Module BUSI4O810: Sustainability and Ethics (EBS)

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI4O810: Sustainability and Ethics (EBS)

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To develop students' understanding of the impact of sustainability and ethical issues on organisations.
• To explore the concept of global sustainability as it relates to business and other organisations.
• To consider the role and purpose of business and other organisations in relation to other actors in society.
• To review current trends in Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Governance.

Content

• Global ecological and social sustainability, and the impact on and responsibilities of organisations
• The role and purpose of business and other organisations
• Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Stakeholder theory
• Governance

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students should be able to:
• Critically evaluate the requirements of global ecological and social sustainability on business and other organisations.
• Critically evaluate the role and purpose of business and other organisations in relation to other actors in society.
• Critically evaluate trends in Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Governance.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of: the parameters for global ecological and social sustainability; Stakeholder Theory and its relation to Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance.

• By the end of the module students should:
• Be able to access and assimilate literatures of an advanced nature in global ecology, sustainability, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder theory, and corporate governance and relate them to practice.

• The ability to communicate complex ideas in writing
• The ability to think critically and creatively and to argue coherently

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Learning outcomes are met through classroom-based workshops, supported by online resources. The workshops consist of a combination of taught input, groupwork, case studies and discussion. Online resources provide preparatory material for the workshops – typically consisting of directed reading and video content.
• The formative assessment consists of classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module.
• Summative assessment will consist of an individual assignment based on an organisation of the student's choice (but agreed in advance with the Module Leader) in which the various aspects of the module are applied to consider what the organisation would have to move to be sustainable in the medium to long term.
• The summative assessment is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge and critical understanding, and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module. Oral and written feedback will be given on a group and/or individual basis as appropriate.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University