BUSI 472 is Liberty's organizational ethics course. Its written work is four two-week forums (a 350-word thread, then a 250-word reply with 2 to 3 citations and a biblical principle), a 5 to 10-slide business etiquette PowerPoint, a group ethics case project (outline and a 5 to 7-page final), two 4 to 5-page case assignments on Ferrell cases, a research paper of 8 to 10 pages built in three parts, and a one-page personal code of ethics.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as BUSI 472 Organizational Ethics, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as BUSI472.
What BUSI 472 covers
The catalog description: An analysis of the foundation of ethical behavior in business, including an introduction to social graces and the importance of professional image. Emphasis is placed on a comparison between Judeo-Christian and secular ethical paradigms.
The course analyzes the foundations of ethical behavior in business, introduces social graces and the importance of professional image, and compares Judeo-Christian and secular ethical paradigms. The texts are Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell, Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases, and Hosmer, The Ethics of Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach.
Two video case quizzes (20 points) have no guide here, and the research paper topic submission in Week 2 is ungraded.
Textbook named in the published guide: Ferrell et al., Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases (2017). Hosmer, The Ethics of Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach (2011). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
BUSI 472 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 90 | Thread at least 350 words; reply at least 250 words |
| 2 | Business Etiquette PowerPoint | 40 | 5 to 10 slides |
| 2 | Group Case Project Outline | 30 | Not set in the guide; an outline of the 5 to 7-page final |
| 3 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 90 | Thread at least 350 words; reply at least 250 words |
| 3 | Research Paper Annotated Bibliography | 30 | Not set in the guide; the final paper needs 8 to 10 scholarly references |
| 4 | Case Assignment 1 | 100 | 4 to 5 double-spaced pages, not including the title or reference pages |
| 5 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 90 | Thread at least 350 words; reply at least 250 words |
| 5 | Case Assignment 2 | 100 | 4 to 5 double-spaced pages, not including the title or reference pages |
| 6 | Group Case Project Final | 100 | 5 to 7 pages, not including the title or reference pages |
| 7 | Discussion Board Forum 4 | 90 | Thread at least 350 words; reply at least 250 words |
| 7 | Personal Code of Ethics | 20 | No longer than 1 page |
| 8 | Research Paper Final | 200 | At least 8 to 10 pages of content, not including the title page, abstract and references |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 350-word thread in Week 1, then a 250-word reply in Week 2 with 2 to 3 APA citations and 1 biblical principle. How to write BUSI 472 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Business Etiquette PowerPoint
A 5 to 10-slide PowerPoint on the role of business etiquette in organizational success, with 5 to 10 APA citations. How to write BUSI 472 Week 2 Business Etiquette PowerPoint.
Week 2: Group Case Project Outline
Your group's outline of the ethics-based case paper on the case study your instructor assigned. How to write BUSI 472 Week 2 Group Case Project Outline.
Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 350-word thread in Week 3, then a 250-word reply in Week 4 with 2 to 3 citations and a biblical principle. How to write BUSI 472 Week 3 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 3: Research Paper Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography of scholarly sources for your organizational ethics research paper. How to write BUSI 472 Week 3 Research Paper Annotated Bibliography.
Week 4: Case Assignment 1
A 4 to 5-page analysis of an individual case from the Ferrell textbook, with 5 references plus the textbooks and the Bible. How to write BUSI 472 Week 4 Case Assignment 1.
Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 350-word thread in Week 5, then a 250-word reply in Week 6 with 2 to 3 citations and a biblical principle. How to write BUSI 472 Week 5 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 5: Case Assignment 2
A second 4 to 5-page Ferrell case analysis with 5 references plus the textbooks and the Bible. How to write BUSI 472 Week 5 Case Assignment 2.
Week 6: Group Case Project Final
The group's 5 to 7-page ethics-based case paper, submitted as one document with at least 7 scholarly references plus the textbooks and the Bible. How to write BUSI 472 Week 6 Group Case Project Final.
Week 7: Discussion Board Forum 4
A 350-word thread in Week 7, then a 250-word reply in Week 8 with 2 to 3 citations and a biblical principle. How to write BUSI 472 Week 7 Discussion Board Forum 4.
Week 7: Personal Code of Ethics
A paper of no more than 1 page on your personal goals, norms, beliefs and values. How to write BUSI 472 Week 7 Personal Code of Ethics.
Week 8: Research Paper Final
The final research paper: at least 8 to 10 pages of content with 8 to 10 scholarly references plus the textbooks and the Bible, in strict current APA. How to write BUSI 472 Week 8 Research Paper Final.
How BUSI 472 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. Forum threads are 60 each (240) and replies 30 each (120); the etiquette PowerPoint is 40, the group case outline 30 and final 100, the two case assignments 100 each, the annotated bibliography 30, the research paper final 200, the personal code of ethics 20, video case quizzes 20 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forum Threads (4) | 240 |
| Discussion Board Forum Replies (4) | 120 |
| Business Etiquette PowerPoint | 40 |
| Group Case Project Outline | 30 |
| Group Case Project Final | 100 |
| Case Assignments (2) | 200 |
| Research Paper Annotated Bibliography | 30 |
| Research Paper Final | 200 |
| Personal Code of Ethics | 20 |
| Video Case Quizzes (2) | 20 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 900 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach BUSI 472
Week 2 is heavy: the Forum 1 reply, the etiquette PowerPoint, the group case outline and the research paper topic are all due, so start them in Week 1.
The research paper (8 to 10 pages of content, 8 to 10 scholarly references) is due in Week 8 at 200 points; settle the topic early so the annotated bibliography in Week 3 has a clear focus.
Questions students ask
What is the BUSI 472 research paper?
A paper built in three parts (topic and rationale, annotated bibliography, final), with at least 8 to 10 pages of content not counting the title page, abstract and references, and 8 to 10 scholarly references plus the textbooks and the Bible, in strict current APA.
How long are BUSI 472 case assignments?
4 to 5 double-spaced pages, not counting the title or reference pages, with at least 5 references plus the textbooks and the Bible, each on an individual case from the Ferrell textbook.
Working through BUSI 472 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.