Overview
This unit examines the interrelated topics of personal and business ethics and business sustainability. It critically reviews the socio-cultural environment in which business operates and how this can change dramatically between countries and cities. Ethical frameworks for managerial decision-making are critiqued with reference to various stakeholder groups and you will examine the debates surrounding sustainable development as they impact on organisations in their local and global contexts. The interactions between personal ethics and how ethics is managed within an organisation are also considered. Technological, societal and cultural sources of ethical challenges are reviewed and cases will be discussed outlining how various organisations might respond to these challenges.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Teaching team as assessors of student submission.
Lack of effectiveness of the individual essay to adequately convey understanding and application of ethical concepts.
The main recommendation is the removal of the essay and its replacement with a formal exam at the end of term. A second individual assessment task, a reflective essay, currently due at the end of term, will be redesigned to focus on the introductory topics and the due date will be brought forward to mid term so that students receive feedback during the term regarding their progress. A change unit proposal has been completed and approved by the Management and Innovation Discipline Group in October, 2018.
- investigate the interconnections between business ethics, sustainability and globalisation; and evaluate the differences between ethics, legal requirements and cultural factors in a business setting;
- explain the various aspects of business sustainability and how these impact upon business strategy;
- critique the major ethical theories and frameworks and be able to compare these in a contemporary business setting;
- discuss the management of business ethics within an organisation and explore the role of tools such as Codes of Conduct, Risk Management frameworks and gift policies in asssisting such management; and
- demonstrate commonly accepted professional ethical standards in the work place and in your behaviour toward others.
The unit does not link to any specific external professional accreditation.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Examination - 40% | |||||
| 2 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Examination - 40% | ||||||||
| 2 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 30% | ||||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Business Ethics: Ethical Decison Making and CAses
Edition: 12E (2018)
Authors: Ferrell, O.C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L.
Cengage
ISBN: 9781337614436
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Copies are available to purchase at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.segon@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
An introduction to Business Ethics
Concepts, definitions and key issues
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell ( 2018) Chapter 1
McDonald (2015) Ch 1
Please refer to the Moodle site for unit notes, additional readings and journal articles
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Morality, Moral Reasoning and Cognitive Moral Development.
Moral Accountability and conditions of Personhood.
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell ( 2018) Chapter 5 & 6
McDonald (2015) Ch 11
Please refer to the Moodle site for unit notes, additional readings and journal articles
Events and Submissions/Topic
Compulsory Moral Accountability Cases.
Compulsory Moral Inventory Diagnostic Tool.
Module/Topic
Values, Culture and Relativism
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell ( 2018) Chapter 6 (Section on Relativism)
McDonald (2015) Ch 11
Please refer to the Moodle site for unit notes, additional readings and journal articles
Events and Submissions/Topic
Compulsory Relativism Case Study.
Compulsory Values Inventory Diagnostic Tool.
Module/Topic
Ethical Theories and Decision Making
Understanding Decision Context
Using consequentialist (egoism & utilitarianism) and deontological approaches to ethical dilemmas.
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell ( 2018) Chapters 5 & 6
McDonald (2015) Ch 10 & 11
Please refer to the Moodle site for unit notes, additional readings and journal articles
Events and Submissions/Topic
Compulsory Consequentialist and Deontological Case Studies.
Module/Topic
Ethical Theories and Decision Making II
Using virtue ethics and justice approaches to ethical dilemmas.
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell ( 2018) Chapter 6 (Section on Relativism)
McDonald (2015) Ch 11
Velasquez et al. (2013) Article
Please refer to the Moodle site for unit notes, additional readings and journal articles
Events and Submissions/Topic
Compulsory Virtue Ethics Case Study.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The Corporation, Law and Moral Accountability
Stakeholder vs Shareholder debate.
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2018) Ch 2 & Ch 8 pp 214-217
Please refer to unit notes on the Moodle site for additional text and journal reading.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Reflective Essay Due Friday 26th April, 2019.
Group formation and allocation of Organisation for CSR Analysis.
Reflective Essay Due: Week 6 Friday (26 Apr 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Sustainable Organisations: Developing Ethical Cultures.
Approaches to Organisational Ethics.
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2018) Ch 7, 8 & 9.
McDonald (2015) Ch 12.
Please refer to unit notes on the Moodle site for additional text and journal readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sustainable Organisations: Corporate Social Responsibility.
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2018) Ch 2
McDonald (2015) Ch 2
Please refer to unit notes on the Moodle site for additional text and journal readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Return of Individual essay with feedback.
Module/Topic
Sustainability:
Economic and Ecological Sustainability.
The United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2018) Ch 12
McDonald (2015) Ch 2.
Biermann, Kanie & Kim (2017)
Waage et al. (2015)
Please refer to unit notes on the Moodle site for additional text and journal readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
International Business Ethics
Bribery and Corruption.
International legislation and risk to personal and corporate reputation.
Chapter
Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2018) Ch 10
McDonald (2015) Ch 9
Please refer to unit notes on the Moodle site for additional text and journal readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Group Presentations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Group Presentations
15-20 minutes per group.
Powerpoints to be provided to facilitator prior to presentation.
Group Presentation Due: Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Unit review and Exam preparation.
Chapter
Review of key chapters and readings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Please note that whilst the schedule lists topics in specific order on a weekly basis, this may be subject to change including the use of one day workshops to enhance student learning and interaction.
1 Reflective Practice Assignment
The key aspect of reflection is a critical evaluation of the self. Students will undertake a number of in-class cases between weeks 2-6 and must use two (2) of the nominated cases as the basis for their self analysis, signed by the unit facilitator to verify they have been completed in class. The unit coordinator and or facilitator will then nominate which ones are to be used as part of the assessment.
Students will also complete at least 2 ethical diagnostic tools in class and must attach the results sheet as an appendix, signed by the unit facilitator to verify they have been completed.
The task is to analyse the decision made at the time, not to re-analyse the a case and come up with a new decision. Students are expected to look at the decision they made and using ethical theory classify the approach they took, or the justifications made. Students are to reflect on their decision by examining their assumptions about ethics, the purpose of business and the results of the diagnostic tools. Students are to provide a conclusion that considers whether or not they would change their decision, based on the ethical and moral theories discussed in class.
A detailed rubric and audio file are available on the Moodle site that provides further details for this assessment task.
Refer to the unit Moodle site for further details.
Week 6 Friday (26 Apr 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Students are to submit via the assessment folder in Moodle. Please note a late penalty of 5% per day applies for each day or part day (including weekends) for assignments submitted after the due date
Week 8 Friday (10 May 2019)
Feedback will be provided via Feedback Studio
Students are required to:
- Examine the decisions made from the two cases nominated by the unit coordinator or class facilitator, completed in class (signed and or verified by the lecturer)
- Utilise and reflect on the results of a minimum of 2 diagnostic tools (results page signed by facilitator attached as appendices)
- Discuss the decisions and analyse these referring to the diagnostic results and ethical theories and concepts.
- Utilise key ethical and moral theories, concepts of moral personhood to describe and analyse their own positions or beliefs
- Provide a reflection of why they made the original decision and whether they would adopt a different approach given the concepts studied in class.
- The use of between 12-16 quality references that includes key readings and recommended texts, using APA referencing and including a reference list.
These are the minimum requirements. Students should note that satisfactorily meeting the minimum requirements will typically result in the minimum pass grade being awarded.
- demonstrate commonly accepted professional ethical standards in the work place and in your behaviour toward others.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
2 Presentation and Written Assessment
All students will be allocated to a group by the facilitator and or unit coordinator in week 7 of term. These groups will be non-negotiable.
Students will undertake analysis of an organisation examining either its internal approach to the development of ethical culture, or its external engagement through corporate social responsibility or sustainability strategy. The specific task will be determined by the facilitator and unit coordinator in consultation with each group.
Each group will present as a team of consultants, such as KPMG, Ernst and Young etc., and assume that they have been hired by the organisation to conduct the analysis and present to the CEO and or Board of Directors.
Each group will be afforded 15-20 minutes to present and must submit an Executive Report of approximately 1000 words with a detailed reference list.
Please note that the presentation is a pass-fail activity. Each student must be in a group and present as part of that group.
Online students will upload a presentation (usually with a recorded audio) and executive report.
This is the minimum standard expected for this assignment. Students who only meet the minimum, should expect to receive the minimum pass grade.
As Masters students, you are required to engage in research as per the Australia Quality Framework (AQF) guidelines. Two specific requirements need to be considered.
Students need to demonstrate “a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in the discipline and/or area of professional practice, and demonstrate "knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning”.
Each topic in your course has a number of required weekly readings in terms of academic texts, journals and business publications that represent the appropriate body of knowledge and recent developments referred to by the AQF.
In order to demonstrate the ability to engage in appropriate research, students should read and utilise these texts and journals and publications, and as Masters students, indicate a willingness to research beyond this minimum standard through additional texts, journals and studies that demonstrate an ability to engage in independent research.
A detailed rubric and audio file is available in the Assessment folder below that provides further information regarding this assessment.
Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Students are to submit via the assessment folder in Moodle. Please note a late penalty of 5% per day applies for each day or part day (including weekends) for assignments submitted after the due date
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019)
Feedback will be provided via Feedback Studio
Students are to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter, and effective presentation skills by:
- Providing a concise and structured presentation with introduction, main presentation and conclusion.
- Effectively using audio visuals and verbal communication delivered within the time allocation (15 mins per group)
- Use of key ethical, csr and or sustainability models, concepts and theories as an analytical frame.
- Identifying of company strengths and weaknesses against the analytical frame.
- Providing a clear set of recommendations supported by literature (if and when appropriate)
- Demonstrating a commitment to professional business presentation standard, paralleling those of professional consulting firms.
- Ensuring all group members to make a balanced contribution in the presentation.
- A copy of the presentation (powerpoints) MUST be provided to the unit facilitator prior to the presentation.
Students are to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter, and effective written skills by:
- Providing a concise overview of the content of the presentation of approximately 1000 words
- Using key ethical, csr and or sustainability models, concepts and theories as an analytical frame
- Identifying the organisation's strengths and weaknesses against the analytical frame
- Providing a clear set of recommendations supported by literature (if and when appropriate)
- Using a minimum of 12-16 quality references made up of recommended texts and academic journal articles so as to demonstrate breadth and quality of research
- The use of the APA in text referencing system to correctly cite academic sources
- Ensuring a list of references used in the presentation is attached to the executive report.
- investigate the interconnections between business ethics, sustainability and globalisation; and evaluate the differences between ethics, legal requirements and cultural factors in a business setting;
- explain the various aspects of business sustainability and how these impact upon business strategy;
- discuss the management of business ethics within an organisation and explore the role of tools such as Codes of Conduct, Risk Management frameworks and gift policies in asssisting such management; and
- demonstrate commonly accepted professional ethical standards in the work place and in your behaviour toward others.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
Examination
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
