Business Law and Ethics (9523.1)

This unit will introduce students to the laws and ethical standards that managers must abide by in the course of conducting business. Laws and ethics almost always shape a company's decision-making process: a bank cannot charge any interest rate it wants to charge - that rate must be appropriate. Car manufacturers must install hardware and develop new technologies to keep up with regulations designed to reduce pollution. By the end of this unit, students will have a clear understanding of the legal and ethical environment in which business operate.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify sources of law;

2. Differentiate litigation from methods of alternative dispute resolution, and discuss the process of each;
3. List the elements of the major torts and the essential elements of a valid contract;
4. Summarise the remedies available for breach of contract;
5. Distinguish between real and personal property;
6. Identify the requirements to hold various rights under intellectual property laws;
7. Analyse the impact of the digital era on intellectual property rights;
8. Identify laws that generally regulate the employer-employee relationship;
9. Identify criminal acts related to the business world;
10. Define and identify examples of white collar crime;
11. Identify the major ethical concerns and major laws regulating business today; and
12. Analyse case studies that illustrate ethical dilemmas in business ethics

Graduate attributes

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
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
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 - evaluate and adopt new technology

Prerequisites

Must have passed 3 credit points.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

4977 Introduction to Business Law. Business Law and Ethics is not available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws (including double degrees).

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.