BMM6462 - Business Ethics

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Evaluate and judge ethical dilemmas that arise from doing business in the global context.
Interpret and appraise the evolving drivers of business ethics, including globalisation, corporate responsibility, and sustainability.
Evaluate the role of business in society in the context of global ethical debates.
Practise the tools and techniques of business ethics management in a professional context.

Content:

The module comprises four main themes, which will be introduced to students as follows: the foundations of business ethics covers why business ethics matter, moral values and ethical theories relevant to business in a global context. Framing business ethics examines the concepts of social responsibility, stakeholder relations, sustainability and corporate citizenship in business and organisations. Contextualising business ethics includes emerging ethical dilemmas such as the ethics of e-communication, ethical consumerism, sustainable consumption and social accounting. Finally, ethical management in practice evaluates key functional areas, including ethical decision-making and the tools and techniques of business ethics management.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered via a series of weekly 3-hour teaching blocks, comprising whole-group interactive lecture and seminar covering fundamental theories and applications. Lectures and seminars will be supported by in-depth applied workshops.

A key focus will be on experiential learning using simulation exercises and activities to allow students the opportunity to reflect on their attitudes to ethical dilemmas and apply ethical reasoning to case studies in order to develop skills in ethical problem solving.

The module will make use of current newsworthy case studies and developing business and ethical trends, and so the nature of the topics and exercises will vary. Students will be provided with, and/or directed to, relevant reading and additional questions/ exercises to support their progress through the module material.

Lectures/Seminars
Contact hours: 30
Intended Group size: Cohort

Workshops/Tutorials
Contact hours: 10
Intended group size: Cohort or variable sized groups

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Group presentation: the group task will ask students to evaluate different ethical issues in the workplace and provide suggestions in the form of ethics training in the workplace. All members of the team will be awarded the same mark for equivalent input into the teamwork.

Ethics portfolio: this assignment has a peer-assessment element, and should contain elements of case study analysis and team work assessment and ethical reflection.

Alternative assessment: any students who defer or re-sit any components of the assessment will be assessed by a written report with equivalent pro-rata

Assessment:

001 Individual report 1 x4,000 words End of module 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Flor Gerardou
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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