Assignment 1: Whistleblowing and Sarbanes-Oxley

Due Week 2 and worth 100 points

Use the Internet or Strayer Library to research instances of whistleblowing in publicly traded companies within the last 12 months.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

Describe the key characteristics of a whistleblower, and briefly summarize one (1) researched instance of whistleblowing in one (1) publicly traded company within the last 12 months. Include the details of the issue that the whistleblower reported and the effect of the whistleblower’s actions on both the whistleblower himself and the company.
Decide whether or not the whistleblower was justified in reporting the company’s actions. Provide a rationale for your response.
Examine the extent to which the whistleblower would be protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Justify your response.
Use at least two (2) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia is not an acceptable reference and proprietary Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Determine the underlying causes for passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and determine protections afforded to whistleblowers.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in law, ethics, and corporate governance.
Write clearly and concisely about law, ethics, and corporate governance using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 100
Assignment 1: Whistleblowing and Sarbanes-Oxley
Criteria
Unacceptable
Below 70% F
Fair
70-79% C
Proficient
80-89% B
Exemplary
90-100% A
1. Describe the key characteristics of a whistleblower. Briefly summarize one (1) researched instance of whistleblowing in one (1) publicly traded company within the last 12 months. Include the details of the issue that the whistleblower reported and the effect of the whistleblower’s actions on both the whistleblower himself and the company.
Weight: 15%
Did not submit or incompletely described the key characteristics of a whistleblower. Did not submit or incompletely summarized briefly one (1) researched instance of whistleblowing in one (1) publicly traded company within the last 12 months. Did not submit or incompletely included the details of the issue that the whistleblower reported and the effect of the whistleblower’s actions on both the whistleblower himself and the company.

Partially described the key characteristics of a whistleblower. Partially summarized briefly one (1) researched instance of whistleblowing in one (1) publicly traded company within the last 12 months. Partially included the details of the issue that the whistleblower reported and the effect of the whistleblower’s actions on both the whistleblower himself and the company.
Satisfactorily described the key characteristics of a whistleblower. Satisfactorily summarized briefly one (1) researched instance of whistleblowing in one (1) publicly traded company within the last 12 months. Satisfactorily included the details of the issue that the whistleblower reported and the effect of the whistleblower’s actions on both the whistleblower himself and the company.
Thoroughly described the key characteristics of a whistleblower. Thoroughly summarized briefly one (1) researched instance of whistleblowing in one (1) publicly traded company within the last 12 months. Thoroughly included the details of the issue that the whistleblower reported and the effect of the whistleblower’s actions on both the whistleblower himself and the company.
2. Decide whether or not the whistleblower was justified in reporting the company’s actions. Provide a rationale for your response.
Weight: 35%
Did not submit or incompletely decided whether or not the whistleblower was justified in reporting the company’s actions. Did not submit or incompletely provided a rationale for your response.
Partially decided whether or not the whistleblower was justified in reporting the company’s actions. Partially provided a rationale for your response..
Satisfactorily decided whether or not the whistleblower was justified in reporting the company’s actions. Satisfactorily provided a rationale for your response.
Thoroughly decided whether or not the whistleblower was justified in reporting the company’s actions. Thoroughly provided a rationale for your response.
3. Examine the extent to which the whistleblower would be protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Justify your response.
Weight: 35%
Did not submit or incompletely examined the extent to which the whistleblower would be protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Did not submit or incompletely justified your response.
Partially examined the extent to which the whistleblower would be protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Partially justified your response.
Satisfactorily examined the extent to which the whistleblower would be protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Satisfactorily justified your response.
Thoroughly examined the extent to which the whistleblower would be protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Thoroughly justified your response.
4. 2 references
Weight: 5%
No references provided
Does not meet the required number of references; some or all references poor quality choices.
Meets number of required references; all references high quality choices.
Exceeds number of required references; all references high quality choices.
5. Clarity, writing mechanics, and formatting requirements
Weight: 10%
More than 6 errors present
5-6 errors present
3-4 errors present
0-2 errors present