Business Ethics and Sustainability

Code

BUSI3157

School

Nottingham University Business School

Level

3

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year Malaysia

Summary

This module explores the (inter) relationships between business, society and the environment through the theories and practices of business ethics and sustainability (BE & S).

Students will be introduced to different ethical frameworks that can be used to understand a business’ responsibilities to a broad range of stakeholders; ranging from investors and customers, to employees, communities and ecosystems.

The module equips students with the capacity to describe and address specific situations that enable and/or constrain ethical and sustainable decision-making in businesses. Ultimately, the module develops students’ ‘moral imagination’ – to become responsible managers of the future – in light of competing stakeholder expectations, situational factors, and broader challenges of sustainability.

Target Students

Available to all Part IIBusiness School, Applied Psychology and Mathematical Sciences students only.

Classes

• One 2-hour workshop each week for 5 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 13 weeks

Assessment

• 30% Group Poster Project
• 10% Group Presentation: 15 minutes
• 60% Exam (2-hour): 2 hours

Assessed in both autumn & spring semest

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

• The dynamic and changing nature of business and the consideration of the future of organisations within the global business environment, including the management of risk.
• The management of the supply chain.
• The comprehension and use of relevant communications for application in business and management, including the use of digital tools.
• The development of appropriate policies and strategies within a changing environment to meet stakeholder interests.
• The use of risk management techniques and business continuity planning to help maximise achievement of strategic objectives on the economic, social and environmental conditions of the future.
• The need for individuals and organisations to manage responsibly and sustainably and behave ethically in relation to social, cultural, economic and environmental issues.
• The design, development of organisations, including cross-cultural issues, change, diversity and values.

Intellectual skills

• The ability to analyse facts and circumstances to determine the cause of a problem and identifying and selecting appropriate solutions.
• The ability to analyse and evaluate a range of business data, sources of information and appropriate methodologies, which includes the need for strong digital literacy, and to use that research for evidence-based decision-making.
• Conceptual and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Professional practical skills

• Self-analysis and awareness/sensitivity to diversity in terms of people and cultures. This includes a continuing appetitie for development.
• People management, to include communications, team building, leadership and motivating others.
• The ability to apply business models to business problems and phenomena.

Transferable (key) skills

• Communication and listening including the ability to produce clear, structured business communications in a variety of media.
• An awareness of the interpersonal skills of effective listening, negotiating, persuasion and presentation and their use in generating business contacts.
• Self-management and a readiness to accept responsibility and flexibility, to be resilient, self-starting and appropriately assertive, to plan, organise and manage time.
• Ability to work with people from a range of cultures.
• Articulating and effectively explaining information.
• Emotional intelligence and empathy.

Conveners

• Dr Mei Mei Patricia Ang
• Ms Wen Li Chan