Business Ethics
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BUSINESS ETHICS :: Introduction to Ethics
• • • • • • Course format Overview of topics Mode of assessment Background to Ethics History of Business Ethics Role of Business Ethics Today
Course Aims and Objectives The aim of this course is to give a basic understanding of the major theories of ethics - including deontology, utilitarianism and virtue theory - and their application in the relevant fields of business and information technology. One of the main course objectives is to encourage independent critical thought and develop an individual system of ethics. Course Format The class group is quite a large one, however the course will include group exercises and discussion. Each session (generally speaking) will have two parts. The first part will be informational, when we will go through the basics of a theory/issue, and the second will be participatory, involving debates, discussion groups, votes and questionnaires (not part of assessment). This will be an opportunity for you to further develop your communication skills and also to gain experience in articulating your views before your peers. It is often the case that unethical decisions/activities go without criticism due to a failure of courage rather than moral judgment. But moral courage is not an innate characteristic it can be learnt through practice, and this will be an integral part of our classes. Course Outline See separate sheet with course outline. Please note that the course has been prepared in such a way that it remains flexible. If there are any issues/topics you would like to include, please contact me as early in the course as possible and I will try to accommodate it. Mode of Assessment The course will be assessed by written assignment - a short essay of approx 1,500 words. I will be giving a handout on essay-writing and in our last class (review session) we will have a section devoted to the essay. If you are worried
Lecture 1 Friday, 30th September 2005
2 about it you can contact
BUSINESS ETHICS :: Introduction to Ethics
• • • • • • Course format Overview of topics Mode of assessment Background to Ethics History of Business Ethics Role of Business Ethics Today
Course Aims and Objectives The aim of this course is to give a basic understanding of the major theories of ethics - including deontology, utilitarianism and virtue theory - and their application in the relevant fields of business and information technology. One of the main course objectives is to encourage independent critical thought and develop an individual system of ethics. Course Format The class group is quite a large one, however the course will include group exercises and discussion. Each session (generally speaking) will have two parts. The first part will be informational, when we will go through the basics of a theory/issue, and the second will be participatory, involving debates, discussion groups, votes and questionnaires (not part of assessment). This will be an opportunity for you to further develop your communication skills and also to gain experience in articulating your views before your peers. It is often the case that unethical decisions/activities go without criticism due to a failure of courage rather than moral judgment. But moral courage is not an innate characteristic it can be learnt through practice, and this will be an integral part of our classes. Course Outline See separate sheet with course outline. Please note that the course has been prepared in such a way that it remains flexible. If there are any issues/topics you would like to include, please contact me as early in the course as possible and I will try to accommodate it. Mode of Assessment The course will be assessed by written assignment - a short essay of approx 1,500 words. I will be giving a handout on essay-writing and in our last class (review session) we will have a section devoted to the essay. If you are worried
Lecture 1 Friday, 30th September 2005
2 about it you can contact