Postgraduate Course: Business Ethics (MBA) (BUST11211)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Business Studies |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course provides a general grounding in both theoretical and applied ethics. The course content is designed around the following components:
(i) A perspective on the moral content of human action.
(ii) A review and analysis of the range of theories within the field of moral philosophy.
(iii) A critical analysis of the economic (markets) and organisational (commercial entities) contexts within which ethical or unethical decision making and practice operates.
(iv) An insight into applied ethics through the analysis of case studies and insights into codes of practice.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | For Business School PG students only, or by special permission of the School. Please contact the course secretary. |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
16/09/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 32,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
66 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On completing the course students will be able:
(i) to understand the scope and content of ethical theory (including its limitations) and its relevance for diverse institutional and operational business contexts and individual choice and agency.
(ii) to apply the theoretical precepts of ethical theory in order to evaluate real-life situations, clarify ethical alternatives, articulate associated moral values and be able to explain techniques of moral reasoning.
(iii) to be aware of the significance of corporate governance in shaping the values and practices of an organisation.
(iv) to be aware of the content and objectives of corporate social responsibility policies.
(v) to understand the relevance of ethical reasoning to one's own professional career and to be aware of the constraints that organisational life can sometimes place on moral self-determination.
(vi) to develop a greater awareness of cross cultural variations in assessing moral issues through case based discussions with other members of learning groups.
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Assessment Information
The Ethics course is assessed by two projects.
(1). The first is a group assessed piece of work involving the analysis of a case that will be distributed in class to each class member. The groups will be those organised for Semester 1. Copies will be provided to each class member.
Supporting evidence for the case analysis should be drawn principally from readings indicated below for lectures. However, students are encouraged to utilise any other pertinent sources that they wish.
Each group will therefore undertake to write a report for the case that should be approximately 1000 words in length.
This assignment has the purposes of;
(i). Providing part of the assessment for the first component of the composite Strategic Management core course.
(ii). As an alternative to a class exam at the end of Semester 1.
(iii). To facilitate the development of group working in the Strategic Management course groups, with group working becoming an increasingly significant component of the MBA programme in Semester 2.
(iv). As a means to encourage multi-cultural study groups to explore their member's own experiences and different cultural perspectives concerning business practices.
(2). The Second piece of assessed work is an essay to be undertaken and completed on an individual basis. This essay will require each class member to provide a personal reflection on the significance of ethics, for example, to their professional careers. Each essay should be of 1000 words in length and correctly referenced where sources are used.
Useful Web Sites:
Any search engine for Business Ethics, Ethical Investment, Corporate Social Responsibility, etc.
www.corporateregister.com
www.bsr.org
www.ethics.org
The course reference text also identifies useful web based sources. Go direct to corporate web sites in order to access codes of ethical practice.
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Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
SESSION 1: Introduction: Business and Society.
Reading
Bakan, J. (2008) 'The Externalising Machine,' in Burchell, J.B. (ed) The Corporate Social Responsibility Reader, Routledge: London (to be distributed).
Documentary: The Corporation (part 1)
SESSION 2: Models of Ethical Decision-making (1): prescriptive theories.
Reading
Stark, A. (1993) 'What's The Matter With Business Ethics?' Harvard Business Review, 71 (3).
n.b. You are not expected to become expert in ethical theory. However, what is important at this stage is that you can recognise influential theories, such as Utilitarianism.
Documentary: The Corporation (part 2).
SESSION 3: Models of Ethical Decision-making (2): questions of character.
Reading:
Hine, J.A.H.S. & Ashman, I. (2010) 'Iceland's Banking Sector and the Political Economy of Crisis,' in Kolb, R.W. (ed) Lessons from the Financial Crisis: Causes, Consequences and Our Economic Future, John Wiley & Sons: New Jersey. (to be distributed).
Group meeting to prepare group assignment.
Class reflection and discussion: Business Ethics Scenarios (to be distributed).
SESSION 4: The Manager, the Corporation and Bureaucratic Rationality
Reading
Hine, J.A.H.S. (2007) 'The Shadow of MacIntyre's Manager in the Kingdom of Conscience constrained,' Business Ethics: A European Review, 16 (4).
Bird, F.B. & Waters, J.A. (2001) 'The Moral Muteness of Managers,' California Review, (reprint from edition Fall 1989).
SESSION 5: Corporate Governance.
Reading
Erturk, I. Et al. (2004) 'Corporate governance and disappointment,' Review of International Political Economy, 11:4, 677-713.
McCall, J.J. (2004) 'Assessing American executive compensation: a cautionary tale for Europeans,' Business Ethics: A European Review, 13 (4). (to be distributed).
Sternberg, E. (1997) 'The Defects of Stakeholder Theory,' Scholarly Research and Theory Papers Vol. 5:1. (to be distributed)
The British Telecom Better Business Game; http://www.btplc.com/Societyandenvironment/Businessgame/
SESSION 6: The Corporate Social Responsibility Debate
Reading
Crook, C. (2005) 'The Good Company,' The Economist. (to be distributed)
Porter, M. E. and Kramer, M. R. (2006) 'The competitive advantage of corporate philanthropy,' Harvard Business Review 80 (12), pp. 56-68.
Hine, J.A.H.S. and Preuss, L. (2008) '"Society is Out There, Organisation is in Here": On the Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility Held by Different Managerial Groups,' Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 88:2
SESSION 7: International Business
Reading
Zadek, S. (2004) 'The Path to Corporate Responsibility,' Harvard Business Review, December. (to be distributed).
Royle, T. (2005) 'Realism or Idealism? Corporate Social Responsibility and the Employee Stakeholder in the Global Fast-food Industry,' Business Ethics: A European Review, Vol. 14, No. 1.
SESSION 8: Corporate Strategy for Reputation Management.
Reading
Cadbury, A. (1987) 'Ethical managers make their own rules,' Harvard Business Review, (reprint - to be distributed).
Hollender, J. (2004) 'What matters Most: Corporate Values and Social Responsibility,' California Management Review, 46 (4). (to be distributed)
Case Study: McCoy, B. 'The Parable of the Sadhu,' Harvard Business Review (reprint - to be distributed in Session 7).
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | MBA BusEthics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr James Hine
Tel: (0131 6)50 3805
Email: J.A.Hine@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Kate Ainsworth
Tel: (0131 6)51 3854
Email: Kate.Ainsworth@ed.ac.uk |
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