Module Overview: The Moral and Ethical Codes of Business

This module aims to set out the moral and ethical codes of business, highlight how these impact on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility strategies. In addition to this, the module also examines the importance of professional practice in business.

Learning outcomes:

LO 1 Locate and evaluate resources relating to business codes of doing business in a moral ethical way;

LO 2 Explore one aspect of professional practice in more depth;

LO 3 Reflect on your understanding of the core elements of operating in a professional way;

LO 4 Construct a CPD plan.

Part 1 Module Overview

• Discuss assessment brief, how to access support and guidance, discuss expectations and deadlines.
• Define the term business ethics and discuss key global ethical issues e.g. CSR, cultural imperialism, ecology, fair trade, corruption, child labour etc.

Organisations and read through their websites

• Student will introduce one contemporary ethical challenge facing the business environment today (for example CSR, Corporate Governance, Sustainability, Environment, Human Rights, Corruption). They need to give a definition and examples of how the issue challenge affects companies and how companies affect the issue both positively and negatively. This will be in an appropriate style and submitted in the correct layout.
• Lecturers will provide specific, clear, constructive and timely feedback, with particular focus on the layout, writing style, use of sources and referencing.
• Examine ethics in business;

1) Finance

2)HR

• Identify key organisations who provide advice and codes of conduct

Relevant Codes of Conduct (found on Moodle)

• Examine ethics in business;

1.Production

2.Sales

3.Intellectual Property

• Identify key organisations who provide advice and codes of conduct

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT:

• Students will submit the second part of their report, focusing on a Code of Conduct which can assist in addressing the ethical issue discussed in session two. Drawing on the relevant Code, they will explain what can be done to improve the situation for individuals, communities and organisations.
• Lecturers will provide specific, clear, constructive and timely feedback, focusing on the layout, writing style, use of sources and referencing.

Relevant Codes of Conduct (found on Moodle)

Part 1 Corporate Governance & Management (A)

• Discuss company strategies of;

1)Corporate Governance,

2)Corporate Social Responsibility

3)Sustainability

• Link all of above to codes of conduct.

Relevant Codes of Conduct (found on Moodle)

Corporate Governance & Management (B)

• Discuss company strategies of;

1)trading fairly

2)legal and regulatory compliance

3)working conditions

• Link all of above to codes of conduct.
• Students will submit the third part of their report focusing on support and guidance available from Professional Bodies. They should identify the Professional Body best suited to help companies deal with the ethical issue they chose in week one, explain why they are the most suitable organisation, and the nature of support and guidance they offer to companies.
• Lecturers will provide specific, clear, constructive and timely feedback, focusing on the layout, writing style, use of sources and referencing.

Implications of Corporate Governance

• Adapting business behaviour
• Responding to ethical issues and implementing ethical practices
• Influence on stakeholders and pressure groups
• Impact on competitiveness
• Company reputation and public image
• Define CPD
• Discuss how CPD can impact business ethics for both organisation and individual employees.
• Discuss the CPD plan template READING:
• Students will write the last part of their report, identifying the most likely positive and negative impact that the Code of Conduct and Professional Body support can have on the ethical issue from the perspective of the community and company.
• Students will complete their CPD plan using the template provided. They will give details of what they have learnt from the module, how their learning will impact further studies and/or career, and the SMART actions they intend to take to implement learning.
• Lecturers will provide specific, clear, constructive and in time feedback on the final part of the report and CPD plan.