The Ethical Leader from Coursera

This aims primarily at post-baccalaureate students interested in leadership theory and ethical leadership.

The first part of this course introduces students to the classical literature in philosophical ethics, including consequentialist, regularian, deontological, and virtue theory approaches. This includes exploration of the ethical responsibilities leaders have toward themselves, corporations, the government, and the public. In the second part of the course, students apply decision- making frameworks, drawing from theories of leadership, and gain experience in decision-making surrounding ethical issues. Finally, students will consider the moral challenges that artificial intelligence poses to ethical leaders.

This is one course in the Coursera specialization, Leadership: An Introduction. It examines the latest trends in leadership theory invoking several disciplines, including business, sociology, philosophy, history, and psychology.

To complete this course successfully students should be able to analyze college-level readings and audio/visual presentations into understandable parts, including premises and conclusions; synthesize the results of the analysis into coherent and accurate summaries; and evaluate the results for accuracy and practical applicability.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to

• Identify ethical principles for leadership practices

• Compare theories of leadership in terms of their ethical strengths and weaknesses

• Apply ethical principles for leadership practices

• Compare and contrast industry standards and techniques of ethical leadership practices

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction; Moral Agency I: Introduction and the Logic of Moral Decision-Making

This module introduces you to the course, the concept of moral agency, and the logic of moral decision-making. It consists of this introduction and two lessons: Moral Agency and The Logic of Moral Judgments. Module 1-Moral Agency I-- includes a video introduction to the course and two lessons. Lesson 1-Moral Agency-Challenges and Tools--includes two readings and one lecture. Lesson 2-The Logic of Ethics--includes one reading and five lectures. The work you will do for this module includes watching the course introduction and six lecture videos; reading two book chapters and one article; and taking brief quizzes on each lecture, and a longer assessment at the end of the module.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores ethical responsibilities of leaders across various societal roles

Develops theoretical and practical understanding of ethical decision-making in leadership

Compares different leadership theories, analyzing their ethical strengths and weaknesses

Examines moral challenges posed by artificial intelligence to ethical leaders

Suitable for post-baccalaureate students seeking a theoretical foundation in leadership ethics

Requires students to analyze andsynthesize college-level materials, which may be challenging for those new to academic study

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Ethical Leader with these activities:

Participate in Ethical Leadership Discussion Forum

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Engaging with peers in an ethical leadership discussion forum will provide diverse perspectives and deepen your understanding.

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Join an online discussion forum on ethical leadership
Participate in discussions and share your insights
Reflect on the perspectives of others

Learn AI Ethics Best Practices

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Explore ethical considerations in AI by following online tutorials.

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Take a Coursera course on AI Ethics
Watch YouTube videos on AI ethics best practices
Read articles and blog posts on AI ethics

Compile Bibliography on AI Ethics

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Organizing resources will reinforce the key concepts from ethical leadership theories and artificial intelligence ethics.

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Search for scholarly articles and books on AI ethics
Create a bibliography using a reference manager
Annotate the bibliography with brief summaries of each source

Three other activities

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Apply Decision-Making Frameworks

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This activity will help you develop proficiency in applying decision-making frameworks to ethical issues in leadership.

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Complete the exercises in the textbook chapter on decision-making
Take online quizzes on ethical decision-making
Work through case studies

Participate in AI Ethics Hackathon

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Develop AI ethics solutions in a competitive setting.

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Find an AI ethics hackathon
Form a team
Develop an AI ethics solution
Submit your solution to the hackathon

Develop AI Ethics Guidelines

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By drafting guidelines for ethical AI, you will demonstrate your understanding of the course material and be able to apply it to real world scenarios.

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Research existing AI ethics frameworks
Identify ethical challenges in AI
Formulate principles for ethical AI
Draft a set of AI ethics guidelines

Career center

Learners who complete The Ethical Leader will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Urban Planner

Urban Planners develop plans for the development and use of land in urban areas. They will often have to consider ethical implications of their work, especially when it comes to the impact of development on the environment and the community. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Public Administrator

Public Administrators oversee the operations of government agencies and other public organizations. They will need to make ethical decisions, especially when it comes to the allocation of resources and the implementation of programs. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers oversee the public image of businesses and organizations. They may be called upon to help organizations with ethical dilemmas or to develop and implement ethical policies. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify and assess risks for businesses and organizations. They may be called upon to help organizations with ethical dilemmas or to develop and implement ethical policies. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and services to individuals and families in need. They will often have to consider ethical implications of their work, especially when it comes to the privacy and confidentiality of their clients. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers oversee the sustainability initiatives of businesses and organizations. They will need to make ethical decisions, especially when it comes to the environmental and social impact of the organization's operations. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Consultant

Consultants provide expert advice to businesses and organizations on a variety of topics, including ethics and leadership. They may be called upon to help organizations with ethical dilemmas or to develop and implement ethical policies. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Corporate Lawyer

Corporate Lawyers provide legal advice to businesses and organizations on a variety of topics, including ethics and compliance. They may be called upon to help organizations with ethical dilemmas or to develop and implement ethical policies. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations, which often have a mission to serve the public good. They will need to make ethical decisions, especially when it comes to the allocation of resources and the implementation of programs. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research, analyze, and develop policies for government agencies and other organizations. They may be called upon to help organizations with ethical dilemmas or to develop and implement ethical policies. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Chief Operating Officer

A Chief Operating Officer is second in command to the CEO and typically manages the day-to-day operations of the business. A COO will help lead divisions of the company and will be responsible for ethical decision-making, especially when it comes to the company's conduct and operations. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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Project Manager

Project Managers oversee the completion of projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and within budget. They will often have to consider ethical implications of the project's work, especially when it comes to the usage of new technologies, such as AI. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities, such as those presented by AI.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the lifecycle of a product, from inception to launch. They will often have to consider ethical implications of a product, especially when it comes to the usage of new technologies, such as AI. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities, such as those presented by AI.

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Program Manager

Program Managers oversee the implementation of programs and initiatives for businesses and organizations. They will often have to consider ethical implications of the program's work, especially when it comes to the usage of new technologies, such as AI. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities, such as those presented by AI.

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Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers are in charge of managing high-level executives and overseeing the operations of the business. They set and execute the organization's vision and mission, which requires decision-making regarding the ethics and responsibilities to stakeholders. The Ethical Leader may be helpful to this kind of role because it provides a framework for ethical decision-making and analysis of ethical responsibilities.

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The Ethical Leader

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Syllabus

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