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Module Catalogue

IB3E6-12 Ethical Issues in Contemporary Business

Department
Warwick Business School
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Demetris Hadjimichael
Credit value
12
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description
  1. Introduce students to basic theories of ethics and politics.
  2. Engage students with a range of ethical challenges faced by contemporary business and other organisations in the practices of their activities and operations.
  3. Enable students to apply theories of ethics to contemporary issues faced by business and other organisations.
  4. Enable students to engage with and critically reflect upon ethical choices and dilemmas by engaging in a team based project work which requires them to deal practically with ethical concerns.

Module web page

Module aims
  1. Introduce students to basic theories of ethics and politics.
  2. Engage students with a range of ethical challenges faced by contemporary business and other organisations in the practices of their activities and operations.
  3. Enable students to apply theories of ethics to contemporary issues faced by business and other organisations.
  4. Enable students to engage with and critically reflect upon ethical choices and dilemmas by engaging in a team based project work which requires them to deal practically with ethical concerns.
Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction to business ethics and contemporary ethical dilemmas
How narratives, habits and non-reflectiveness affect ethics in organizations
Utilitarian ethics and organizations
Kantian ethics and organizations
Virtue ethics and organizations
Freedom and rights: liberalism and egalitarianism
Marx, commodity fetishism and inhumane working conditions
Feminist Ethics
Ethics and Emotions in Organisations
The future of work; effective labour

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of core theories of ethics.
  • Understand key contemporary ethical issues faced by businesses and organisations.
  • Utilise critical thinking skills in analyzing ethical dilemmas elicited/explored with the research project
  • Understand/have an experience of teamwork and research skills/activities -
Indicative reading list

Sandel, M. (2010). Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? London: Penguin Books.
Gibson, K. (2012). Ethics and Business: An Introduction Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Sandbu, Martin (2011) Just Business: Arguments in Business Ethics. London: Pearson Hall.

Subject specific skills

Apply ethical theories to analyse critically contemporary ethical issues faced by businesses and other organisations.
Understand current organizational responses (practices, procedures, etc.) to ethical dilemmas.

Transferable skills

Demonstrate improved verbal communication skills.
Demonstrate improved written communication skills.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 10 sessions of 2 hours (17%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (8%)
Private study 33 hours (28%)
Assessment 58 hours (48%)
Total 120 hours
Private study description

Private Study.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A2
Weighting Study time
Individual Assignment 70% 38 hours
Group Presentation 20% 11 hours

Group video presentation & summary (500 words)
Participation 10% 9 hours

Participation in activities on a weekly basis via my.wbs and seminars
Feedback on assessment

Feedback via My.WBS

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 3 of UESA-HN11 BSc Engineering and Business Studies
  • UIBA-MN34 Law and Business Four Year (Qualifying Degree)
    • Year 3 of MN34 Law and Business Studies Four Year (Qualifying Degree)
    • Year 4 of MN34 Law and Business Studies Four Year (Qualifying Degree)
  • Year 3 of UIBA-N211 Undergraduate Information Systems Management and Innovation
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N214 Undergraduate Information Systems Management and Innovation (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N140 Undergraduate International Business
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1R1 Undergraduate International Business with French
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1R2 Undergraduate International Business with German
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1R3 Undergraduate International Business with Italian
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N1R4 Undergraduate International Business with Spanish
  • Year 3 of UIBA-MN31 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies
  • UIBA-MN32 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies
    • Year 3 of MN32 Law and Business Studies (Four-Year)
    • Year 4 of MN32 Law and Business Studies (Four-Year)
  • UIBA-MN37 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies (Qualifying Degree) with Intercalated Year
    • Year 4 of MN37 Law and Business Studies (Qualifying Degree) with Intercalated Year
    • Year 5 of MN37 Law and Business Studies (Qualifying Degree) with Intercalated Year
  • UIBA-MN35 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (3+1)
    • Year 3 of MN35 Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (3+1)
    • Year 4 of MN35 Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (3+1)
  • UIBA-MN36 Undergraduate Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (4+1)
    • Year 4 of MN36 Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (4+1)
    • Year 5 of MN36 Law and Business Studies with Intercalated Year (4+1)
  • Year 3 of UMAA-G1NC Undergraduate Mathematics and Business Studies
  • Year 4 of UMAA-G1N2 Undergraduate Mathematics and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 3 of UPXA-F3N1 Undergraduate Physics and Business Studies

This module is Option list A for:

  • UIBA-N203 BSc in International Management
    • Year 4 of N203 International Management
    • Year 4 of N203 International Management
  • Year 3 of UIBA-N201 BSc in Management
  • Year 4 of UIBA-N202 BSc in Management (with Intercalated Year/UPP)
  • Year 4 of UPXA-F3ND Undergraduate Physics and Business Studies (with Intercalated Year)

This module is Option list B for:

  • UIBA-N201 BSc in Management
    • Year 3 of N230 Management with Finance
    • Year 3 of N250 Management with Marketing
  • UIBA-N202 BSc in Management (with Intercalated Year/UPP)
    • Year 4 of N231 Management with Finance (with Intercalated Year)
    • Year 4 of N251 Management with Marketing (with Intercalated Year)
  • Year 3 of UIBA-NN35 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance
  • UIBA-NN36 Undergraduate Accounting and Finance (with Intercalated Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 4 of NN36 Accounting and Finance (Intercalated)
    • Year 4 of NN37 Accounting and Finance (Undergraduate Partnership Programme)