.

Your submission will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality, content quantity, content timeliness, and citations and references. For more information, see the rubric in each assignment.

Unit 01 Discussion

Value: 25 PTS (Part 1: Initial Post), 5 PTS (Part 2: Reply Comment), 30 PTS total

The Unit 01 Discussion consists of two parts: the initial post and the reply comment. At the end of the unit, you will be required to write a discussion post and to submit the post on the U01 Discussion forum. For this assignment, you will research and analyze a real-world corporate/business ethics scandal that occurred. After you have submitted your initial post and reviewed classmate submissions, you will be required to submit a reply comment in response to one of your classmate’s posts.

For each part, see the directions on the assignment page, the rubric in the assignment settings, and the Calendar for the due date. 

Unit 02 Assignment: Conflict-of-Interest Resolution Paper

Value: 5 PTS (Checkpoint: Initial Thoughts on Conflict Resolution), 45 PTS (Final Conflict-of-Interest Resolution Paper), 50 PTS total

For this Unit 02 Assignment, you will demonstrate an ability to analyze conflicts of interest based on Unit 02 content and to outline an approach to resolution of the conflict presented. You will first be required to review an ethical issue that occurred at a hypothetical company detailed in the Conflict-of-Interest Case.

Your final paper should include the following five sections:

  1. Introduction: A summary of the conflicts of interest presented in the case
  2. Conflict Position 1: Two or more arguments in favor of hiring the preferred candidate
  3. Conflict Position 2: Two or more arguments against hiring the preferred candidate
  4. Conflict-of-Interest Resolution: An overview of how you believe the case should be resolved and why
  5. Conclusion: A recap of your determination and the next steps you feel should be taken as the company’s Director of Ethics

We've established a checkpoint to ensure that you obtain helpful feedback prior to submitting the Final Conflict-of-Interest Resolution Paper. For each sub-assignment, see the directions on the main assignment page, the rubric in the drop box, and the Calendar for the due date.

For each sub-assignment, attach and submit a text document to the correct drop box. Use one of the following file types: docx, doc, or pdf. For the Final Conflict-of-Interest Resolution Paper, also upload the document to the course section at Turnitin.

Unit 03 Assignment: CITI Certificate

Value: 25 PTS

During Lesson 07 you will take two courses offered by the Penn State CITI Program, which provides free training relating to institutional review boards and human subjects research. At the end of each course, you must successfully pass an assessment (typically at an 80% or above success rate). You can take the courses as many times as necessary to pass them. After passing the courses, you must generate two completion report PDFs and then upload them to the drop box in Canvas for your instructor to review.

Your submissions will be graded for completeness and timeliness.

Unit 04 Discussion

Value: 25 PTS (Part 1: Initial Post), 5 PTS (Part 2: Reply Comment), 30 PTS total

The Unit 04 Assignment consists of two parts: the initial post and the reply comment. At the end of the unit, you will be required to write a discussion post and to submit the post on the U04 Discussion forum. For this assignment, you will present an example of where an employee’s individual differences or personality created an ethical dilemma. You will also attempt to better resolve that dilemma. After you have submitted your initial post and reviewed classmate submissions, you will be required to submit a reply comment in response to one of your classmate’s discussion posts.

For each part, see the directions on the assignment page, the rubric in the assignment settings, and the Calendar for the due date. 

Unit 05 Assignment: Ethics Case Study

Value: 25 PTS (Part 1: Ethical Climate Assessment Paper), 40 PTS (Part 2: Project Plan), 40 PTS (Part 3: Executive Presentation), 105 PTS total

For this Unit 05 Assignment, you will evaluate an ethical climate issue and then develop and implement a project plan that will work to improve the ethical climate of the organization being discussed. You will first be required to review an ethical misconduct issue that occurred at a hypothetical company detailed in the Ethics Case.

While completing this project, you will create three products:

  • Part 1: Ethical Climate Assessment Paper
  • Part 2: Project Plan
  • Part 3: Executive Presentation

For each sub-assignment, you should attach and submit documents to the correct drop box in Canvas. Use the file type(s) stipulated in each drop box. For Parts 1 and 2, also upload your paper to the course section at Turnitin. Part 3: Executive Presentation will be completed with PowerPoint and Kaltura Capture.

Parts 1 and 2 will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality; structure and organization; and citations and references. Part 3 will be graded based on the following criteria: content quality; structure and organization; and presentation quality. For more information, see the rubrics in the drop boxes.

Final Exam

None


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TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.


University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at http://www.psu.edu or Penn State News website at http://news.psu.edu.

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Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due