Social Responsibility and Ethics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

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

Full time and Part Time:

In this subject, students learn about the societal context in which business operates, together with the skills for reasoning about ethical problems that arise in this context. The course examines the various stakeholders of business and discusses the obligations of corporations to those stakeholders. It considers strategies for achieving corporate social responsibility goals – such as environmental sustainability and social outcomes -- taking into account both the ethical case and the business case for such strategies. The course also examines a range of alternative approaches to moral reasoning as well as the applications of those approaches to the complex and dynamic ethical problems that confront leaders of modern organizations, both in Australia and in other cultures.

EMBA:

In this subject, students learn about the societal context in which business operates, together with the skills for reasoning about ethical problems which arise in this context. The course examines the various stakeholders of business and discusses the obligations of corporations to those stakeholders. It considers strategies for achieving corporate social responsibility goals, taking into account both the ethical case and the business case for such strategies. The course also examines a range of alternative approaches to moral reasoning as well as the applications of those approaches to the complex and dynamic ethical problems that confront leaders of modern organizations.

Full time and Part Time:

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• apply the different approaches to moral reasoning and appreciate the limitations of these different approaches;
• apply various ethical frameworks in the analysis and resolution of ethical problems
• recognise some of the potential pitfalls of individual moral judgment;
• describe the different forms that corporate social responsibility can take;
• demonstrate a critical understanding of the business case for corporate social responsibility;
• appreciate the ethical dilemmas that arise in persuasion and communication with stakeholders, including customers, workers, and shareholders;
• respond to the ways in which consumers’ purchase decisions are influenced by their ethical frameworks.

EMBA: On completion of this subject, students should:

• Have an understanding of the different approaches to moral reasoning and the limitations of these different approaches
• Be able to apply various kinds of moral reasoning in the analysis and resolution of ethical problems
• Understand the different forms that corporate social responsibility can take
• Have a critical understanding of the business case for corporate social responsibility
• Have an appreciation of the ethical dilemmas that arise in persuasion and communication with stakeholders, including customers, workers, and shareholders
• Understand how consumers’ purchase decisions are influenced by their ethical frameworks

Full time and Part Time:

• Contribution to class learning (10%)

• Equivalent to 250 words
• Throughout subject
• Syndicate presentation (20%)
• Equivalent to 500 words
• During subject
• Individual research assignment (60%)
• 1,500 words
• Hurdle requirement
• Two weeks after completion of subject

• Case preparation and discussion (10%)
• Equivalent to 250 words
• Throughout subject

EMBA:

• Quiz
• 45 minutes

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.