Business Ethics examines ethical theories and how they can be applied constructively to leading matters of business practice such as advertising, hiring and firing, corporate social responsibility, globalization, integrity, and leadership.
How do our jobs and consumer products both facilitate and frustrate our efforts to live well?
What does a responsible critique of business practice look like?
What do we hope to achieve from critical evaluations of business practice?
What truly constitutes “good business”?
Outline
Unit 1: Introducing Business Ethics
Unit 2: Normative Ethical Theories, Part I—Moral Relativism and Divine Command Theory
Unit 3: Normative Ethical Theories, Part II—Ethical Egoism, Utilitarianism, and Kantian Ethics
Unit 4: The Ethics of Advertising and Consumer Desire
Unit 5: The Ethics of Hiring and Firing
Unit 6: The Ethics of Corporate Responsibility in Society
Unit 7: The Ethics of the Globalization of Business
Unit 8: Integrity and the Ethics of Leadership
Learning outcomes
By the completion of this course, students will be able to
explain important concepts and theories in the area of business ethics.
analyze the ethical features of business activity.
formulate reasoned positions on ethical issues specific to business practice.
develop critical thinking, writing, and ethical decision-making skills.
Evaluation
To receive credit you must complete and submit all of the assignments and write the final exam. You must achieve an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) for the course. Your final grade in the course will be based on the marks achieved for the following activities.
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1 (Short Essays)
30%
Assignment 2 (Long Essay)
30%
Final Online Exam
40%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Allhoff, F., Sager, A., Vaidya, A. J. (Eds.) (2017). Business in Ethical Focus (2nd ed.). Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press. (Print)
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.