Studying at York
Introduction to Business Ethics & Sustainability - MAN00021C
Module summary
To introduce students to the theories and practices of business ethics and social responsibility in national and global contexts and the personal, ethical dilemmas, which people in organisations can face within such contexts.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
This module aims to introduce students to the theories and practices of business ethics, environmental and social responsibility in national and global contexts and the personal, ethical dilemmas, which people in organisations can face within such contexts. The module also aims to develop students academic and communication skills to support their professional development.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of this module students should be able to:
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Identify the central claims, arguments, problems and solutions to be found in contemporary ethical business discussions
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Identify and reflect on personal ethics, as a student and future professional
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Develop abilities to interpret, synthesise and criticise ethical positions and debates from literature
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Present and assess arguments in a clear and rigorous way including identifying and using appropriate resources and referencing formats
Module content
Indicative topics
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What is ethics?
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Non-consequentialist Ethical Theories
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Ethics in Practice*
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Consequentialist Ethical Theories
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Managing Stakeholders*
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Environmental Sustainability & Business Ethics*
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Consumers & Business Ethics
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Employees & Business Ethics
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Regulation & Business Ethics*
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Civil Society & Business Ethics
* topics with an asterix are linked to accreditation requirements
Employability and Transferability Outcomes
By the end of this module students should have achieved:
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Knowledge and understanding in the:
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Challenges and opportunities arising from the activities of people and organisations
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Economic, social and environmental conditions which influence future business decisions
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Development of appropriate and ethical business policies and strategies to meet stakeholder needs within a changing environment
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Role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and business ethics in the modern corporation
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Process of academic referencing
Intellectual skills including:
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Cognitive skills of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis
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The ability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence
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Detection of false logic or reasoning
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To create, evaluate and access a range of ethical options within a given context
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Application of ideas and knowledge to a range of business and other situations
Professional practical skills including:
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The application of business models to business problems and phenomena
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Self-awareness, openness and sensitivity to diversity in terms of people, cultures, business and management issues
Transferable (key) skills including:
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Communication skills (oral and written) in a range of electronic and business media
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Reflective, adaptive and collaborative learning
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The interpersonal skills for effective listening, negotiating, persuasion and presentation
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 80 |
| Essay/coursework | 20 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 80 |
| Essay/coursework | 20 |
Module feedback
Feedback will be written:
Annotation of the submitted student work
Structured feedback sheet – aligned with marking criteria
Verbal feedback on formative work will be given in feed-forward sessions
Indicative reading
Crane, A. and Matten, D. (2016). Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. Oxford.