Undergraduate 

Business & Management MA(SocSci)/BSc/LLB/MA

Ethics and Business MGT4028

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: Adam Smith Business School
  • Credits: 15
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes

Short Description

The course introduces students to the ethical dimensions of business activities in contemporary capitalism and of competing ethical claims relating to such activities.

Timetable

Lectures: 2hrs x 10 weeks

Seminars: 1hr x 2 weeks

Seminars are held at various times and can be selected on MyCampus.

Excluded Courses

None.

Assessment

Intended Learning Outcomes

Assessment

Weighting

Word Length/ Duration

1-5

Individual Assignment

30%

2000 words

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification.

For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to concepts of ethics and morality

■ Enable students to critically identify distinctive ethical approaches, particularly in the context of the conduct of business

■ Enhance students' awareness of ethical issues in various domains of contemporary capitalism: society and business, consumption, and the workplace (production)

■ Enhance students' transferable skills by affording them the appreciation of the dimensions of ethical and moral issues in the context of business activities

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Define meanings of ethics and morals in the context of business and management

2. Identify the principal competing ethical approaches in contemporary capitalist relations

3. Analyse the importance of ethical considerations of business and commercial activities

4. Analyse and critique notions of corporate social responsibility and accountability

5. Critically examine the relationships between business and wider society in contemporary capitalism

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.