Organizational Culture and Ethics
Psc 6173-970, Fall 2004
Health Sciences Center OKC
27-29 August, 1-3 October, 5-7 November 2004
F 5.30 - 9.10 p.m., Sa 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Su. 1 - 4 p.m.
Classroom: College of Health building, rm.164.
Instructor: Dr. Jos C.N. Raadschelders, DAHT 304
phone: 325-6620
e-mail: raadschelders@ou.edu
Office hours: to be determined

Course Description:
Culture is frequently defined as ‘something’ that people throughout share and that all held valuable. However, as Martin points out, culture can very well include conflict. It is in this balancing of consensus on the one hand and conflict on the other that the study of organizational culture is more important than ever before. With the growing workforce diversity throughout the Western world, we may expect that conflicts concerning organizational culture and/or ethics are more pronounced than before. To be sure, such conflicts have always existed but less visible for cloaked under the ‘shared’ culture and values of a homogeneous workforce. Although organizational culture and public sector ethics are frequently taught and written about as separate subjects, they really are very much related. This becomes clear from the course outline. The first part of the course attention is given the development of attention for and theory about organizational culture and public sector ethics. In the second part we will see how much culture at large and ethics serve as a immaterial and moral foundation to society, the origins of which go back some 5,000 years. In the third part the focus is specifically on organizational culture. Special attention is given to organizational climate with its distinct body of literature. Finally, in this section we discuss the issue whether or not civil servants ought to have power: Does such power need to be constrained by an externally imposed code of ethics or can we rely on the internal moral compass? In the final part of this class we will focus on organizational culture and ethics in a comparative perspective, and thus see how much the choices we make with regard to policies are influenced by the interplay between (national and organizational) culture and our ethical understanding of the choices made.

Course Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to provide a comprehensive overview of the theories, issues, problems and processes associated with organizational culture and public sector ethics. During the course the students will
1. familiarize themselves with theories of organizational culture and public sector ethics;
2. become acquainted with cases of ethical challenges in practice;
3. be applying this theory to concrete national policy traditions;
4. discover the degree to which organizational culture and public sector ethics are intertwined and influence each other;
5. form reasoned opinions about the embeddedness of organizational culture and public sector ethics in levels of abstraction and in time;
6. develop understanding of the link between organizational culture and climate and type of work;
7. acquire understanding about the variation within and between countries with respect to resolving moral conflicts.

Class format
The course is organized around a lecture and discussion format.

Prescribed Literature
- Bruce, Willa (2001). Classics of Administrative Ethics. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. ISBN
0-8133-9809-6 ($36,-).
- Gawthrop, Louis C. (1998). Public Service and Democracy. Ethical Imperatives for the 21st Century. New York/London: Chatham House Publishers. ISBN 1-56643-070-4 (pbk, $ 23.95).
- Hofstede, Geert (1997). Cultures and Organizations. Software of the Mind. 2nd ed.,  New York: McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-07-029307-4 (pbk., $ 24.95).
- Martin, Joanne (2001). Organizational Culture. Mapping the Terrain. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN 0-8039-7295-4 (pbk., $ 39.95).

Academic Misconduct: University policy will be followed. See the Academic Misconduct Code, printed in full in the 1998-99 OU Student Handbook.

Students with disabilities: Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities

Religious Holidays: It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays.

Assignments: attendance and participation (10% of grade, 50 points maximum), student presentation (20% of grade, 100 points maximum), literature review/research paper (40% of grade, 200 points maximum), final exam (30% of grade, 150 points maximum).
Grading scale: A = 500-451, B = 450-401, C = 400-331, D = 330-281; F = 280->.

Assignments, Grading and Due Dates:
1. The student is strongly advised to complete the readings before the start of classes. Take notes so that during class you can bring questions, remarks, etc. to the floor.
2. Substantive class participation is expected.
3. The literature review is to be submitted on 14 November, immediately prior to the final exam.
4. You will take a final exam, closed-book, in-class.

Late Work: Late work for the writing assignment will be penalized.

Course Outline: (nota bene: lecture and discussion times are flexible)

Friday, August 27, 5.30 - 9.10 p.m.
5.30 - 6.30: Introduction to class

I Conceptualizing Organizational Culture and Ethics
6.30-7.45: Lecture: Culture and Ethics: Theory
Literature: Martin chs. 1 and 3; Bruce chs. 3, 20-22
8 - 8.30: Discussion: (topic of this and following discussions determined during class time, and based on questions, observations, etc., of students and instructor)
8.30 -9.10: Exam training

Saturday, August 28, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
9 - 10.30: Lecture: Development of Attention for Organizational Culture and Ethics in P. A.
Literature: Martin ch.2
10.30 - 11:Discussion
11.15 - 12.30: Lecture: Comparing rational, structural and cultural perspectives
Literature: Martin chs. 4 to11
12.30 - 1.30: lunch break
1.30 - 2: Discussion

II Culture and Ethics as Foundation to Society
2 - 3.30: Lecture: The Meaning of Culture and Ethics for Government and Society
Literature: Hofstede, chs.1 up to 5 and 7; Bruce chs. 1, 27-29
3.45 - 4.15: Discussion
Lecture: Foundations of Western Culture: Judeo-Christian Thought and Enlightenment
Literature: Bruce chs. 2, 4-5
Discussion
4.15 - 5: Exam training

Sunday, August 29, 1 - 4 p.m.
1 - 2.30: Ethics and Values in Societal Culture
Literature: Gawthrop, ch.1; Bruce chs. 6-9
2.30 - 3: Discussion
3.15 - 4: Exam training

Friday, October 1, 5.30 - 9.10 p.m.
III Culture in Organizational Structure and Functioning
5.30 - 7: Lecture: Layers of Organizational Culture
Literature: Hofstede chs.6 and 8; Bruce ch. 17-19
7 - 7.30: Discussion
7.45 - 9.10: Lecture: Different Organizational Cultures
Literature: Hofstede chs. 9 and 10; Bruce, ch.10

Saturday, October 2, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
9 - 9.30: Discussion
9.30 - 11: Lecture: Organizational Climate
11.15 - 12: Discussion
12 - 1: lunch break
1 - 2.30: Lecture: The Individual Public Servant Amidst Competing (Organizational) Ethics
Literature: Gawthrop chs. 2 to 4 and 7; Bruce chs.11-16, 23-26
2.30 - 3: Discussion

IV Policy Cultures as Varying by Organization and Nation
3.15 - 4.30: Lecture: Policy Cultures
Literature: Gawthrop ch.6
4.30 - 5: Discussion

Sunday, October 3, 1 - 4 p.m.
1 - 2.30: Lecture: Visions of Welfare and Different Welfare Regimes
Literature: Gawthrop ch.5
2.30 - 3: Discussion
3.15 - 4: Q&A final exam

Friday, November 5, 5.30 - 9.10 p.m.
5.30 - 6: Video: Legislating Morality
6 - 6.30: Discussion
6.45 - 8.30: Lecture: Controversial Morality Policies as Reflection of Culture
8.30 - 9.10:: Discussion

Saturday, November 6, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
9 - 12.30: Student presentations
12.30 - 1.30: lunch break
1.30 - 4: Student presentations
4 - 4.45: Q&A final exam
4.45 - 5: Class evaluation

Sunday, November 7, 1 - 4 p.m.
1 - 4: Final Exam: closed-book, in-class exam.

Student Presentations and Content and Format of Papers
The student will select a particular ethical challenge and a public organization at state or local level and will investigate how it faces/faced that particular challenge (see for examples of ethical challenges in a public organization the table below). They must collect general information concerning the ethical challenge of their choice and how this is/was met by the public organization of their choice. They will present their findings in class as well as in writing. The general content and format of the research paper is predetermined and must contain attention for the following components:
a) Brief overview of the literature on the selected ethical challenge at federal, state and local levels (draw also from journals such as, e.g., Public Administration Review; Public Integrity, etc.)
b) Legislation relevant to the selected ethical challenge;
c) The case study of the selected ethical challenge in the selected public organization (using, e.g., documents, newspapers, scholarly articles, interviews with officeholders, etc.);
d) Analysis of causes;
e) Solution(s) that are/have been developed.
    Paper size must be at a minimum 25 pages of substantive text, double spaced, with 1" margins. It is not a problem when you need more pages! A front page, the table of contents, and list of references must be included while (if relevant) a list of interviewees, and (if considered illustrative) a list of appendices (e.g., example of performance evaluation form, etc.) can be included. These pages, however, are not regarded as substantive pages.


Grading criteria for the research paper
1. Content of Assignment, Exam, Paper (40%)
- complete/incomplete
- close to literature or also original/novel insights
- balance between detail and broad outline
- accurate/inaccurate reflection of literature
- clarity of argument
- balance between scholarly (neutral, at a distance) argument and personal opinion
2. Understanding of Theory and Application of Theory to Practice (30%)
- understanding of theory: correct/incorrect, proper definitions, etc.
- is theory applied to real-life situations (i.e. other than personal experiences)
- is personal experience assessed in terms of theory
3. Structure / Organization of Text (20%)
- structure (clear sections; paragraphs, sentences, etc.)
- flow (logical or not)
- length of text (no unnecessary language)
- proper page length
- cover page; beginning, middle, conclusion; list of references
- typed, 1" margins, line-spacing 1,5 or less, page numbers, stapled
4. Writing style and use of English language (10%)
- correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, clear acronyms
- rambling or fluid
- proper use of references and citations
- on time.


Example Listing of Ethical Challenge and Public Organization

Organization
 Ethical Challenge
Auditor    Not issuing a citation as warranted because violator is a friend
Budget   
Institutional overestimation of expenses
Finance   
Theft
IRS   
Breaching confidentiality
Mayor’s office
Special favors to political donors
Public works
Favoring one contractor over others in return for kickbacks
Health   
People on the payroll who are no longer employed
Police   
Discrimination, profiling
Personnel   
Political favoritism; abuse of access to confidential information
Elected officeholder Extramarital affair
Transportation
Giving ride to friend in public vehicle
Utilities
 Hazardous dumping chemical waste into water system unacknowledged

Source: Adapted from Carole L. Jurkiewicz, Robert A. Giacalone (2002). Learning Through Teaching: Demonstrating Ethical Applications Through a Training Session and Manual Development Exercise. In Journal of Public Affairs Education. vol.8 no.1, p.60-61.
                           
8/23/04