This module aims to:

Provide students with the knowledge and skills required to critically analyse and evaluate business practices in terms of ethics and sustainability and to critically reflect on their own personal ethics and ethical responsibilities;

Provide students with a range of theoretical and practical tools to be able to identify and discuss the ethical and sustainability implications of global trends for businesses;

Develop students’ ability to critically evaluate ethical theories and tools and reflect critically on the ethical nature of business and management, and the ethical implications for business strategy, decision-making, and sustainable development.

(LE1) A leader.
Students will reflect on the relationship between corporate and personal responsibility for ethical practice, and on the implications of such beliefs for their managerial decision-making and practice.

(LO1) Students will be able to identify and assess the ethical and sustainability implications of global trends for businesses.

(LO2) Students will understand and critically evaluate a range of ethical theories and tools.

(LO3) Students will be able to critically analyse and evaluate business practices in terms of corporate citizenship, ethics and sustainability.

(LO4) Students will be able to critically reflect on their own personal ethics and the ethical responsibilities and consequences of a manager role.

(LRE1) A problem solver.
Students will be encouraged to think critically about theory and practice and to challenge and critique assumptions about ethical organisational issues and dilemmas.

(LRE2) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have opportunities to develop their communication skills through group discussions and coursework where they communicate ideas and arguments based on their reading and inquiry.

(LRE3) Ethically aware.
Students will gain theoretical and practical tools with which to identify, analyse and evaluate ethical and sustainability challenges within and affecting organisations. Students will develop self-awareness of their personal values and ethical beliefs.

(LRE4) Organised and able to work under pressure.
This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

(LRE5) Internationally aware.
Online delivery enables a collaborative approach with other practitioners from diverse international backgrounds. The curriculum addresses international issues such as managing ethically and sustainably, respecting the needs of diverse cultures and developing an understanding of the global macro-environmental factors impacting on organisations.

The module will primarily be delivered through a series of e-lectures, delivered through a variety of methods, covering key topics, theories and case examples. These will be supported by individual online task such as, case studies, blogs, collaborative tasks and discussion boards, which will be used to develop and apply learning. These activities will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key academic and practitioner readings to further develop their learning.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 30 hours
Description: The asynchronous e-lecture and interactive class activity will equate to 5 hours per week over 6 weeks.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

One scheduled synchronous seminar of one hour will be delivered in week 1, with the remaining two synchronous seminar hours scheduled during weeks 2 to 6. The dates and times of the seminars will be confirmed at the start of the module (if th ere are issues with time zones another session will be provided). Peer discussion and questions will be encouraged. These sessions will be recorded and moderated by the module instructor.

Scheduled Directed student hours: 3 hours
Description: The synchronous seminars will equate to 3 hours in total over 6 weeks.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Self-directed learning hours: 67 hours
Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, and independent research into ethical and sustainable business theories and practices relevant to the module syllabus, aims and learning outcomes.

Businesses, organisations and ethics.

Dimensions of Corporate Citizenship.

Sustainability.

Ethical frameworks across borders.

Personal ethics.

Stakeholder management.

Ethical and sustainable decision-making.

Corporate Social Responsibility.

Managing ethically – putting it all together.