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MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE
MODULE DETAILS
Module title
Module code
Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
EC 383
Level
Level
Level 6
Credit rating
20
Successful completion of Level 2
Pre-requisites for
registration on this module
Level
Level
eventually it is anticipated that these
will be specified in terms of learning
outcomes; in the interim they should
be specified in terms of other
module codes, or equivalent
Type of module
Period of time over which it is
delivered and mode of delivery
Brief description of
module content and/ or
aims
Year Through
Taught followed by individual Research
The module provides a guided forum for an in depth investigation into
a particular area of interest, chosen by the individual students in the
area of business ethics and corporate social responsibility.
Overview (max 80 words)
Module team/ author/
coordinator(s)
Semester 1 or 2
Babak Sodagar
1 and 2
Site/ campus where
Moulsecoomb
delivered
Field(s) for which module is appropriate and status in that field
Field
Status (mandatory/ compulsory/ optional)
Finance and Accountancy
Business Management
Optional
Optional
Course(s) for which module is appropriate and status on that course
Course
Status (mandatory/ compulsory/ optional)
Business Management Programme Courses
Finance and accountancy Programme Courses
Optional
Optional
MODULE AIMS, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT
Aims
To provide a guided forum for an in depth investigation of a particular
area of interest in the area of business ethics and corporate
social responsibility. To examine the impact of these issues on
a business area or specific company of the participant's
choice.
To develop an understanding of ethics in the contemporary context.
To develop an understanding of the relevance of ethics and corporate
social responsibility to business.
To develop the ability to analyse the link between ethical issues to
corporations
To enhance research skills
Learning outcomes/
objectives
To enhance written communication skills
Subject Specific:
To demonstrate awareness of some of the key issues in the area of
corporate social responsibility and business ethics.
To demonstrate capabilities to critically analyse the specific impact of
these issues on a particular company or related business area.
Cognitive:
To link academic and abstract thinking with practical problem solving,
through research and critical analysis and to recognise where their
individual knowledge and skills may be relevant to solving a new
problem.
To develop the capacity for independent and self-managed learning.
To develop communication skills, including the ability to present
quantitative and qualitative information, together with analysis and
commentary.
Content
•
•
•
•
An in-depth study of markets and corporate bodies for which the
issue of corporate social responsibility and ethics are significant
factors. Using the notions of resource allocation, theory of the
firm, income distribution, role of markets, externalities, etc
The study of the work of some of the thinkers whose work has
influenced this area, for example Bentham, Mill, Marx, Kant,
Machiavelli, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Rousseau as well as
modern writers such as Rawls ,Etzioni etc, can inform the study
which is carried out.
The participants must research into the issue of business ethics
and corporate social responsibility in a relevant area. This may
involve work on a specific company or relevant area to the
operation of businesses.
These are some examples of the kind of issues at hand ,
company reporting, GM foods, physical environmental impact of
business activities, ethical investment funds, business in the
community, supply chains and purchasing strategies, essential
Teaching and learning
strategy
•
Allocation of study hours to activities
(including pre-module activities,
contact time, private study time and
assessment)
Th
•
drugs and pharmaceutical pricing strategies, marketing ethics,
impact of Fair Trade, business impact on local communities,
brands and ethics
There will be workshops to set out the agenda and discuss and
develop both theoretic and practical, issues which are researched
into by the participants. The participants will choose an area
which they want to conduct individual investigation into, using
secondary and where possible primary research.
The participants are supported by individual and group
consultations with the lecturer\s.
Guest lectures and study visits will be used when appropriate and
possible.
Lectures:
9
Open Learning:
0
Self Study:
91
40
Assessment:
60
Total:
200
Seminars:
Workshops:
Learning support
Including indicative reading,
computer packages, field trips etc
INDICATIVE READING:
The latest editions of:
Barry, N, Business Ethics, Macmillan Business
Beauchamp, TL
& Bowie, NE
Theory and Business Practice, Prentice Hall
Blowfield, M & Murry Corporate Responsibility A Critical
Introduction, Oxford University Press
Boatright, JR
Ethics and the conduct of Business, Prentice Hall
Bowie, NE, ed. Business Ethics, Blackwell
Bradburn, R
Understanding Business Ethics, Continuum, London
Bryman A, & Bell, E
Buchanan, A
Business
Business Research Methods, Oxford
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Business Ethics, Blackwell
Cadbury, A
Corporate governance and Chairmanship, Oxford
University Press
Chryssides, G & Kaler, J Essentials of Business Ethics, McGraw Hill
Connock, S & Johns, T Ethical Leadership, IPD
Crane, A & Matten, D
Fisher, C
,
Business Ethics, Oxford
Researching and writing a Dissertation for Business
PcM
Fisher, C & Lovell, A
Business Ethics & Values, Prentice Hall
Frederick, RE
Companion to Business Ethics, Blackwell
Hartman, L
Perspectives in Business Ethics, McGraw Hill
Hartman, L & Werhane, P
The Global Corporation, sustainable,
effective and ethical Practice A Case Book, Routledge
Harrison, M
Palgrave
An Introduction to Business & Management Ethics,
Hartley, R
Business Ethics Mistakes & Successes, Wiley
McIntosh, Thomas &
Mele, D
Living Corporate Citizenship, Prentice Hall
Business Ethics in Action, Palgrave
Mellahi,K et al The Ethical Business, Palgrave
Parker, M
Ethics and Organizations, Sage
Saunders, C
Research Methods for Business Students, D.H.
Soros, G
Company
The Crisis of Global Capitalism, Little Brown and
Schlegelmilch, B
Marketing Ethics an International
Perspective
Sullivan, RJ
An Introduction to Kant's Ethics, CUP
Trevino, L & Nelson, A Managing Business Ethics, Wiley
Vales, A & Hall, V
Littlefield
Ethics in International Affairs, Rowman &
Werhane, Patricia, H
Blackwell
& Freeman, RE eds.
Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Business Ethics,
Wicks,AC, Freeman,RE &
Approach, Prentice Hall
EIRIS.,
Business Ethics A Managerial
The Ethical Investor, Ethical Investment Research
Service
Association of British Insurers Disclosure guidelines on socially
Responsible Investment, ABI
The Journal of Business Ethics
Some USEFUL WEB SITES:
www.eiris.org
www.sustainability-index.com
www.hermes.co.uk/corporate-governance
www.ftse4good/index
www.ethibel.org
www.ft.com
www.ibe.org.uk
Assessment tasks
Individual Academic Report Maximum 6,000 words
Including weighting of individual
tasks
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Area examination board
Economics
External examiners
Name
Date appointed
Mathias Kluass
2008
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Date of first approval
July 2002
Only complete where this is not the
first version
Date of last revision
Only complete where this is not the
May 2007
first version
Date of approval for this
version
Version number
Modules replaced
Specify codes of modules for which
this is a replacement