Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module BUSI4U8D2: Sustainability and Ethics

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI4U8D2: Sustainability and Ethics

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2024/2025 Module Cap None.
Tied to N1TC14

Prerequisites

  • none

Corequisites

  • none

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • none

Aims

  • To contribute to the overall aims of the programme by developing apprentices' 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, Risk Management and Compliance, and Governance.
  • To develop links with the Business School's research strategy by incorporating current research into corporate social responsibility.

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 and alternative approaches to business ethics
  • Governance

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • 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.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Be competent in accessing and assimilating literatures of an advanced nature in global ecology, sustainability, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder theory and governance, and relating them to practice.
  • 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, Risk Management and Compliance, and Corporate Governance
Key Skills:
  • The ability to communicate effectively: communicating complex ideas orally and 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 supplementary material for the workshops typically consisting of directed reading and video content.
  • The formative assessment includes classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analysis of specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module. Feedback will be given as appropriate.
  • The summative assessment of the module 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

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshops (a combination of taught input, groupwork, case studies and discussion), timetabled in blocks 4 Over a 2-day teaching block 4 hours 16
Preparation, reading and other independent study 84

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written assignment 3000 words max 100% same

Formative Assessment:

A written assignment of 1,500 words, or its multimedia equivalent.


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