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Module Catalogue

IB3E6-15 Ethical Issues in Contemporary Business

Department
Warwick Business School
Level
Undergraduate Level 3
Module leader
Demetris Hadjimichael
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

N/A.

Module web page

Module aims

  • Introduce students to basic theories of ethics and politics.
  • Engage students with a range of ethical challenges faced by contemporary business and other organisations in the practices of their activities and operations.
  • Enable students to apply theories of ethics to contemporary issues faced by business and other organisations.
  • 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 (13%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Private study 46 hours (31%)
Assessment 75 hours (50%)
Total 150 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 Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Individual Assignment 70% 51 hours Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Group Presentation 20% 15 hours No

Group video and summary
Reassessment component
Individual Assignment Yes (extension)
Assessment component
Participation 10% 9 hours No

Participation in activities on a weekly basis via my.wbs and seminars
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Feedback via My.WBS.

Courses

This module is Core optional for:

  • Year 4 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of UIOA-EEU Undergraduate EU Exchange
  • UIOA-ESO Undergraduate European Exchange
    • Year 1 of UESO Undergraduate European Exchange
    • Year 1 of UESO Undergraduate European Exchange
  • UIOA-EOS Undergraduate Overseas Exchange
    • Year 1 of UEOS Undergraduate Overseas Exchange
    • Year 1 of UEOS Undergraduate Overseas Exchange
  • Year 1 of UIOA-EUS Undergraduate USA Exchange