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TEACHING BUSINESS
ETHICS: DIALOGUE,
GOOD MORAL
CONVERSATION, AND
CONVERSATIONAL
LEARNING
Mohsin Asghar
Umer Qadir Butt
Mubashir Hussain
Yasir Ali

Some words about

Conversational Learning

Truth [is] being involved in an eternal

conversation
about
things
that
matter, conducted with passion and
discipline... truth is not in the
conclusions so much as in the process
of conversation itself... if you want to
be in truth you must be in
conversation.
Parker Palmer

Some words about Conversational

Learning

Dialogue encourages give-and-take and

allows each student to influence the
outcomes of learning in business ethics
teaching efforts. Many people fear this
kind of interchange wrongly thinking
that it undermines their credibility and
diminishes their influences.
J.A. Walters

Conversation

Conversation is a form of interactive,

spontaneous communication between
two or more people who are following
rules of etiquette.

It is polite give and take of subjects

thought of by people talking with each
other for company.
Wikipedia
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Learning

Learning is the act of acquiring new, or

modifying
and
reinforcing,
existing
knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or
preferences and may involve synthesizing
different types of information.

It does not happen all at once, but builds

upon and is shaped by what we already
know.
Wikipedia

Organizing Conversations
Intentional conversations that go deeply
into a persons:

Issues:
What we act on?

Interests:
Whats our stake in it?

Values:
Principles, what motivates us?
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Organizing Conversations
Assessment from the conversation:

Capacity:
What resources can be offered?

Commitment:
What resources are offered?

Conversation Dos & Donts

Dos:

Schedule time to have this conversation

Ask questions and plan to listen
Follow the PSA
Share
experiences
and
deep
motivations
Share a vision that articulates a shared
set of interests for change
Be clear and very concrete about
when and what of the next steps
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Conversation Dos & Donts

Dont:

Try to persuade rather than listen

Chit chat about private interests
Skip stories to get to the point
Miss opportunity to share ideas about
how things can change
End conversation without clear plan for
next steps
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Conversation Asks

Concrete Asks
We are having a branch meeting
next Thursday at 8pm. Can you
come and help us brainstorm our
Equal Pay Day action?

Wishy-Washy Asks
Do you want to join our branch?

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Conversation Asks

Concrete Asks
Were in the midst of a critical letter to
the editor push. We need to get 10
more letters written this week. Can
you write an LTE by this Friday? I can
send you our LTE guide, sample LTE,
and info on where and how to submit
it.

Wishy-Washy Asks
Can you write a letter to the editor?
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Introducing PSA
Solution: Hope
What specifically & meaningful can be one about?

Problem: Anger
What are they angry
about or
threatened by?

Action: Opportunity
Make the specific
& doable ask

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Introducing PSA
Solution: Hope
Organizing & Mobilizing

Problem: Anger
Organizing

Action: Opportunity
Mobilizing

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Two levels of the

conversation
Teacher

Student

Articulation/Re-Articulation

Reflection/
Adaptation

Reflection/
Adaptation

Action/Feedback