Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

Bachelor 2022/2023

Type: Compulsory course (International Business)

Area of studies: Management

Delivered by: Department of Strategic and International Management

Where: Graduate School of Business

When: 1 year, 3, 4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Tom Rawlins

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 30

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The maximisation of utility and value for shareholders, as Milton Friedman’s one and only social responsibility of business, is outdated and must change if we are to face and overcome the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) challenges that the majority of stakeholders face in the 21st Century. To do so, we must re-evaluate the ethics of our business and redefine both the social responsibility of business and our own social responsibility in management. This course provides a framework to help students develop and define their own moral philosophy and ethic of responsibility in terms of why business exists and what is the right thing to do when faced with an ethical dilemma? How does managerial authority effect an organisation’s integrity? How do ESG Practices differ from the current reality of business? How can we improve the situation as future business leaders and managers? As well as other important ethical issues in business and in management. Participants are expected to contribute to the overall learning through their active participation in class discussions.

Learning Objectives

To develop, systematise and openly defend your own position on the social responsibility of business and your social responsibility in management;
To evaluate sustainability according to the Triple Bottom Line;
To appreciate the complementarity of consequentialism and deontology in normative ethics;
To apply values and principles in the process of making ethical decisions;
To conceptualise and operationalise the virtue of acting with integrity as an organisation and as an individual.

Expected Learning Outcomes

To be able to clearly articulate and defend your own position in an ethical debate;
To be able to question your managerial authority when it prevents the organisation from doing the right thing;
To be able to recognise and act when a lack of integrity is corrupting your organisation;
To be able to present a case for social responsibility in business and in management.

Course Contents

1. The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility
2. Socially irresponsible management? — the case of Jack Welch at GE 1981-2000
3. Value-based management: Decision-making based on the maximisation of value. Shareholder v Stakeholder
4. CSR and sustainability: The Triple Bottom Line
5. Ethical Decision-making and the pressure of Expected Utility
6. The Complementarity of Utilitarianism and Deontology in Ethical Decision-Making
7. Core values and the Sponsors’ Dilemma
8. The impact of managerial authority on individual and organisational integrity

Assessment Elements

Multiple choice test
Multiple choice test will be given in the lectures and/or seminars during the course. The test will be given using the StartExam platform and you must ensure you have access to this platform for the test, when required.
Written assignment
Four assignments (two written and two video) will also be given which must be completed and uploaded to the StartExam platform before the end of the module.
Multiple choice test
Multiple choice test will be given in the lectures and/or seminars during the course. The test will be given using the StartExam platform and you must ensure you have access to this platform for the test, when required.
Video assignment
Four assignments (two written and two video) will also be given which must be completed and uploaded to the StartExam platform before the end of the module.
Video assignment
Four assignments (two written and two video) will also be given which must be completed and uploaded to the StartExam platform before the end of the module.
Written assignment
Four assignments (two written and two video) will also be given which must be completed and uploaded to the StartExam platform before the end of the module.

Interim Assessment

2022/2023 4th module
0.1 * Written assignment + 0.2 * Video assignment + 0.1 * Written assignment + 0.2 * Video assignment + 0.2 * Multiple choice test + 0.2 * Multiple choice test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Eugene Heath, Byron Kaldis, & Alexei Marcoux. (2018). The Routledge Companion to Business Ethics. Routledge.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Edoardo Zamuner, Ermelinda Valentina Di Lascio, & D. K. Levy. (2014). Lecture on Ethics. Wiley-Blackwell.

Course Syllabus