Charles Sturt University:Business Ethics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

In this subject the student reviews major approaches taken in Western Moral Philosophy to ethical conduct, and applies their key notions and principles to business practice. The subject introduces students to ethical concepts and theories including Virtue Theory, Deontology, Rights, Utilitarianism and Social Justice. The subject explores the history of ethics; ethics and capitalism; ethical challenges in the workplace; social justice and public policy, ethical issues regarding the environment; ethics in international business. Key issues discussed include ethical relativism and multi-cultural differences; justice under capitalism; professional, workplace and environmental challenges for managers and employees. A subtopic is the issue of discrimination in gender, race and sexual preference, and arguments against any such practices. The subject aims to enable students to address a selection of common ethical dilemmas arising in business and professional life, and to help the student to understand and improve the ethical climate in their present or future place of work.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• have displayed the ability to engage critically with academic theorising;
• have developed skills in research and analysis that will enable them to undertake further independent research work of greater length and originality;
• have displayed the capacity for independent study.