Business Ethics and Sustainability

Unit code: BMO5501 | Study level: Postgraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
City Campus
VU Brisbane
VU Online
VU Sydney
N/A
Overview
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Overview

This unit critically reviews the socio-cultural environment in which business operates. Ethical frameworks for decision making will be critiqued and students will construct the debates surrounding contemporary corporate responsibility and sustainable development as they impact on organisations in their local and global contexts. Emphasis will be on how new pressures on businesses arise, and how effective the various models that structure organisational responses are to these dynamic and emergent challenges. Students will understand the importance of various United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) relating to governance, operations and culture through evidence-based research, case analysis, and evaluation, in understanding the importance of the SDGs.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Discriminate between key philosophical approaches to ethics, legal requirements, and a contention between moral and ethical decision making;
  2. Advocate a position on the ethical issues associated with narrow and broad approaches to doing business;
  3. Exemplify judgement in assessing alternative perspectives of corporate responsibility in the context of contemporary business issues;
  4. Evaluate the sustainability agenda and justify assessment of the implications for business;
  5. Evaluate and debate the role of social movements and institutional changes that promote business model innovation; and
  6. Communicate analysis to audiences demonstrating a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.
  7. Participate in an academic community through reflective and critical engagement in academic texts and understanding of principles of academic integrity.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 30%
Annotated Bibliography (Individual) to inform a Group Case Report (Group), and Reflective Journal submissions (Individual)
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 30%
A selected company evaluation on ethics and sustainability in achieving competitive advantage (Individual)
Assessment type: Project
|
Grade: 40%
Group project report & presentation (Group)
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules

Other locations

For students studying at VU Online
Assessment type: Journal
|
Grade: 10%
Assessing ethical responsibilities of an organisation
Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 40%
Critical analysis of ethical imperatives within a select organisation
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 50%
Examination of ethics and sustainability at Patagonia
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules

Required reading

Selected readings will be made available via the unit VU Collaborate site.

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