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Module Title
Corporate Ethics

Keywords
Corporate Responsibility, Ethical Behaviour, Conflicts Of Interest

ReferenceBS4209
SCQF LevelSCQF 10
SCQF Points15
ECTS Points7.5
CreatedMay 2002
ApprovedJuly 2013
AmendedAugust 2013
Version No.4


This Version is No Longer Current
The latest version of this module is available here
Prerequisites for Module

None in addition to SCQF10 entry requirements or equivalent.

Corequisite Modules

None.

Precluded Modules

None.

Aims of Module

To provide students with a critical awareness that values, moral and non-moral, can be handled systematically, and that business and industrial practices can be objectively evaluated from an ethical point of view.

Learning Outcomes for Module

On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:

1. Discuss and 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.

Indicative Student Workload

Contact Hours

Full Time
Lectures
24
Tutorials/Seminars
12
Assessment
5

Directed Study

 
Directed Study
50

Private Study

 
Private Study
59

Mode of Delivery

This module is a lecture based course supplemented with tutorial sessions and a significant number of case studies to stimulate discussion in seminars.

Assessment Plan

Learning Outcomes Assessed
Component 1 1,2,3,4

Component 1 is a closed book examination.

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