MNM1CRE: Corporate Responsibility & Ethics

Module code: MNM1CRE

Module provider: Marketing and Reputation; Henley Business School

Credits: 10

Level: Postgraduate Masters Stage 1

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Filipe Morais, email: f.morais@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Corporate responsibility and ethics are major concerns in contemporary society, but also an area of managerial importance for organisations and their leaders. The Corporate Responsibility and Ethics module allows practising managers to 1) gain an understanding of current corporate responsibility debates and issues, and of corporate responsibility concepts, tools and strategies, and their practical application and 2) appreciate the importance of ethical conduct which ensures corporate responsibility.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Recognise and critically engage with contemporary issues and debates in the corporate responsibility field; 

• Identify and critically discuss corporate responsibility concepts and theories and their relevance and application to wider management practice

• Evaluate the concepts and principles of stakeholder engagement and ethical and responsible management, recognising the importance of positive stakeholder relationships for organisational success

• Critically discuss the importance of ethical theory to analyse and evaluate organisational and management actions or decisions which ensure ethical conduct  and decision making

and key personal aspects required such as dealing ethically and transparently with the different groups inside and outside the business, and reliability, inclusivity, honesty, integrity, and openness which instil confidence and trust in all involved. 

• Critically analyse the application of corporate responsibility in varied arenas of business activity 

• Apply corporate responsibility concepts, theories and tools in support of strategic management, and critically reflect on their role in the achievement of long-term organisational performance

Module content

Part A. Contemporary debates and practice in corporate responsibility 

Section 1) Introducing corporate responsibility
Section 2) Engaging with stakeholders
Section 3) CSR strategy & Applying corporate responsibility 

Part B. Ethical conduct  and decision making

Section 4) Ethical decision making. Theory and practice.
Section 5) Ethical character and ethical organisations

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module uses a guided independent study approach incorporating self-study, optional formative practical application exercises and online tutor support. Key module content is delivered through study guide materials. Programme members also complete a 2500-word assignment.     

The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on your cohort start date

Study hours

At least 7 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.  

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs