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2014/2015  KAN-CCMVI2007U  Business, society and ethics (intensive)

English Title
Business, society and ethics (intensive)

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration Summer
Course period Summer
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Course instructor - Dr. William Holmes, Sheridan Institute of Technology
    Patricia Plackett - MPP
Main academic disciplines
  • Business Ethics, value based management and CSR
  • Globalization, International Business, markets and studies
  • Management
  • Organization
Last updated on 20-05-2014
Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
  • Apply effective issues-management and decision-making criteria to current business problems.
  • Exhibit broad comprehension of concepts, theories, models and frameworks necessary to analyse the relations between stakeholders when addressing ethical dilemmas
  • Discuss the evolution of corporate social responsibility and corporate citizenship in light of the increasing level of globalization, advancing technology and developing environmental issues
  • Recognize and describe the crucial role of corporate governance in corporate citizenship and corporate social responsibility
  • Critically analyse the ‘triple bottom line’ and ‘sustainable business’ as potential goals for corporate behaviour
  • Discuss and propose alternative solutions to current real world ethical issues and cases
Course prerequisites
This course should be accessible to all graduate students.
Prerequisites for registering for the exam
Number of mandatory activities: 1
Compulsory assignments (assessed approved/not approved)
Mandatory Mid-term Assignment: Groups of students will be assigned and tasked with presenting a prescribed case to the class.
Examination
Home Assignment:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual
Size of written product Max. 15 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 Summer Term
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Course content and structure

This graduate level course in business ethics provides students with a broad based understanding of business ethics from both theoretical and applied orientations. Students are presented with a comprehensive overview of ethical theory and its development and then required to apply these theories to contemporary issues in business. By using business cases illustrating specific ethical transgressions that have occurred in the recent past, the aim of this course is to train students to critically evaluate contemporary ethical issues and dilemmas through the lens of ethical theory. Particular attention will be paid to the interrelationship between business ethics and Corporate Governance, Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability issues.
 
Students are expected to be active participants in the learning experience. The importance of clear and concise written and verbal communication will be stressed throughout the course. In addition to the material covered in the text, students will develop hands-on skills in case analysis, group dynamics and formal business presentations.
 
Class Schedule
 

Class Topic
Lesson 1 Course overview / Introduction to ethical theory
Lesson 2 Introduction to ethical theory (continued)
Lesson 3 Corporate citizenship and corporate social responsibility; Preliminary Assignment
Lesson 4 Corporate governance and responsibility in finance and accounting
Lesson 5 Corporate social responsibility in marketing and product liability
Lesson 6 Diversity, human rights and ethics in the workplace; Mid-term Assignment
Lesson 7 Ethics, globalization and environmental sustainability
Lesson 8 Cross cultural ethics in international business
Lesson 9 Issues management
Lesson 10 Reputation, ethical leadership and technological change 
Lesson 11 Course Review
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars, exercises, case study discussions, project work, or another format?
Further Information

Preliminary Assignment: To help students get maximum value from ISUP courses, instructors provide a reading or a small number of readings or video clips to be read or viewed before the start of classes with a related task scheduled for class 3 in order to 'jump-start' the learning process.
 
Expected literature

 
Students will be expected to have read the Readings and cases prior to the commencement of the course.
 
Textbook:
 
Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2010, Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization, (3rd ed.), ISBN:  978-0-19-956433-0, Oxford University Press, 566 Pages (exclusive of references).
 
Readings:
 
Arnold, DG, Audi, R and Zwolinski, M 2010, ‘Recent Work in Ethical Theory and Its Implications for Business Ethics’, Business Ethics Quarterly, vol. 20, iss. 4, pp. 559-581.
 
Asgary, N and Mitschow, MC 2002, ‘Toward a Model for International Business Ethics’, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 36, pp. 239-246.
 
Donaldson, TJ and Preston, LE 1995, ‘The Stakeholder Theory of the Corporation’, Academy of Management Review, vol. 20, pp. 65-90.
 
Garriga, E and Mele, D 2004, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Theories:  Mapping the Territory’ Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 53, pp. 51-71.
 
Matten, D Crane, A and Chapple, W 2003, ‘Behind the Mask; Revealing the True Face of Corporate Citizenship’, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 45(1-2), pp. 109-120.
 
Van Marrewijk, E 2003, ‘Concept and Definitions of CSR and Corporate Sustainability:  Between Agency and Communion’, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 44, pp. 95-105.
 
 
Cases (tentative list)
 
“Union Carbide’s Bhopal Catastrophe” in Hartley, Robert F., Business Ethics: Mistakes and Successes, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1st Edition, 2005. pp. 159-169., ISBN: 0-471-66373-5
 
Google in China – Ivey Case #906E19
 
Talisman Energy Inc. – Ivey Case #909M35
 
Hitting the Wall: Nike and International Labour Practices – Harvard Case #9-700-047
 
Accounting Fraud at WorldCom – Harvard Case #9-104-071
 
The Tip of the Iceberg: JP Morgan and Bear Stearns – Harvard Case 9-309-001
 
Merck and Co. Inc. – The Business Enterprise Trust, Case #9-991-021
 
The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation – A. Carl Kotchian, “The Payoff: Lockheed’s 70-day Mission to Tokyo”, in Saturday Review Magazine, July 9, 1977, pp. 7-12.
 
Last updated on 20-05-2014