2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LISS1043 Ethics for Business and Society

10 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Stacey Mottershaw
Email: s.mottershaw@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jul to 31 Aug View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Pre-requisite qualifications

GPA of 2.8 (US) or equivalent and enrolled at a university

Module replaces

N/A

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Have you ever wondered how morality influences decision making in business and society? How free access health services decide between the cost of medicine, versus life-altering benefits? Or how a charity, overwhelmed by need decides who to help first? This module will provide an introduction to ethics. You will consider real world decision making and ethical challenges faced by businesses and society. Ethical theory will include consequentialist theories such as utilitarianism and deontological theories such as Kantian ethics. You will also consider virtue theory. You will develop practical skills in decision making and learn how to apply ethical theories to real life case studies in businesses. This will include a range of sectors including law, engineering, the charity sector and healthcare. Upon completion of the module, you will be able to critically evaluate ethical theories. You will be able to apply these theories with particular reference to real-life business case studies.

Objectives

To introduce students to applied ethical theories, their value and how they can be applied to a range of contemporary issues within business and society.
Students will develop a broad understanding of the range of issues that businesses and society face in the 21st century, alongside practical skills in decision-making and the application of ethical theories to real-world problems.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate critical understanding of ethical theories.
2. Identify ethical issues across a range of business sectors.
3. Analyse and critically evaluate key ethical issues using ethical theories, synthesising information gathered from a range of sources.
4. Reflect upon and articulate their own ethical position.

Syllabus

Indicative list of topics:
 The importance of ethics in business and society
 An introduction to ethical decision-making
 Ethical theories, e.g. Utilitarianism and Kantian ethics
 Case studies will cover a range of issues and sectors, which may include engineering, healthcare, charity and sustainability, amongst others.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Visit	1	10.00	10.00
Fieldwork	1	8.00	8.00
Seminar	8	3.00	24.00
Independent online learning hours			15.00
Private study hours			43.00
Total Contact hours			42.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

15 hours preparatory work before the course starts (materials available on Minerva). This includes:
• Reading one introductory text and making notes in response to set study questions.
• Watching an introductory video for the course and making notes in response to set study questions.
43 hours of private study during the module. This will include:
 Reviewing and consolidating notes made during seminars (8 hours).
 Reading and preparation for seminars (10 hours).
 Research and completion of the portfolio (25 hours).

The module will also include a field trip to support module content.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

 Observation of student participation in seminar discussions and in-class group tasks.
 Formative feedback on portfolio entries at the end of week 1, enabling the module leader, as well as the students themselves, to become aware of strengths or weaknesses in students’ learning.
 One-to-one discussion with the tutor during the tutor’s office hours.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Portfolio	2000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 31/01/2020

Disclaimer

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