Module Details

Module Code: MGMT8001
Title: Business Ethics
Long Title: Business Ethics
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2021/22 ( September 2021 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 3450 - Business & Management
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: The module is designed to demonstrate the strategic importance of ethics, social responsibility and corporate citizenship to the organisation and explore the ethical dilemmas that modern managers face. Situations in business ethics will be addressed.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Analyse the strategic importance of ethics to the firm.
LO2 Evaluate common ethical problems faced by firms and how these can be resolved ethically.
LO3 Justify the level of importance of individual judgement to the ethical question.
LO4 Analyse the importance of the firm's culture in setting the ethics framework for managers and employees.
LO5 Evaluate the role of regulatory forces in the ethical question.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).

Not applicable
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
Not applicable
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.

Not applicable
 
Indicative Content
Introduction to Ethics
Is business ethics just a fad?; Can business ethics be taught?; Why be ethical?; The motivation to be ethical; Business and social responsibility; Economic, legal and philanthropic responsibility; Government regulation; Is socially responsible business, good business?
Ethics and the Individual
Common ethical problems - discrimination, harassment (sexual and otherwise); Conflicts of interest; Use and misuse of corporate resources; Whistle blowing; Ethical decision making process; Moral awareness and moral judgement; Barriers to good ethical judgement.
Ethics and the Manager
Managing stakeholders; Ethics and the consumer (conflicts of interest, product safety, advertising); Ethics and employees; Ethics and shareholders; Organisational ethics as a cultural phenomenon; Formal cultural systems (values, mission statements, policies and codes); Informal cultural systems (norms, heros and role models, rituals); Developing, changing and communicating ethics; Reward systems for ethical behaviour; Evaluating the ethics programme.
Ethics and the World
Development of corporate guidelines and policies for global business ethics; Different cultures and development of a transcultural corporate ethics programme; Corporate social responsibility.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 40
Timing Week 7 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
Short 5 page written report (max) on a current/emerging ethical issue. It is the intention (where practical) to have a cross modular assessment with the 2 other mandatory modules (MGMT 8018 and FINA 8003). Students will prepare a written report, which will critically analyse particular ethical issues of management.
Assessment Type Essay % of Total Mark 60
Timing Week 13 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
End of Semester essay/project/written report.
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Class based instruction Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Reading and research Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Class based instruction Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Reading and research Every Week 5.00 5
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Bart Wernaart. (2021), Ethics and Business: A Global Introduction, Wolters-Noordhoff BV, [ISBN: 9789001865184].
  • Andrew Crane, Dirk Matten, Sarah Glozer and Laura Spence. (2020), Business Ethics, 5th. Oxford University Press, [ISBN: 9780198810070].
  • Deon Rossouw and Leon Van Vuuren. (2018), Business Ethics, 6th. Oxford University Press Southern Africa, [ISBN: 9780190721466].
  • Dennis Collins. (2018), Business Ethics: Best Practices for Designing and Managing Ethical Organisations, 2nd. Sage, [ISBN: 9781526460356].
  • Robert Hartley and Cindy Claycomb. (2014), Marketing Mistakes and Successes, 12th. Wiley, [ISBN: 9781118078464].
  • Zinkin. (2014), Rebuilding Trust in Banks: The Role of Leadership and Governance, 1st. Wiley, [ISBN: 9781118550380].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Trevino and Nelson. (2014), Managing Business Ethics, 6th. New York, N.Y; John Wiley and Sons, INC, [ISBN: 9781118582671].
  • Hoffman, Frederick and Schwartz. (2014), Business Ethics - Readings and Cases in Corporate Morality, 5th. Wiley, [ISBN: 9781118336687].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
This module does not have any other resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_BBUSS_8 Bachelor of Business (Honours) 1 Mandatory