Ethics

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/E_IBA3_ETH

Course Objective

This course discusses the ethical aspects of decision-making in business, both within organizations and in a broader societal context (Academic and Research Skills). During this course you will ask yourself ethical questions concerning society, the role of business in society (Broadening your Horizon) and your own role in society (Social skills and Self awareness). We will stimulate you to do this by offering you introductions to great philosophers on the foundations of society and business (Bridging theory and practice
- knowledge), and during the tutorials you will apply these insights to business decision-making situations (Bridging Theory and Practice
- application). Students will be encouraged to focus the discussions of the workgroups and the topic of their team assignments on international aspects which are of particular relevance to the IBA curriculum. For instance, common ethical issues multinational companies often face involve employment practices, human rights, environmental regulations, and supply chain management. After successfully completing the Ethics course you will have gained an accurate understanding of the major philosophical and ethical ideas, and will be able to apply these ideas in the context of society and business. In particular, you will be able to: Academic and Research Skills
• A1. Read philosophical and ethical literature (on an entry level) as part of literature research;
• A2. Critically and emphatically analyse relevant societal and business issues by using philosophical and ethical theories (on an entry level);
• A3. Give an account of your analysis in both written and oral form. Bridging Theory and Practice:
• B1. Reach an accurate understanding of the major philosophical ideas in ethics;
• B2. Apply ethical ideas in the business context and conduct an academic conversation focusing on philosophical and moral arguments;
• B3. Translate the conversation to concrete (policy) proposals and make the theoretical finding comprehensible to a wide audience;
• B4. Give an account of your analysis in written form. Social Skills
• C1. Argue and express yourself with regard to business and society issues by using these philosophical and ethical ideas in an oral conversation and during a presentation;
• C2. Plan and coordinate your work in a team towards a common goal. Broadening your Horizons:
• D1. Recognize the philosophical and moral issues that are inherent to human life, to the business context, and to the study of society and business;
• D2. Recognize the values underlying different positions and different goals and agendas at all levels: the individual, the business and the societal. Self-awareness:
• E1. Critically assess your own commitments, values and norms;
• E2. Critically asses your possible future role within an organization and/or business professional.

Course Content

The course offers concepts and ethical theories to help you to understand, analyse and form a well thought-through opinion on ethical dilemmas arising in business decision-making situations, both within organizations and in a broader societal context. Prototypical examples in an international context are the following:
- Outsourcing production to developing countries with lower labor costs, while laying off long-term employees in the home country, brings up ethical concerns.
- Companies must decide whether to adhere to home country standards, host country standards, or a compromise when the work conditions in the host nation are inferior.
- Ethical challenges might arise because fundamental rights such as freedom of association, speech, assembly, and movement are not upheld to the same extent worldwide.
- Compared to the home nation, weaker environmental regulations in host nations can lead to ethical issues, including the overuse and degradation of shared resources and common goods.
- The growing perception that multinationals are responsible for managing a sustainable global supply chain presents specific ethical challenges and calls for a more rigorous and accountable notion of corporate social responsibility. During the lectures the following topics will be discussed:
• Moral and philosophical fundamentals of a (good) society;
• Moral and philosophical fundamentals of the economy;
• Moral and philosophical fundamentals of organising and organisations;
• Moral and philosophical fundamentals for a better business world. During the tutorials (WC) you will apply the ethical theories to analyse and assess an ethical dilemma you have pre-selected with your tutorial lecturer.

Teaching Methods

Lectures (including pre-recorded knowledge clips) Tutorials

Method of Assessment

- Practical assignments
- Group
- Written Exam
- Participation assignments

Literature

- Sandel, M. (2010), Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? New York:Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374532505.
- Additional readings are available on Canvas.

Entry Requirements

No entry requirements.

Recommended background knowledge

No recommended background.