Lecture: Identifying Ethical Issues and Conflicts of Interest in Marketing

Introduction: - Welcome the students and briefly explain the importance of ethical marketing in today’s business world. - Emphasize the role of effective communication skills in identifying and addressing ethical issues and conflicts of interest. - Provide an overview of the lecture’s objectives: understanding ethical issues, recognizing conflicts of interest, and developing strategies to address them.

1. Understanding Ethical Issues in Marketing: - Define ethics and its significance in marketing. - Discuss common ethical issues in marketing, such as false advertising, misleading claims, and targeting vulnerable populations. - Present case studies or real-life examples to illustrate ethical dilemmas in marketing. - Encourage students to share their own experiences or observations of ethical issues in marketing.

2. Recognizing Conflicts of Interest: - Define conflicts of interest and explain their relevance in marketing. - Discuss different types of conflicts of interest, such as personal, financial, and professional. - Provide examples of conflicts of interest in marketing, such as biased product reviews or undisclosed sponsorships. - Engage students in a discussion about potential conflicts of interest they have encountered or are aware of.

3. Strategies to Address Ethical Issues and Conflicts of Interest: - Introduce ethical decision-making frameworks, such as the “Four-Way Test” or the “Utilitarian Approach.” - Discuss the importance of transparency, honesty, and accountability in addressing ethical issues. - Present strategies for identifying and avoiding conflicts of interest, such as disclosure and recusal. - Encourage students to brainstorm additional strategies or share their own experiences in addressing ethical issues and conflicts of interest.

In-Class Activity: Ethical Marketing Case Studies

Instructions: 1. Divide the students into small groups of 3-4 members. 2. Distribute a set of ethical marketing case studies to each group. 3. Instruct the groups to read and analyze the case studies, identifying the ethical issues and conflicts of interest presented. 4. Encourage students to discuss and debate the potential solutions or actions that could be taken to address the ethical issues and conflicts of interest. 5. After a designated time, ask each group to present their case study analysis and proposed solutions to the class. 6. Facilitate a class discussion, allowing students to provide feedback, ask questions, and share their perspectives on the presented case studies.

Conclusion: - Summarize the key points discussed during the lecture and the in-class activity. - Emphasize the importance of effective communication skills in identifying and addressing ethical issues and conflicts of interest in marketing. - Encourage students to apply the knowledge gained in their future professional endeavors. - Provide additional resources or readings for further exploration of ethical marketing.