Business Ethics and Sustainability

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

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. Elucidate 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: Test
|
Grade: 15%
Quiz on UNSDGs, theories of Ethics and other elements covered over Sessions 1-4
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 30%
A selected company evaluation on ethics and sustainability in achieving competitive advantage
Assessment type: Project
|
Grade: 55%
Project report (Group 30%) & Presentation (10% Group, 10% Individual, 5% peer evaluation): Investigation of Sustainability and Ethics in Business
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules (Hurdle)

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 (Hurdle)

This unit will adopt a student-centred learning model where learning comes from network of relationships between instructors, peers, and industry sources. Peer support and information exchange will be facilitated by online learning through the VU Online Learning Management System. It is expected that students allocate approximately 8 hours per week for online activities and independent study.



REQUIRED TEXTS:All resources will reside in the LMS and will be co -designed by a subject matter expert (SME) and Learning designer (LD). No purchase of textbooks required.

Required reading

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

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Graduate Certificate in Business
BTBU | Graduate certificate | Duration: 8 months
Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
BTPF | Graduate certificate | Duration: 0.5 years
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
BGPB | Graduate diploma | Duration: 1 year
Master of Business Administration
BMPF | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 1.5 years
Master of Business Administration (Global)
BMAG | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Business Analytics
BMBU | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Digital Media
AMDM | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Management
BMMN | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Marketing
BMKT | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Professional Accounting
BMAQ | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Supply Chain Management
BMSU | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years
Master of Tourism Hospitality and Events Management
BMTE | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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