| Learning objectives |
By the end of the course, students
should be able to critically evaluate selected theories within the
fields of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility,
and business ethics, as well as discuss how these frameworks can be
applied to concrete business situations:
- Explain, combine and analytically discuss the theories,
frameworks, models and concepts presented in the course.
- Critically discuss the role of business in society, in the
context of globalised markets and internationally active
firms.
- Identify business challenges and opportunities arising from
internal corporate governance challenges and external stakeholder
pressures.
- Using the concepts and frameworks discussed in the course,
sketch responses to these challenges and opportunities, and reason
why those responses would pass the “good business ethics” test of
critical observers.
- Understand the importance of stakeholder engagement to obtain
buy-in for the business responses deemed appropriate and describe
how this could be achieved in practice.
- To gain the highest grade in the assignments and presentations,
students must be able to fully recall basic models and concepts
from the curriculum and present them in a comprehensive and
well-argued way. Departing from this, students can put their
findings into new perspectives.
|
| Course prerequisites |
| EngAGE students only |
| Examination |
The exam in the subject consists of two parts:
| EngAGE
Business in Society 1: | | Weight | 35% | | Examination form | Home assignment - written product | | Individual or group exam | Individual | | Size of written product | Max. 5 pages | | Individual assignment of max 5 standard
pages | | Assignment type | Written assignment | | Duration | Written product to be submitted on specified date
and time. | | Grading scale | 7-step scale | | Examiner(s) | One internal examiner | | Exam period | Spring Term, The regular examination takes place
in March. The make-up and re-examination takes place in
August. | | Make-up exam/re-exam | Same examination form as the ordinary exam The make-up and re-examination is an
individual home assignment of max. 5 standard
pages |
| EngAGE
Business in Society 2: | | Weight | 65% | | Examination form | Oral exam based on written product
In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product
must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The
grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and
the individual oral performance. | | Individual or group exam | Group exam, max. 5 students in the
group | | Oral group examination based on group project of
max. 10 standard pages per student written by 3-5
students. | | Size of written product | Max. 50 pages | | Assignment type | Written assignment | | Duration | Written product to be submitted on specified date and
time.
10 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade,
and informing plus explaining the grade | | Grading scale | 7-step scale | | Examiner(s) | Internal examiner and external examiner | | Exam period | Spring Term, The regular examination takes place
in March. The make-up and re-examination takes place in
August. | | Make-up exam/re-exam | Another examination form Reexamination when the regular
examination is failed, is a 20 minutes individual oral exam based
on upon the same group project with 2 pages supplement.
Reexamination when ill at the oral exam is a 20 minutes individual
oral exam based on upon the same group project. Re-examination when
ill during the writing of the project is a 20 minutes individual
oral exam with 20 minutes preparation in the entire
curriculum. | Description of the exam
procedure
Oral group examination based on group
project of max. 10 standard pages per student written by 3-5
students. The grade is an overall assessment of the written project
and the individual oral performance.
Declaration of Authourship (available on E-campus) must be included
in the group project. |
|
| Course content and
structure |
|
The regulatory backlash caused by corporate scandals and the
financial crisis, as well as growing public and media pressure on
companies to act in a ‘socially responsible’ way, have put
stakeholder engagement on top of the corporate agenda. Regardless
of international business managers’ individual philosophical stance
on what the role of business in society should be, these pressures
cannot go unmanaged and need to be addressed in a strategic manner.
A thorough understanding of corporate social responsibility demands
companies face today is therefore a necessary prerequisite in any
international business function. The aim of this course is to
familiarize students with those demands, both from an internal, as
well as an external perspective, and discuss how they can be dealt
with through value based management.
Comparing and contrasting competing theories, theoretical
frameworks, models and concepts, the course addresses the following
key themes and questions:
• Introduction to business ethics and globalization
• Values-driven management and managing business ethics
• CSR and the principles of stakeholder justice
• The political role of the firm
• Regulations & governments
• Shareholder and business ethics
• Business ethics of internal constituents (employees)
• Business ethics of consumers
• Business ethics of suppliers, competitors
• Business ethics and civil society
• Environmental dimension of business ethics
• Values-driven management and ethics programs in the United
states and Europe
• Conclusion: Towards ethical guidelines for international
business corporations
|
| Teaching methods |
| Lectures, class discussions,
exercises, seminars, in-class projects, tutorials, case studies,
class discussions, and small group work. Several guest lectures of
practitioners will complement the theoretical discussions in class.
Furthermore, the use of cases will enable students to apply
theoretical concepts to actual business challenges. |
| Student workload |
| Class hours |
42 hours |
| Preparation for class |
90 hours |
| Final examination |
90 hours |
|
| Expected literature |
|
The course is based on two main books:
Crane, A., & Matten, D. (2007). Business ethics: Managing
corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of
globalization. Oxford University Press, USA.
Rendtorff, J. D. (2009). Responsibility, ethics and legitimacy
of corporations. Copenhagen Business School
Pr
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