MMM 343-Business Ethics

Trimester 3 2021
Overview and Revision
 Learning Objectives
• Demonstrate an awareness of the role that ethical issues
play in business life; in particular, business policy formulation
and implementation; management policy formulation, and
employee rights and obligations
• Articulate and discuss the principles of business ethics
• Articulate an understanding of the contextual issues
surrounding business ethics in different societies
• Demonstrate an understanding of business ethics through
the development of analytical, writing and problem-solving
skills
• Rationalise and argue for your perceptions of each concept
in a manner that highlights an objective understanding of the
issues concerned.
 Exam
• 50% of your total mark
• 24 hours access from date and time of release on CloudDeakin
• 2 hours writing time (TIMED once you click on exam,
maximum 3 hours including download & uploading of
exam responses + reading time)
• Open book
• Based on two case studies which will be provided in the exam
document (not earlier)
• Exam timetable issues – contact Deakin Student Administration
team
• IT issues – contact Deakin IT help desk
• NO extensions of time are given for an exam
 2 Case studies

• Total 5 questions across 2 case studies

• Answer all questions, NO CHOICE
• Read and understand the question properly before writing.
• Answers should be analytical and draw on concepts/ theory/
framework covered in the unit
• Questions based on the case and on what you have
learnt in this unit, weekly cases and application of theory
from this unit.
 Reminder about case analysis

READ IDENTIFY IMPACT RESOLVE RECOMMEND

(ETHICAL ISSUES/
STAKEHOLDERS)
 The questions

Underline key words. Does the question have more

than one part? If so, allocate time/effort
accordingly.

Re-read the question to ensure you understand

what you are being asked.

Sometimes it helps to write a brief plan or outline

and follow it.
 Don’t throw in the kitchen sink!
• Answer ONLY what you have
been asked.
•Papers lose marks once they
lose focus on the question.
•We do not give more marks
just because you can
demonstrate you have studied
all of the topics.
•Top marks are given for WELL
ANSWERED questions.
 How much should I write?

•Expected total is 2000 words for all the 5 questions

• Each question worth 10 marks
•Everyone writes differently in terms of style and
content – we are focussed on content
•Write to answer the question as FULLY, but as
succinctly as possible
•Don’t repeat…
 There is so much in each topic.
How do I know where to focus?

• Read all seminar case studies and write answers to the

questions for each one (before comparing with guide
answers). This is the best way to prepare for the exam

•Read/ review all topics. You have access to all lecture

recordings

• Guide answers to all seminar exercises, including case

studies are posted on CloudDeakin

•Can you learn & improve from your assignment feedback

 When answering any question

• Try to see how some of the points or issues raised in the

question could be inter-related to similar issues
• Is there a need to mention similar issues? Only if you are
confident in your response and can make the
connections
• Think how lecture material, readings and philosophies/
frameworks can be used in your responses
• If you are unsure – do not try to force concepts in your
answer – poorly written answer will not fetch you extra
marks
 Do I have to study EVERY
topic?
•The question you need to
ask yourself is:

“Am I prepared to take the

risk and only study a few
topics?”
 Chapter 1

• What is Business Ethics

• Historical overview
• Benefits of Business Ethics
• Employee Commitment
• Investor Loyalty
• Customer Satisfaction
• Profits
 Chapter 2

• Define and identify stakeholders

• Primary stakeholders
• Secondary stakeholders
• What is social responsibility and its 4 levels
• Concept of ‘corporate citizenship’
• Shareholder vs Stakeholder models of corporate
governance
• Issues with executive compensation
• Implementing stakeholder perspective (6 steps)
https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/319192692326422053/
https://www.bsr.org/en/our-insights/report-view/stakeholder-engagement-five-step-approach-toolkit
 Chapters 8/ 9

• Ethics programs
• Requirements for ethics and compliance programs
• Codes of conduct/ ethics
• Ethics officers
• Importance of ethics training and communication
• Mistakes in designing and implementing an ethics
program
• Difference between an ethics and a social audit (ch 9)
• Benefits and challenges of ethics auditing (ch 9)
• The auditing process (ch 9)
 Chapter 3 (full); chapter 6; chapter 12
• Recognising an ethical issue
• Importance of honesty; fairness and integrity in
business
• Ethical issues and business dilemmas
 Abusive or intimidating  Fraud (all types)
behaviour
 Lying
 Insider trading
 Conflicts of interest
 Intellectual-Property rights
 Bribery  Privacy issue
 Corporate intelligence  White collar crime (ch 6)
 Discrimination  Sustainability (ch 12)
 Sexual harassment
 Global environemtnal
 Misuse of company time &
resources
issues (ch 12)
 Chapter 10 (full); chapter 12

 Culture as a factor in business and Concept of cultural relativism

 Economic systems
 Global values
 Multinational corporations: their benefits and challenges
 Alternative energy sources (ch 12)
 Green marketing vs Green washing
 Strategic approaches to environmental issues (ch12)
 Global ethical risks (see overlap of some issues from chapter 3 too)
 Bribery
 Antitrust activity
 Internet Security and privacy
 Human rights
 Health care
 Labor and right to work
 Compensation
 Consumerism
 Chapter 5

• Figure 5.1
• Decision making factors
• Individual: Education; Gender; Nationality; Age;
Locus of control
• Organisational: Culture; Significant others;
Obedience to authority; Opportunity
• Normative values: Political, Economic, Social
• John Rawls and veil of Ignorance
 Chapter 6
• Moral philosophies
• Goodness – Instrumental and Intrinsic
• Teleology (Egoism; Utilitarianism)
• Deontology
• Relativism
• Virtue ethics
• Justice

• Kohlberg’s model of Cognitive moral

development
 Chapter 7

• Organisational factor – Culture

• 4 Types of culture (apathetic, caring, exacting, integrative)
• Compliance vs values based culture
• Differential association
• Whistle-blowing
• Types (5) of leader powers (reward, coercive, legitimate,
expert, referent)
• Motivating employees
• Organisational structure (centralised vs decentralised)
• Types of groups (formal vs informal)
• Significance of group norms
 Chapter 11

 Ethical leadership: definition; requirements; benefits

 Ethical leadership communication types and skills
 Ethical conflicts: when they occur and conflict
management styles
 Leadership styles
 Daniel Goleman (6)
 Transactional vs transformational; and authentic leaders
 Leader-follower congruence (including power and
politics)
 RADAR model
 Chapter 4 (full); chapter 12
• Table 4.1
• Laws: civil and criminal
• Role of Gatekeepers (accountants and risk
assessors)
• Different categories of laws
• Competition
• Consumers
• Equity and Safety
• Environmental (ch 12)
Good luck in the exam
and your future studies