Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title BUSINESS ETHICS
Code PHIL271
Coordinator Dr I Markolefas
Philosophy
Ilias.Markolefas@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2019-20 Level 5 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To introduce and explain major contemporary perspectives on corporate behaviours.

To introduce moral perspectives as they relate to managerial decision-making and corporate structures.

To make students familiar with a range of recurrent ethical problems arising in business. To improve students' skills in identifying and analyzing ethical issues that managers and employees face.

To give students practice in formulating, defending, and planning the implementation of action plans managing ethical dilemmas.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Students will be able to discuss the main theories concerning the place of ethics in business.

(LO2) Student will be able to explain assess the main approaches to normative ethics.

(LO3) Students will be able to state and discuss the broad ethical principles concerning costs and benefits, the challenge posed by uncertainty, professional roles, profits and the right of shareholder interests, and affirmative action.

(LO4) Students will be able to state and discuss the broad ethical principles concerning the obligations of complex organizations with respect to loyalty and whistle-blowing, insider trading, customer responsibility, and corporate responsibility.

(LO5) Students will be able to state and discuss the broad ethical principles concerning social justice and executive compensation.

(LO6) Students will be able to consider an ethical approach as a basis for sustainable marketing.

(S1) Students will enhance their ability to identify the issues that underlie debates.

(S2) Students will develop confidence in considering previously unfamiliar ideas and approaches, and their ability to identify presuppositions and to reflect critically upon them.

(S3) Students will enhance their ability to marshal arguments and present them orally and in writing.

(S4) Students will develop their ability to work in groups.

(S5) Students will develop their ability to sift through information, assessing the relevance and importance of the information to what is at issue.

(S6) Students will develop their problem-solving skills.

(S7) Students will enhance their capacity to participate, in a dispassionate and respectful manner, in debates about controversial and profound matters.

(S8) Students will develop their willingness critically to evaluate and reflect upon arguments, beliefs, proposals and values, both their own and those of others.

(S9) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – argumentation

(S10) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S11) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - written

(S12) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – persuading

(S13) Working in groups and teams - Listening skills

(S14) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Report writing

(S15) Critical thinking and problem solving - Synthesis

(S16) Working in groups and teams - Group action planning

(S17) Working in groups and teams - Negotiation skills

(S18) Skills in using technology - Information accessing

(S19) Skills in using technology - Using common applications (work processing, databases, spreadsheets etc.)


Syllabus

 

Background for Business Ethics: Is There Room for Ethics in Business?
Basic Theory: Consequentialism and Deontology.
Ethical Decisions, Costs and Benefits, and the Challenge Posed by Uncertainty. Professional Roles, Competition, and Adversary.
Profits, What Else? The Rights and Interests of Stakeholders.
Whom to Hire? The Question of Affirmative Action.
Obligations in Complex Organizations: Loyalty and Whistle- Blowing.
Obligations in Complex Organizations: Insider Trading.
Responsibilities to Customers and Clients: Information Disclosure.
Ethics in Employment: International Issues.
Ethics of Emerging Technologies.
Marketing and advertising ethics.
Digital case study.
Responsibility in the International Context: Core Values, Moral Minimums.
Social Justice and Executive Compensation.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: 18 x 1 hour lectures. Lectures are tutor-led activities, offering a map of the syllabus and a framework for independent enquiry-led research. Students are encouraged to engage actively with lectures through, for example: (i) taking opportunities to ask questions during the session; (ii) reflecting on and responding to questions posed to them; (iii) producing questions and notes on issues for subsequent group discussion in workshops.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Workshop
Description: 2 x 2 hours. Students in small groups analyse, discuss and prepare draft responses to a chosen case study with the support of tutors. This is a formative exercise based on the case study assessments.
Attendance Recorded: No

Self-directed learning: Reading primary and secondary texts and online support materials. Preparing for workshops and online tests. Preparing the written assignments after the workshops.


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 18

        4

22
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 128
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Examination (based on case studies like those discussed at workshops) There is a resit opportunity. This is an anonymous assessment.  120 minutes.    40       
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Online Test There is a resit opportunity - Students are permitted to retake the test as many times as they like within a one week period. This is an anonymous assessment.  1 hour (online test)    15       
Online Test There is a resit opportunity - Students are permitted to retake the test as many times as they like within a one week period. This is an anonymous assessment.  1 hour (online test)    15       
Essay (based on workshop work). There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment.  1,500 words    30       

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.