Ethics Defenders: Building Ethical Businesses
Created byTori Hale
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Ethics Defenders: Building Ethical Businesses

Grade 10Other8 days
In this project, students act as ethical consultants, advising businesses on developing a code of ethics and communication strategies to ensure ethical practices, foster stakeholder trust, and contribute to long-term success. They dissect real-world ethical dilemmas, create a code of ethics blueprint, and explore ethical communication methods. Students also participate in a collaboration simulation to navigate ethical challenges and synthesize their learning into an 'Ethics Advocate Playbook'.
Ethical DilemmasCode of EthicsCommunication StrategiesStakeholder TrustEthical BehaviorBusiness EthicsCollaboration
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as ethical consultants, advise businesses on developing a code of ethics and communication strategies that not only ensure ethical practices and foster stakeholder trust, but also contribute to long-term success and a positive reputation in a competitive market?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How can businesses ensure ethical practices in a competitive market?
  • What role does communication play in maintaining ethical standards within a company and with its stakeholders?
  • How does a company's code of ethics impact its success and reputation?
  • What are the potential consequences of unethical behavior on a business's longevity and stakeholder trust?
  • How can entrepreneurs create a business culture that promotes and sustains ethical decision-making?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to evaluate communication methods in various business scenarios.
  • Students will be able to collaborate effectively with diverse partners in a business context.
  • Students will be able to develop a comprehensive code of ethics for a business venture.
  • Students will be able to analyze the impact of unethical behavior on businesses.
  • Students will be able to identify and implement strategies that promote ethical behavior in a business environment.

National Business Education Association

NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.9
Primary
Evaluate the best method of communication for business scenarios.Reason: Directly addresses the need to evaluate communication methods in business scenarios.
NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.10
Primary
Prepare for and effectively participate in business collaborations with diverse partnersReason: Addresses the need to prepare for business collaborations with diverse partners.
NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.11
Primary
Develop a code of ethics for a business venture.Reason: Core element of the project is developing a code of ethics.
NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.12
Primary
Analyze the effect of unethical behavior on a business.Reason: Addresses the effects of unethical behavior on a business
NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.13
Primary
Identify strategies that facilitate ethical behavior in a business.Reason: Addresses the strategies to facilitate ethical behavior in a business.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Case of the Conflicted Coffee

Students receive a cryptic email detailing an ethical dilemma faced by a local coffee shop owner: a supplier is offering beans at a drastically reduced price, but there are rumors of unethical labor practices. Students must investigate the situation, weigh the options, and advise the owner, sparking immediate discussion about ethical trade-offs.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Ethical Dilemma Dissection

Students will dissect real-world ethical dilemmas faced by businesses. They will identify the stakeholders involved, the ethical issues at play, and the potential consequences of different decisions. This activity sets the stage for developing their own ethical guidelines.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research and select three case studies of ethical dilemmas faced by businesses (e.g., data privacy, environmental impact, supply chain issues).
2. For each case study, identify the key stakeholders (e.g., customers, employees, shareholders, community).
3. Analyze the ethical issues at the heart of the dilemma (e.g., conflicts of interest, transparency, fairness).
4. Evaluate the potential consequences (both positive and negative) of different courses of action for each stakeholder.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed analysis of three ethical dilemma case studies, including stakeholder identification, ethical issue analysis, and a consequence evaluation chart.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.12 (Analyze the effect of unethical behavior on a business) by examining real-world examples.
Activity 2

Code of Ethics Blueprint

Building on the case study analysis, students will brainstorm and outline the key components of an effective code of ethics. They will consider the values, principles, and standards that should guide a business's conduct.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Based on the case studies, brainstorm a list of core values that are essential for ethical business conduct (e.g., integrity, respect, responsibility).
2. For each core value, develop a set of guiding principles that translate the value into actionable behaviors (e.g., Integrity: 'Be honest and transparent in all business dealings').
3. Outline specific standards of conduct that employees and the business should adhere to (e.g., 'Employees must disclose any potential conflicts of interest').
4. Organize the values, principles, and standards into a structured outline for a code of ethics document.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed outline of a code of ethics, including core values, guiding principles, and specific standards of conduct.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsPrepares students for NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.11 (Develop a code of ethics for a business venture) by providing a structured framework.
Activity 3

Ethical Communication Compass

Students explore different communication methods and evaluate their effectiveness in various business scenarios, focusing on ethical considerations. This includes crafting appropriate responses to ethical breaches and communicating the code of ethics to stakeholders.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research and identify various communication methods used in business (e.g., email, social media, in-person meetings, memos).
2. Analyze scenarios where ethical breaches might occur (e.g., misleading advertising, data breaches, unfair labor practices).
3. Determine the most effective communication method for addressing each ethical breach, considering factors such as speed, clarity, and sensitivity.
4. Craft sample communications (e.g., press release, internal memo, social media post) that ethically and effectively address each scenario.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA portfolio of sample communications addressing ethical breaches, demonstrating an understanding of appropriate communication methods.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.9 (Evaluate the best method of communication for business scenarios) by applying communication strategies to specific ethical situations.
Activity 4

Collaboration Crossroads Simulation

Students participate in simulated business collaborations with diverse partners, navigating potential ethical challenges and practicing effective communication and teamwork. This builds practical skills in ethical decision-making within collaborative settings.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Divide the class into small groups, each representing a different business or stakeholder in a collaborative project (e.g., a marketing agency, a manufacturing company, a non-profit organization).
2. Present each group with a collaborative project scenario that involves potential ethical dilemmas (e.g., a joint marketing campaign that could be seen as misleading, a supply chain issue with ethical implications).
3. Each group must prepare for and participate in a simulated meeting to discuss the project, address the ethical dilemmas, and negotiate a mutually agreeable solution.
4. Groups will debrief, discussing how they addressed the ethical challenges, what communication strategies they found effective, and how they navigated diverse perspectives.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA written reflection on the collaboration simulation, detailing the ethical challenges encountered, the communication strategies used, and lessons learned about ethical decision-making in collaborative settings.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses NBEA Entrepreneurship Standard 1.C.10 (Prepare for and effectively participate in business collaborations with diverse partners) through hands-on simulation and reflection.
Activity 5

The Ethics Advocate Playbook

Students synthesize their learning by developing a comprehensive 'Ethics Advocate Playbook' for businesses. This includes their code of ethics, communication guidelines, and strategies for fostering ethical behavior.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Refine the code of ethics outline from Activity 2, adding specific details and examples to create a complete and practical document.
2. Incorporate the communication guidelines from Activity 3, providing clear instructions on how to address ethical breaches and communicate ethical standards to stakeholders.
3. Research and identify strategies for promoting ethical behavior within a business, such as training programs, incentive systems, and whistleblowing policies.
4. Compile all the elements into a comprehensive 'Ethics Advocate Playbook' that businesses can use to guide their ethical practices.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA complete 'Ethics Advocate Playbook' for businesses, including a code of ethics, communication guidelines, and strategies for fostering ethical behavior.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSynthesizes learning from previous activities to fully address NBEA Entrepreneurship Standards 1.C.11 (Develop a code of ethics for a business venture) and 1.C.13 (Identify strategies that facilitate ethical behavior in a business).
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Ethics Defenders Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Ethical Dilemma Analysis

Demonstrates the ability to dissect real-world ethical dilemmas, identify stakeholders and ethical issues, and evaluate the consequences of different decisions.
Criterion 1

Stakeholder Identification

Accurately identifies all key stakeholders affected by the ethical dilemma.

Exemplary
4 Points

Identifies all stakeholders with nuanced understanding of their interests and motivations.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies most stakeholders with a clear understanding of their roles.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some stakeholders but may miss key perspectives.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify relevant stakeholders.

Criterion 2

Ethical Issue Analysis

Clearly and accurately analyzes the ethical issues at the heart of the dilemma.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a sophisticated analysis of the ethical issues, demonstrating a deep understanding of underlying principles and conflicts.

Proficient
3 Points

Clearly identifies and explains the key ethical issues present in the dilemma.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some ethical issues but may oversimplify or miss nuances.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify and articulate the ethical issues.

Criterion 3

Consequence Evaluation

Evaluates the potential consequences of different courses of action for each stakeholder.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a comprehensive and insightful evaluation of potential consequences, considering both short-term and long-term impacts on all stakeholders.

Proficient
3 Points

Evaluates the potential consequences of different actions, considering the impact on major stakeholders.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some potential consequences but may not fully consider the impact on all stakeholders.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify potential consequences of different actions.

Category 2

Code of Ethics Development

Demonstrates the ability to develop a comprehensive code of ethics that includes core values, guiding principles, and specific standards of conduct.
Criterion 1

Core Value Identification

Identifies relevant and meaningful core values for ethical business conduct.

Exemplary
4 Points

Identifies core values that are deeply relevant and insightful, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of ethical business practices.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies relevant core values that are essential for ethical business conduct.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some core values but may include values that are less relevant or meaningful.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify core values relevant to ethical business conduct.

Criterion 2

Guiding Principle Formulation

Develops clear and actionable guiding principles that translate core values into specific behaviors.

Exemplary
4 Points

Formulates guiding principles that are exceptionally clear, actionable, and directly linked to the identified core values, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of practical implementation.

Proficient
3 Points

Develops guiding principles that are clear, actionable, and translate core values into specific behaviors.

Developing
2 Points

Develops some guiding principles but may lack clarity or direct connection to core values.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to formulate guiding principles that translate core values into actionable behaviors.

Criterion 3

Standard of Conduct Specification

Outlines specific and measurable standards of conduct that employees and the business should adhere to.

Exemplary
4 Points

Outlines standards of conduct that are exceptionally specific, measurable, and comprehensive, covering a wide range of potential ethical situations.

Proficient
3 Points

Outlines specific standards of conduct that are measurable and relevant to ethical business practices.

Developing
2 Points

Outlines some standards of conduct but may lack specificity or measurability.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to outline specific standards of conduct.

Category 3

Ethical Communication Application

Demonstrates the ability to evaluate and apply communication methods effectively in various business scenarios, especially in response to ethical breaches.
Criterion 1

Method Evaluation

Evaluates the effectiveness of different communication methods in various business scenarios.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a nuanced and insightful evaluation of various communication methods, considering factors such as audience, context, and sensitivity, and demonstrating a deep understanding of strategic communication.

Proficient
3 Points

Evaluates the effectiveness of different communication methods, considering factors such as speed, clarity, and sensitivity.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some communication methods but struggles to evaluate their effectiveness in different scenarios.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify and evaluate communication methods.

Criterion 2

Scenario Response

Crafts appropriate and ethical responses to various ethical breaches.

Exemplary
4 Points

Crafts responses that are exceptionally ethical, effective, and tailored to the specific scenario, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of crisis communication and stakeholder management.

Proficient
3 Points

Crafts appropriate and ethical responses to ethical breaches, demonstrating an understanding of effective communication strategies.

Developing
2 Points

Crafts responses that are partially appropriate but may lack clarity or ethical considerations.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to craft appropriate responses to ethical breaches.

Criterion 3

Clarity and Professionalism

Sample communications are clear, concise and professional.

Exemplary
4 Points

Communications are exceptionally clear, concise, and professional, demonstrating mastery of written communication and attention to detail.

Proficient
3 Points

Communications are clear, concise, and professional.

Developing
2 Points

Communications are understandable but may lack clarity or professionalism.

Beginning
1 Points

Communications are unclear and unprofessional.

Category 4

Ethical Collaboration & Reflection

Demonstrates the ability to effectively participate in business collaborations, navigate ethical challenges, communicate effectively, and reflect on lessons learned.
Criterion 1

Collaboration & Teamwork

Effectively collaborates with diverse partners to address ethical challenges.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional collaboration skills, actively fostering a positive and productive team environment and skillfully navigating diverse perspectives to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Proficient
3 Points

Collaborates effectively with diverse partners to address ethical challenges.

Developing
2 Points

Participates in collaboration but may struggle to navigate diverse perspectives or contribute effectively.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to participate in collaboration or work effectively with others.

Criterion 2

Ethical Navigation

Navigates ethical dilemmas during collaboration and finds mutually agreeable solutions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Skillfully navigates complex ethical dilemmas with nuanced understanding, proactively identifying potential conflicts and facilitating constructive dialogue to reach mutually agreeable and ethically sound solutions.

Proficient
3 Points

Navigates ethical dilemmas and finds mutually agreeable solutions.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies ethical dilemmas but struggles to find mutually agreeable solutions.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify and navigate ethical dilemmas during collaboration.

Criterion 3

Reflection & Learning

Demonstrates reflection on the collaboration simulation and articulates lessons learned.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a profound and insightful reflection on the collaboration simulation, articulating key lessons learned about ethical decision-making and applying them to future collaborative scenarios.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates reflection on the collaboration simulation and articulates lessons learned.

Developing
2 Points

Demonstrates some reflection but may lack depth or articulation of key lessons learned.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to reflect on the collaboration simulation or articulate lessons learned.

Category 5

Ethics Advocate Playbook Synthesis

Demonstrates the ability to synthesize knowledge and skills gained throughout the project into a comprehensive Ethics Advocate Playbook for businesses.
Criterion 1

Code of Ethics Integration

Integrates the developed code of ethics into the playbook.

Exemplary
4 Points

Seamlessly integrates a refined and comprehensive code of ethics into the playbook, demonstrating a mastery of ethical principles and their practical application.

Proficient
3 Points

Integrates the developed code of ethics into the playbook.

Developing
2 Points

Includes a code of ethics but may lack integration or refinement.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to include or integrate a code of ethics into the playbook.

Criterion 2

Communication Guideline Integration

Incorporates communication guidelines for addressing ethical breaches and communicating standards.

Exemplary
4 Points

Incorporates communication guidelines that are exceptionally clear, actionable, and seamlessly integrated with the code of ethics, providing businesses with a robust framework for ethical communication.

Proficient
3 Points

Incorporates communication guidelines for addressing ethical breaches and communicating standards.

Developing
2 Points

Includes some communication guidelines but may lack clarity or integration.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to include or integrate communication guidelines into the playbook.

Criterion 3

Ethical Strategy Development

Presents effective strategies for promoting ethical behavior within a business.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents innovative and highly effective strategies for promoting ethical behavior, demonstrating a deep understanding of organizational culture and ethical leadership.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents effective strategies for promoting ethical behavior within a business.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some strategies but may lack depth or effectiveness.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify strategies for promoting ethical behavior.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflecting on your role as ethical consultants, what was the most challenging aspect of advising businesses on ethical dilemmas, and how did you overcome it?

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Question 2

How has this project changed your understanding of the role of ethics in business, and what strategies do you now consider most effective for promoting ethical behavior in a company?

Text
Required
Question 3

To what extent do you agree with the statement: 'A company's code of ethics is crucial for its success and reputation'?

Scale
Required
Question 4

Which communication method do you believe is most effective for addressing ethical breaches in a business, and why?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Email
Social Media
In-Person Meetings
Memos
Press Release
Question 5

In what ways did your collaboration with diverse partners during the simulation challenge your assumptions about ethical decision-making, and what did you learn about navigating differing perspectives?

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Required