Module description
Business Ethics – part of IBMS minor
2009-2010
Lecturer(s):
M.K. Willemse, M.Imeson
Module:
Business Ethics
Main area:
Minor
Next Module:
Semester and class
year:
Semester 1, year 2
Introduction
This course has been set up with the objective to provide students with knowledge of the
basic principles behind Business Ethics. By applying their newly acquired knowledge of this
subject matter, students will be able to analyze and discuss ethical issues which they will
encounter through the media or face in their future work environment. Examples of these
ethical issues may be related to the current credit crisis, the challenge of globalization, or
day tot day situations at work. Business ethics does not aim to teach students about what is
right or wrong, but aims to encourage students to appreciate the complex situations, in
which businesses or individuals sometimes have to make difficult decisions. This course
addresses the importance of understanding why and how decisions are made and how they
are shaped by an ever changing business environment.
This course will introduce business ethics concepts, tools, and theories (normative and
descriptive). It will discuss major challenges that corporations are facing, such as
globalization and sustainability. It also introduces different principles, such as corporate
governance and corporate social responsibility. The course will include various assignments
which will challenge the students to apply their knowledge of ethical theories into actual
cases taken from the business environment.
Learning objectives and topics
This module consists of general interactive lectures with certain specific elements adapted
to the minors.
Course Materials
All minor students should study Chapter 1, 2, 3 (until 107), 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9
At the end of this module the student is able to:
Chapter 1
• Define what business ethics is?
• Explain why is business ethics important?
• Analyse the process of Globalization.
• Understand sustainability: a key goal for business ethics?
Chapter 2
• Analyse the notion of responsibility for corporations;
• Distinguish the various concepts of corporate social responsibility;
• Present the stakeholder theory of the firm;
• Outline the concept of corporate accountability;
• Critically examine the notion of corporate citizenship;
Chapter 3
• Locate the role of ethical theory
• Provide critical overview of traditional ethical theories
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Chapter 4
• Examine the question of why ethical and unethical decisions get made in the
workplace
• Determine what an ethical decision is
• Examine the prominent ethical decision-making models
• Discuss the importance of differences between individuals in shaping ethical
decision-making
• Critically evaluate the importance of situational influences on ethical decision-making
(issues and context based)
• Identify points of leverage for managing and improving ethical decision-making in
business
Chapter 6
• Understand the nature of shareholder relations to the corporation
• Provide analysis of the rights and the duties of shareholders
• Define specific ethical problems and dilemmas arising in the relation between
companies and their shareholders
• Distinguish ethical implications of globalisation on shareholder relations
• Understand the notion of shareholder democracy and the accountability of
corporations to their shareholders and other stakeholders
• Locate the differences in shareholder roles and corporate governance in various
parts of the world
• View perspectives on how shareholders can influence corporations towards
sustainability
Chapter 7
• Identify the specific role of employees among the various stakeholder groups
• Name core ethical topics of employees’ rights and duties
• Identify ethical issues and problems faced in business-employee relations
• Describe the duties of employees and the company’s involvement in enabling
employees to live up to their duties
• Acquire the notion of corporate citizenship in relation to employees
• Understand the basic issues and problems of managing employees in the different
cultural and national contexts necessitated by globalisation
• Appreciate the implication of sustainability for workplaces and for specific working
conditions
Chapter 8
• Discuss the specific stake that consumers have in corporate activity
• Outline the ethical issues and problems faced in business-consumer relations
• Examine issues in context of globalization
• Provide arguments for more responsible marketing practices
• Develop notion of corporate citizenship in relation to consumers
Chapter 9
• Show how other businesses – suppliers and competitors – exist in mutual
interdependence with a given organisation
• Describe the ethical issues and problems that arise in an organisation’s dealings with
its suppliers and competitors
• Outline how globalisation reframes these problems
• Discuss whether corporations should assume some degree of responsibility for the
ethics of their suppliers
• Assess the arguments suggesting that attention to business interrelationships and
the network economy may contribute to more sustainable business models
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Professional competencies
International Business Awareness
Intercultural Adaptability
International Strategic Vision development
Organisational Policy development
Entrepreneurial Management
International Marketing
International Operations Management
International Accounting and Financial
Management
addressed
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Generic competencies
Leadership
Co-operation
Communication
Analysing and information processing
Creative problem solving
Planning and organising
Learning and self development
Ethical Responsibility
Teaching and learning strategy:
addressed
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Lecture: 2 hours per week
Self study: Literature & cases with groups
Total student investment in hours: 84
Total credits: 3
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Preparations and assignments
Lectures
Week 1
- introduction of the course
- lecture chapter 1
Week 2
- lecture chapter 2
Week 3
- lecture chapter 3
- case 1
Week 4
- lecture chapter 4
Week 5
- lecture chapter 6
Week 6
- lecture chapter 7
- case 2
Week 7
- lecture chapter 8
Week 8
- lecture chapter 9
- case 3
Week 9
- lecture
Week 10
- lecture
- case 4
Week 11
- lecture
Week 12
- lecture and questions
Note final assignments and timings will be announced through Blackboard. Please
refer to Blackboard regularly for updated information related to this course.
Compulsory literature (to be in possession before start of this module):
 “Business ethics – Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the age of
Globalization”, Andrew Crane & Dirk Matten (second edition, Oxford Press, ISBN 978-019-928499-3)
 A reader, containing potential articles, cases and slides of the lectures.
 The lecture slides will also be available on Blackboard.
Assessment
Exam multiple choice
Exam Individual assignment
Written group assignment 4 x 5 points
Attendance & contribution
Points out of 100
50
20
20
10
when
TP-2
TP-2
Attendance will be taken in all classes. Attendance is awarded with maximum 10 points (1 per lecture).
A maximum of 10 points can be earned through full participation.
Assignment (cases) should be handed in during the class hour. Assignments that are handed in later,
will not receive any points.
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Total
100 points
Compensation possible with: Within the Minor of your choice, all subjects need to be
sufficient (5.5 or higher). One subject may be insufficient (4.5 or higher) and could be
compensated with the other subjects in the Minor. Within the language minors you cannot
compensate Business Ethics.
Mandatory attendance:
Due to the nature of the content of this course it is strongly recommended that students
attend lectures and participate actively.
Only written or email statements with explanations for absence, preferably in advance, will
be accepted by the teacher. Possible pardon is to be decided by the teacher.
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