Individual Deliverable Assignment 1: The Moral Compass Essay
Explain the role of human values in business leadership.
The Moral Compass Essay is a critically reflective personal essay defining and articulating personal
values and explaining how they guide your character, conscience, and conduct in business, society,
and professional life. It should be written in your own words in the first person narrative voice as a
BRIEF SYNOPSIS of your personal moral compass based on the Moral Compass Workbook.

LENGTH: Approximately 500-1500 words

Other requirements:
• Imaginatively applies the Moral Compass Essay format and workbook content in developing a highly original and flawless essay
• Reflects a deeply critical and creative understanding of the Moral Compass Workbook

• Synthesizes personal experience, empirical observation, independent inquiry, wisdom traditions, and other sources in articulating a uniquely personal value system
• Demonstrates deep thought and critical understanding of human values and the ethical challenges of business leadership

• Thoroughly critiques personal values and social norms from multiple perspectives
• Exemplifies Carey personal conduct and integrity norms
OUTLINE AND QUESTIONS FOR YOUR ESSAY (Answer all questions)
YOUR PERSONAL INTEGRITY: What is your understanding of a moral compass as a foundation for
personal integrity and social conscience? From which Wisdom Tradition(s) do you draw in
constructing your moral compass? What do you value and question about this Wisdom Tradition?

• MORAL VISION: What is your vision of a good life? What values anchor your moral vision?
What symbol, song, image, or story motivates and inspires your moral vision? How does
your Wisdom Tradition influence your moral vision?

• MORAL CODE: What are the rules or principles of your moral code? How does your moral
code align with your moral vision? How does your Wisdom Tradition influence your moral
code?

• MORAL FITNESS: What practices constitute your moral fitness regimen? How do you use
these practices to cultivate personal character and integrity? How do these practices
align with and reinforce your moral vision and code. How does your Wisdom Tradition
influence your moral code?

• DEFINING MOMENT: What moral challenge has been a key defining moment for you? How
has this challenge tested, clarified, and defined your character and values. If you could,
how would you rewrite the script for this event in your life? Why? How does your Wisdom
Tradition influence your moral understanding of this challenge?

YOUR FUTURE AS A BUSINESS LEADER: Drawing from the wisdom of your moral compass, how do
you envision the role of human values in your future as a business leader?

• SOCIAL CONSCIENCE: What challenges and opportunities do you envision for yourself in
building a social network of shared values?

• CONSCIENTIOUS LEADERSHIP: What challenges and opportunities do you envision for
yourself in building business cultures of shared responsibility and accountability?

• CONSCIENCIOUS COMMERCE: What challenges and opportunities do you envision for yourself in creating wealth for human flourishing?

• CIVIC CONSCIENCE: What challenges and opportunities do you envision for yourself in
partnering with others to build a society that works better for everyone?

SUMMARY: What is your key take-away from this assignment?