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MODULE DESCRIPTOR
Module Title
Corporate Ethics
Reference BS4209 Version 8
Created January 2022 SCQF Level SCQF 10
Approved July 2019 SCQF Points 15
Amended March 2024 ECTS Points 7.5

Aims of Module
To provide students with a critical awareness of the moral relationship between business and wider society.

Learning Outcomes for Module
On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:
1 Analyse the scope and purpose of corporate ethics and the theoretical underpinning associated with this area of analysis.
2 Critically assess the relationship between the employer and the employee from an ethical perspective.
3 Examine the moral responsibility of organisations and assess the role of corporate governance in determining ethical standards and behaviour.
4 Analyse the role of culture and managerial ethical behaviour from an International perspective.

Indicative Module Content
An analysis of the scope and purpose of corporate ethics, examining what it is, why do it and, does it work? An examination of moral issues in business; why 'good' managers make bad ethical choices; case studies. An examination of the theoretical underpinning which supports ethical decision-making. An analysis of the relationship between the organisation and the employee - privacy at the workplace; insider trading; whistleblowing and employee loyalty; extortion and bribery; employee conflicts of interest; case studies. An examination of the relationship between business and the consumer - corporate responsibility, can a corporation have a conscience? Corporate responsibility; corporate executives, disasters and moral responsibility; corporate governance; advertising and marketing ethics; case studies.

Module Delivery
This module is a lecture based course supplemented with tutorial sessions and a number of case studies to stimulate discussion in seminars. In off campus mode, the lecture based format will be supplemented with forum activity and synchronous online tutorials to support the case study discussions.

Indicative Student Workload Full Time Part Time
Contact Hours 36 36
Non-Contact Hours 114 114
Placement/Work-Based Learning Experience [Notional] Hours N/A N/A
TOTAL 150 150
Actual Placement hours for professional, statutory or regulatory body    

ASSESSMENT PLAN
If a major/minor model is used and box is ticked, % weightings below are indicative only.
Component 1
Type: Examination Weighting: 100% Outcomes Assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4
Description: Closed book examination.

MODULE PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTOR
Explanatory Text
Component 1 comprises 100% of the module grade. To pass the module, a D grade is required.
Module Grade Minimum Requirements to achieve Module Grade:
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
NS Non-submission of work by published deadline or non-attendance for examination

Module Requirements
Prerequisites for Module None.
Corequisites for module None.
Precluded Modules None.

INDICATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY
1 CRANE, A., MATTEN, D., GLOZER, S., & SPENCE, L., 2019 Business Ethics (5th Edition). Oxford University Press Academic UK.
2 MELE, D., 2019 Business Ethics in Action: Managing Human Excellence in Organizations (2nd Edition). Bloomsbury


Robert Gordon University, Garthdee House, Aberdeen, AB10 7QB, Scotland, UK: a Scottish charity, registration No. SC013781