Business Ethics (6397.6)

Please note these are the 2016 details for this unit
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Business Ethics
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Management Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Band 5 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Business Ethics focuses on dilemmas that arise out of potential conflicts between the economic and the social performance of enterprises. It aims to assist students to develop the critical thinking skills required for the successful practice of management within the framework of societal values. These skills include the ability to think clearly, argue cogently, give reasons for actions and decisions, and make rational choices and recommendations in ethically sensitive situations commonly encountered by contemporary managers. Topics include: ethical theory, corporate social responsibility, global ethics, employee rights and obligations, consumer rights and product safety, ethical issues in marketing, obligations in accounting and investment and principles of environmental management.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Recognise important ethical issues that arise in various business contexts and professional practice;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical, social and economic environments in which those occur;
3. Demonstrate critical thinking skills required for the successful practice of management and the professions within the framework of societal values;
4. Demonstrate confidence in introducing ethical considerations into professional and managerial decision making and explaining their importance to others; and
5. Use their ethical imaginations in resolving dilemmas and enhancing business decision-making.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology


Skills development

This unit will provide students with an opportunity to address graduate attributions described in the University of Canberra’s current graduate attributes policy for graduates of coursework courses.  The graduate attributes will be developed through in class discussion, written assessment and where appropriate, teaching of specific attributes through the unit content. 



Prerequisites

Must have completed 24 credit points

Corequisites

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

4a        Lists of required texts/readings

Prescribed Textbook

You must have ready access to the prescribed textbook listed below, which is available from the bookshop on the University campus.

 

Carey, L.E. 2013. Business Ethics  Managing Values and Corporate Responsibility.  Pearson: Frenchs Forrest, Sydney.

 

Recommended Texts

Arnold, D.G., Beauchamp, R.T., & Bowie, N.E. 2013. Ethical Theory and Business (9th ed.). Pearson: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Crane, A. & Matten, D. 2015. Business Ethics (4th ed.). Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.

Trevino, L.K. & Nelson, K.A. 2014.  Managing Business Ethics (6th ed.). Wiley: New Jersey.

 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Submission of assessment items

All assessment items will be submitted online via the unit Canvas site.  In addition students must submit a hard copy to the unit convenor's  mailbox #149, building 11, level A.   See the Companion to the Unit Outline for further details.  The first page of each assessment submission should include the following information:

 

  • Student ID
  • Assessment Name
  • Tutor's Name
  • Time of Tutorial
  • Word Count

Special assessment requirements

Special assessment requirements

Students must complete  and submit each piece of assessment.  Assignments must be submitted  in hard copy to the unit convenor's mailbox (#149, building 11, level A) and via the Canvas drop box.  Students must receive at least 50 per cent overall to pass this unit.  Assignments must be the student's own work and all sources must be referenced according to the Unit-specific requirements for referencing as set forth in the Companion to the Unit Outline.  When submitting assignments students must sign a declaration stating that all work is the student's own and that all sources are acknowledged and referenced.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment

No resubmission of assignments.  Normally no supplementary examination is given.  However, students who are eligible for supplementary assessment according to the University’s Assessment Policy (see below) may make an application to Student Administration on the required UC form. 

 

The UC policy on supplementary examinations states that students who have failed a single unit in their final semester with a final mark between 45-49%, where the unit is required for course completion, are eligible for supplementary assessment.  Additional information is available from the UC Supplementary Assessment Policy

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Participation requirements

All students must be present for the group tutorial presentation assigned to them  (weeks 10-12).  All students are expected to attend all weekly lectures and to actively participate in their weekly tutorial.

Required IT skills

Required IT skills

Students must become familiar with on-line learning via Canvas and with the library electronic databases and E-Journals from the outset of the teaching period.  Students will need these resources to prepare for lecturers, tutorials and assessment items.  The library provides a range of training opportunities throughout the year to assist students to use the University's resources efficiently and effectively.

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

N/A

Additional information

Additional information

Full details of topics covered in this unit along with assessment details and recommended reading are provided in the Companion to the Unit Outline.  Students should also see the unit's Tutorial and Self-Directed Learning Program.  Both are available via Moodle and in hard copy.