MM295-Business Ethics 1

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Lucy Newton
Email: l.a.newton@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to develop students’ awareness and understanding of the ethical issues in business and management. In particular, the ethical issues facing multinationals and global companies will be examined. Businesses do not operate in a vacuum and it is important to consider non-economic issues, such as ethics, to set the management of companies in a broader context. Using a combination of ethical theory and case study analysis, the module aims to enable students to analyse ethical issues that corporate decision-makers face in developing policies concerning a variety of stakeholders. 

Aims:

To develop student's awareness and understanding of ethical issues in a business and management environment, from the perspective of the individual, of individual firms and of wider society and the environment. The module aims to enable students to analyse ethical issues that corporate decision-makers face in developing policies about employees, customers and the broader stakeholders by utilising both theory and case studies. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

• To identify and analyse key ethical issues in business


• To critically analyse an ethical case through use of ethical theory


• To demonstrate a good understanding of the ethical theory covered in the module


• To appraise ethical dilemmas from a managerial, individual and societal perspective 


• To provide a written evaluation of key ethical issues on a given business topic


• To gather information and demonstrate writing synthesis skills

Additional outcomes:

By undertaking essay and exam assessments as part of this module, students will enhance their information gathering, analytical, writing synthesis and IT skills. 

Outline content:

The module will consider ethical issues that corporate decision-makers face in developing policies about employees, shareholders, customers and broader stakeholders by utilising both theory and case studies. Topics include:

• Ethical Theory


• Employees and business ethics


• Ethical buyer/supplier relationships


• Consumers and business ethics


• Globalisation and ethics

Global context:

The international context in which business operation and how this relates to ethics will be considered throughout the module. In particular, the ethical issues facing multinationals and global companies will be examined. International company case studies are utilised. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures combined with two-hour seminars. The basic material will be covered in lectures. Discussions and assessment preperation will take place in the seminars.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One essay, approximately 1,500 words, submitted week 7 of the Spring Term (week 26 of calender).

One essay, 4000 words maximum, submitted week 1 of the Summer Term (week 34 in calender).

Formative assessment methods:

Formative feedback is provided during discussions in seminars (where assessment preperation takes place) and answers to assessment queries via email.

Penalties for late submission:

University penalties for late submission apply.  

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A weighted average of at least 40%.

Reassessment arrangements:

100% Coursework Essay

During the August re-sit period – mark capped at 40%. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Textbook optional but recommended – approximately £46.00 - Andrew Crane and Dirk Matten, Business Ethics (fifth edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019). 

Last updated: 24 January 2024