BUSINESS ETHICS

Lecturer: Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Nga

Email: nguyenthiquynhnga.cs2@ftu.edu.vn
BUSINESS ETHICS

NGUYEN THI QUYNH NGA

PhD, Lecturer in IB
 Course Introduction
1. Course objectives
2. Course content
3. Reading materials
4. Teaching method
5. Learning method
6. Course assessment
 1. Course Objectives
• Provide an introduction to the study of ethics in an organizational
context and to provide some useful resources for the study of
business ethics.
• Introduces some theories of applied ethics in professional
perspectives of management where ethical evaluation centers on
consequences of action, motive of duty and justice for the decision
maker and a small surrounding group of individuals.
• Analyze the importance of business ethics in managing enterprises
to build sustainable development.
• How to become a businessman who does business ethically and
how to make contribution to organization, community and society
through a greater understanding of learning theories, case study
and classroom inquiries
 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Knowledge
• CLO1. Understand concepts of ethics, business ethics and
professional ethics, Corporate social Responsibility
• CLO2. Understand theories of ethics and business
• CLO3. Identify stakeholders and the roles of stakeholders in
corporate social responsibility
• CLO4. Understand and demonstrates the principles of
marketing, human resource, accounting and environmental
management ethics
• CLO5. Understand and build the codes of conduct in the
organization
 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
2. Skills
• CLO6. Ability to debate and argue to defend
your point of view based on ethical principles
• CLO7. Build self-learning and self-study skills
• CLO8. Build and enhance problem-solving and
decision-making ability in management
situations in general, and in human resource
management in particular.
• CLO9. Improve human skills such as team
work, communication and presentation.
 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
3. Autonomy and responsibility
• CLO10. Be cooperative and proactive in
teamwork
 2. Course Content
Introduction to Business Ethics

Theories of ethics and business

Stakeholders and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Ethics and Human Resource Management

Ethics and Marketing

Ethics and the Environment

Ethics, Accountancy and Corporate Governance

 3. Reading Materials
Textbook(s)
• 1. William H. Shaw, (2014), Business ethics (8th), Cengage
Learning.
• 2. Stephen M. Byars, Kurt Stanberry, 2018, Business Ethics,
OpenStax
Optional reading(s)
• Thomas Donaldson, et al., 2008, Ethical issues in business- A
philosophical approach (8th), Pearson Prentice Hall.
• Laura P.Hartman, et.al, 2014, Business Ethics- Decision
making for integrity and social responsibility, Mc. Graw Hills
4. Teaching Method

• Based on the lectures

(handouts) given
to students
• Practice-based approach
• Case study
• Socratic dialogue
5. Learning Method

• Critical Thinking
• Discussion
• Group Presentation
• Self - Study
 6. Course Assessment
Attendance: 10%
Mid-term assignment: 15%
Quick test, 30 minutes: 15%
Final exam MCQ + writing (60 - 90 mins): 60%
 6. Course Assessment
Requirements for final examination
• Students are allowed to take the final exam only if the
following conditions are satisfied:
• Students must attend at least 70% class periods (11/15
sessions)
• Attendance is also required for all examination/ assignment
periods. Students are expected to pass at least 50% of those
examinations. For courses those only requires one
examination, students are expected to earn at least 5 points
out of 10.
 6. Course Assessment
Bonus point policy
Students who contribute in class discussions and are recognized by the
teacher will be credited to the attendance, mid-term scores.
Assignment policy
All assignments must be the result of the students own work and effort.
If 40% similarity is detected; the assignment’s score will be deducted.
If more than 40% similarity is detected; the assignment will be zero-scored.
Late submission will result in 10% deducted from assignment score for each
day late. Missed work or more than 3-day late submission will be zero-scored.
BUSINESS ETHICS

Chapter 1

An Introduction to
Business Ethics
 Course Learning Outcomes for Unit I
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able
to:
1. Analyze the concepts of business ethics from a
personal and an organizational perspective (What is
ethics?)
2. Understand concepts of ethics, business ethics, roles
of ethics at work place (Ethical terms in organizational
contexts)
3. Assess the ethical issues facing business leaders
 Definition of ethics
• Discipline that examines one’s moral
standards or the moral standards of a society.
• Cambridge dictionary: a system of accepted
beliefs that control behaviour, especially such
a system based on morals
→ One needs to ask whether these are
reasonable or unreasonable and whether they
are supported by good reasons.
 Definition Of Morality
•Morality: Standards that an individual or group
has with respect to what is right and wrong.
Cambridge dictionary: a personal or social set of
standards for good or bad behaviour and
character, or the quality of being right, honest,
or acceptable
•Moral standards: Applies morality to a set of
standards that are considered the norm of what
is right and wrong.
 Definition Of Business Ethics
• Business ethics: Study of moral right and
wrong with a focus on moral standards as
applied to the behavior within business
organizations.
• → Focus needs to be placed on the
implications of business ethics on the
overall operation of the business, both
positive and potentially negative.
 What is law?
• Law is a set of rules laid
down by Parliament for the
State.
• Every citizen is bound by the
law and breaking the law
allows the State to punish.
What are morals?
• Morals are beliefs and
values shared by a society
or section of society – they
tell us what is right and
wrong.
• Breach of morals results in
disapproval or feelings of
guilt
Ethical relativism
Ethical relativism
 Ethical issue:
Should the sales representative close the deal without advising the
customer of the delivery problem?
The Sales Rep
• A sales representative for a struggling computer supply firm has a
chance to close a multimillion-dollar deal for an office system to be
installed over a two-year period.
• The machines for the first delivery are in the company’s warehouse,
but the remainder would have to be ordered from the
manufacturer. Because the manufacturer is having difficulty
meeting the heavy demand for the popular model, the sales
representative is not sure that subsequent deliveries can be made
on time.
• Any delay in converting to the new system would be costly to the
customer; however, the blame could be placed on the
manufacturer
 Ethical Issue:
• The CEO of a midsize producer of a popular line of kitchen appliances is
approached about merging with a larger company. The terms offered by
the suitor are very advantageous to the CEO, who would receive a large
severance package. The shareholders of the firm would also benefit
because the offer for their stock is substantially above the current market
price.
• The CEO learns, however, that plans call for closing a plant that is the
major employer in a small town. The firm has always taken its social
responsibility seriously, but the CEO is now unsure of how to balance the
welfare of the employees who would be thrown out of work and the
community where the plant is located against the interests of the
shareholders. He is also not sure how much to take his own interests into
account.