CD4

Agriculture Management, Economics, & SalesProfessional Ethics

Unit: Career Development

Lesson Title: Professional Ethics

Standards

CS.02.02.01.b. Compare and contrast the customs of different cultures.CS.03.02.03.a. Differentiate between ethical and unethical behavior.CS.03.02.03.b. Practice ethical behaviors.CS.03.02.03.c. Examine an ethical dilemma and prepare an argument for a position.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11–12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Student Learning Objectives

Slide 2 in CD4 Professional EthicsLesson ObjectiveAfter completing the lesson on professional ethics, students will demonstrate their ability to apply the concept in real-world situations by obtaining a minimum score of 80% on an Ethical Dilemma.

Enabling ObjectivesAs a result of this lesson, the student will…

1. Define work ethics and identify the effects of unethical behavior in the work place and its effect on job performance and advancement.

2. Differentiate between ethical and unethical behavior and identify how to determine the written and unwritten rules for the workplace.

3. Examine the effects of culture on workplace rules and norms.

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Time: Approximately 135 minutes

List of ResourcesInstructional Materials Laboratory. (1997). Agribusiness Sales, Marketing, and

Management Instructor Guide. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri.

Joeldgreat. (2011). Unwritten Rules: Cultures, Norms, Expected Behaviors, and Social Values. Retrieved from http://joeldgreat.expertscolumn.com/article/unwritten-rules-cultures-norms-expected-behaviors-and-social-values.

Schneiderheinze R., Wood C. (1997).  Agribusiness Sales, Marketing, and Management Student Reference. Columbia, MO: Instructional Materials Laboratory.

List of Tools, Equipment, and SuppliesCD4 PowerPoint PresentationCD4 Activity Sheet and Evaluation PacketNote card or small sheets of paper for review activity

Key TermsSlide 3 in CD4 Professional Ethics

The following terms are presented in this lesson (shown in bold italics):Work Ethics

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Interest Approach: Use an interest approach that will prepare the students for the lesson. Teachers often develop approaches for their unique class and student situations. A possible approach is included here.

Slide 4-6 in CD4 Professional EthicsPonder This: Read the story on the PowerPoint slide aloud to students. Have them sit for just a moment and ponder the three questions on the next slide. Facilitate a discussion on those three questions. Begin using the word “ethics” in discussion.

Ask students if they have ever been faced with an ethical decision in the workplace. How did they handle it? What did they do?

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Conclude interest approach by summing up discussion and sharing with students that we will be faced with ethical decisions on a regular basis in the workplace and need to be aware of how to

handle them when they arise. Summary of Content and Teaching Strategies

Objective 1: Define work ethics and identify the effects of unethical behavior in the work place and its effect on job performance and advancement.

Teaching Strategies Related Content1. How would you define work ethics?

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2. Divide students into small groups to complete CD4.1.

3. Discuss responses as a class.

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4. Facilitate a discussion on how ethics and ethical behaviors affect job performance and advancement.

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Work Ethics Principles of right conduct as accepted

by a profession or by the business world in general

Individual businesses may have formal written codes of ethics that establish certain rules and practices to govern day-to-day operations

Ethics and Job Performance/Advancement Being caught acting unethically can

damage a person’s career. – Once a person gains a reputation for acting unethically, regaining trust of others may be difficult or impossible

Ethical behavior is an essential part of good job performance and creates potential for advancement – Organization promotes employees who are assets to the organization; Managers want these employees’ behaviors to spread to others; Most businesses want managers to have especially high standards of ethics

Objective 2: Differentiate between ethical and unethical behavior and

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identify how to determine the written and unwritten rules for the workplace.

Teaching Strategies Related Content1. How do we tell the difference between

ethical and unethical behavior?

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2. What are examples of these “unwritten rules” mentioned when determining if a behavior is ethical or unethical?

3. Have students share their ideas and then present the PowerPoint slide with some common unwritten rules. Point out that these are rules that are not written anywhere, but that we just know or are expected to follow. If we do not, we could be labeled as inconsiderate towards others or worse.

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4. If there are written and unwritten rules for the workplace, how, as a new employee, do we identify them?

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5. Think about the work you do for your Supervised

Ethical vs. Unethical Behavior If a business has a written code of

ethics or clearly follows unwritten standards of professional conduct, an employee should base his or her behavior on them

If not, an employee should try to determine what is ethical by following certain guidelines – Obey laws; Enhance self-respect; Develop personal integrity; Take needs of other people into consideration; Build confidence in others

Identifying Unwritten Rules Ponder workplace scenarios – Think

about with whom you interact, with whom you work regularly, those in management and supervisory positions, etc.

Think about specific coworkers vs. yourself in identifying rules regarding things like days off, break time, interactions, etc.

Ask yourself, “Are there dos and don’ts everyone seems to act upon?” If so, how did you learn these? Did you see others modeling and you follow? Did someone clue you in?

Share unwritten rules with the

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Agricultural Experience Program, particularly if you work in a placement enterprise. What are some unwritten rules by which you abide?

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unknowing!

Objective 3: Examine the effects of culture on workplace rules and norms. Teaching Strategies Related Content

1. Culture also has an effect on workplace rules and norms.

2. Refer each student to this article: http://joeldgreat.expertscolumn.com/article/unwritten-rules-cultures-norms-expected-behaviors-and-social-values. Divide class into small groups, giving each group a particular topic to study:

Expected Behavior Being Polite Norms and People Norms in Different Members of a

Culture Norms that Changes our Behavior Changes in Norms Against Women Learning Expected Behavior Learning Social Values of a Culture Learning Norms by Instruction

3. Small groups will read their assigned sections and continue research on their topic, obtaining information from three additional credible sources.

4. Groups will prepare a short PowerPoint presentation on their topic and present to the class. Classmates will record the top four points from each presentation on CD4.2.

Review/SummarySlide 16 in CD4 Professional Ethics

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Ethical choices are not always simple to make. Members of business organizations must act ethically, however. Unethical behavior can ruin a career while a reputation for ethical conduct helps create opportunities for advancement. Unethical actions can also damage a business itself if they become known or are suspected by the public. Ethical behavior is simply good for business. Employees need to work to identify written and unwritten rules of the workplace. In addition, cultural norms must be considered when working in team situations.

Review:

Slide 17 in CD4 Professional EthicsUnwritten Rules of the School: Identify unwritten rules at school, in individual classrooms, on CDE teams, in sports, etc. How did you discover this rule? Does everyone know about it? What effect does it have on others in the school/classroom/team/etc.? Record these on CD4.3.

Slide 18 in CD4 Professional EthicsExit cards: Students will answer the following questions on a note card or small slip of paper and hand to teacher as they exit:

What did you learn today about professional ethics? What questions do you still have about professional ethics?

Application

Extended Activities

Examine ethical decisions students have been faced with when recording records - Maybe they wait until the end of the year to do all their records; maybe they fudge on some of the numbers; maybe they are not 100% accurate all the time. Have them consider how this affects their overall SAE and the goals they have for future FFA degrees and awards and the future of their SAE Program.

Have the class develop a written, formal code of ethics for FFA members. Consider unwritten rules that already apply, putting them and the written rules in a document for members to read and sign upon paying membership into the local FFA chapter.

Interview teachers at the school, having them identify five workplace unwritten rules. Ask them how they discovered these rules, if all faculty and staff abide by them, how they affect the workplace atmosphere, etc. Have each student interview a different teacher. Share results at the end, seeing if teachers had the same rules and thoughts and feelings about them.

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EvaluationEthical Dilemma CD4.4

Alternate - Paper-pencil Quiz Evaluation CD4.5

Answers to EvaluationEvaluation CD4.4Answers will vary. Use scoring guide on CD4.4 to assess student work.

Alternate Evaluation CD4.51. B2. C3. A4. Organizations promote employees who are assets to the organization because managers

want their behavior to spread to others. Most businesses want managers to have especially high standards of ethics.

5. Work ethics are principles of right conduct as accepted by a profession or by the business world in general.

Career Development CD4 Professional Ethics