U10526 BA/BSc General Modular Scheme

Who is the module for?

This module is an optional module for third year students across the BSc (hons) Accounting, Business Management, Finance, HRM, International Business Management and Logistics Management programmes.

Module aims:

The module explores the ethical challenges facing businesses today, and how individuals and firms can address those challenges. The module aims to enhance the skills and expertise of students by combining an examination of ethical and managerial theory with a discussion of common ethical problems in context. This is achieved through using real-world examples, and case studies. It is anticipated that participants should be able to develop their own perspectives as ethical decision-makers.

Brief module description/summary:

If you wish, you may write here some information about the module, additional to the aims above. If the aims are sufficient, remove this section

Module learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

1.   Assess the significance of a range of ethical theories, and how these might be applied to the business context.

2.   Evaluate critically a broad range of ethical issues that may occur both within and external to business organisations; and

3.   Demonstrate a range of capabilities, including research, analysis, and self-reflection.

Overview of learning and teaching activities on the module: The Business Ethics module will be taught via formal lectures over the semester. Lectures are scheduled to be conducted during the weekdays.

The format will be as follows:

•    Lecture: Three hours (relevant practical and theoretical information)

Equipment you need to bring to class:

Blackboard is our main online learning and teaching tool - https://learn.canterbury.ac.uk/. Help on how to use the different tools/apps offered in Blackboard can be found via the relevant tab on the Blackboard HELP tab.

This module will take an interactive approach to learning and teaching involving students as active participants in the learning process. Students will be encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning by reading and preparing for lectures and seminars and will also be encouraged (current restrictions permitting) to see module tutors during office hours or make appointments for online engagements to discuss concerns about their work.

We will make considerable use of the Blackboard as a learning tool, in encouraging students to share ideas and experiences through the communication tools. We will also use PADLET for online discussions and sharing ideas.

Assessment brief/s:

Assignment 1 :

Coursework - A Case Analysis - Essay of 2,400 words - 60%

Select a business ethics problem or dilemma that you have faced, or which has arisen in an organization of which you have been part, either as an employee, a student, or a manager.

Briefly describe the basic details of the case and identify and discuss the main business ethics issues involved.

Set out the main responses, solutions, or courses of action that could have been considered in relation to the problem and evaluate these options using ethical theories discussed in the sessions (hints: chapters 1 to 5 contain the main theories and tools for this purpose.

Adopt an analytical and pluralistic approach for a Good or Excellent assignment. Please refer to core text pp 125-6 for an explanation of the approach.)

What decision was finally made? To what extent do you believe that this was the best option, and why?

Purpose of the Assignment

This assignment assesses students’ conceptual understanding of the key concepts of Business Ethics (Learning Outcome 3). An understanding of the key concepts is a critical foundation for the successful completion of assignment 2.