Business Ethics

Introduction of Module

Business Ethics
Lecturer(s):
Module Code:
Module level : Level
 Resources
Core textbook
• Crane, A. et al. (2019) Business ethics: managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of
globalization. Fifth edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
 
Essential Resources 
• Aristotle, (n.d.), Ethics. you can read this online at:
https://socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/aristotle/Ethics.pdf 
• Kant, I. (n.d.) Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. You can read this online at:
http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/kant1785.pdf
• Mill, J.S. (n.d.) Utilitarianism. You can read this online at: http://
www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/mill1863.pdf

Recommended Resources 
• Ciulla, J. B. (2018) Honest work: a business ethics reader. Fourth edn. Edited by C. W. Martin and R. C.
Solomon. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

• Fotaki, M., Islam, G. and Antoni, A. (eds) (2020) Business ethics and care in organizations. New York, NY:
Routledge (Routledge studies in business ethics, 20). doi: 10.4324/9780429029943. 
• Hoffman, W., Frederick, R., & Schwartz, M. (eds) 2014, Business Ethics: Readings and Cases in Corporate
Morality. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
• Rendtorff, J. D. (2019) Philosophy of management and sustainability: rethinking business ethics and social
responsibility in sustainable development. First edn. Bingley: Emerald Publishing.
Introduction to the Module
As you complete this module you will:

• Learn to make use of philosophical tools to support

thinking and analysis.
• Develop confidence in identifying and describing potential
ethical challenges.
• Apply a number of theoretical frameworks to help
examine and explore ethical dilemmas relating to
business and management.
• Explore some of the significant challenges that result from
debates around sustainability, globalization and
technological or digital developments.
 Week 5 – Business
Ethics and Technology
Topics For Todays Session

business and technology ethics

ethical issues arises from technological innovation

Implication of data and privacy ethics

Ethical use of Artificial intelligence, Ethical hacking and cybersecurity

Analyzing online ethics and social media

Ethical consideration of Big Data Analytics and other Emerging technologies

such as virtual reality and internet of things.

Ethical decision-making for technology-driven business.

 Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student
will be able to:
1. Select appropriate moral theory and
philosophical tools to analyze specific business
challenges.
2. Apply a suitable moral theory to help analyze
ethical issues related to technology
3. Formulate and defend recommendations based
on their theoretical and practical analysis of ethical
issues created through technologies.
 Assessment
• Assignment Deadlines and weight:
Late
Learning Sub Core or
Component Form of Assessment Weighting
outcomes non-
number assessment size (%)
assessed core

1 Report 3,000 words 100 All Y Core

 Small Discussion
What is you ideas and understanding on
relationship between business
technologies and ethics? Please raise
your hand to answer
Business, Ethics And Technologies

Technology has become the new norm of

the society. however, it has also become
crucial for technologies to earn trust.

It takes time for people to understand and

address the related issues.

One of the issue identified with the

advancement of technologies is the
ethics breach.
 Business And Technology
Ethics
• Companies need focus on ethical
technologies
• Ethical technologies is a term that
emphasizes on development of values for
adoption of technology in operations and
corporate strategy.
• The ethical issues increased with the
development of technologies such as AI, big
data, augmented reality and virtual reality.
Defining Morality Ethics, Ethical Theories
and technology
Consequentialist theory emphasize on
technology as ethical approach only if it
does not lead to negative consequences.
Cressey’s fraud theory:
technology can develop
opportunity to conduct fraud
Deontological approach states that
actions taken for the sense of duty and
of it can be universalized, than it is right
 Ethics and technology: issues and
challenges
There have been various ethical challenges identified with the advancement of
technologies. Watch the video and lets discuss

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=I9FOswjTSGg
What did you learn about ethics
and technology in the video.
Ethical issues related to technologies have created ethical dilemma for
companies. Lets discuss ethical issues related to certain technologies

The abuse of consumers data and massive data breach is linked with big
data which us used by companies as part of their marketing analysis.

AI related technologies are created ethical concerns related to bias, control

and fairness. The concerns has cause low faith in the AI industry.

Fake and manipulated information has become a threat to truth and it is

used for personal gains.

The addiction to technologies is causing physical and mental health among

people.
Ethics and technology: issues and
challenges
Technology Trends that Raise Ethical
Issues:
Implication of data and privacy ethics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=naaDBNSx610
 What is Data privacy
• People in the digital age have become
collection of individual piece of information
(data).
• The information is called personally
identifiable information.
• The dematerialization has made it easier to
overthrow the right to privacy of people.
• The individual information can be
manipulated for various unethical and
criminal purposes.
What is Data privacy and ethics
(Continue)
The increasing concerns related to data privacy has led to
development of data protection regulations

General data protection regulation (the right to erase, edit

and take civil action. People has the right to sue for
damages for breach of personal data.

The data breaches has increased has companies are

extracting every small piece of information they can find to
use it for their own benefits.

The ethics of data privacy shall focus on four elements

including consent, restriction, transparency and free will.
Ethics And Data Privacy

• Companies need to be open and clear

about the data they are taking and in
explaining the purpose of data usage.
• Many companies (like Equifax) collect
more than required data and ended up
selling the data which led to data
breach which is lack of compliance and
ethical concern.
Cyber security technologies

• Companies has developed cyber

security technologies with the aim to
reduce the threat.
Ethical use of Artificial intelligence,
Ethical hacking and cybersecurity
• Is there something called ethical hacking or is it even considered ethical.

Ethical hacking is a process mainly used

to identify the weaknesses and improve
the system.

Ethical hacking is mostly based on AI

technologies.

Ethical hacking method is mainly used in

healthcare with the aim to find better
solutions.
 Artificial intelligence and
ethical
• AI presents three major areas of ethical
concern for society: privacy and
surveillance, bias and discrimination

Please read the case study of AI and

ethics of “Apple card” and right down
your opinion on Role and approach of
company. Was AI biased or the company
that developed the system
Online Ethics And Social Media

Group Discussion

I am sure, you all have social

media accounts. Lets me hear
your ideas and experience in
relation to ethics related to social
media
Online Ethics And Social Media

The social media and the concept of open communication is causing various
issues such as danger to demographics, endangering independent news,
privacy issues, body shaming content and so on.

At various point social media platforms failed to protect the privacy of

information of audience.

Twitters is has the lowest level of security. Twitter is also known for users
posting harming and abusing content.

Business ethics is important for avoidance of regulatory issues. Unethical

Behaviour such as dishonesty, corruption and fraud results in lawsuits, fines
and undermine the financial stability of organization. Ethical practices are
useful for reduction of risk and protection of stakeholders interest.
Number of compromised data records in
selected data breaches as of April 2023
Ethical consideration of Big Data
Analytics
Five Principles for Big Data Ethics

Private customer data and identity

should remain private:

Shared private information

should be treated confidentially

Users should have a

transparent view

Big Data should not interfere

with human will

Big data should not

institutionalize unfair biases
 Writing Activity

• Write 200 words on ethical theory that is linked with technological

ethics in your opinion.
Analysis of Case Studies-Enron

The scandal of Enron is highly popular for its ethical collapse. In 2001, the
Enron history drew the response towards ethical fraud in accounting practices.

It is based on manipulation in corporate fraud, manipulation in accounting

information and unethical actions shown by management

The top executives of Enron acted for safeguarding their own interest and
ignored the interest of shareholder and employees.

The executive entice the workforce for heavily investment in shares devoid of
disclosure of real information and actual entity value that eventually lead to
financial distress and bankruptcy.
 References
• Uria-Recio, (2018). Five Principles for Big Data Ethics. https://medium.com/@
uriarecio/5-principles-for-big-data-ethics-b5df1d105cd3
• Howe III, E. G., & Elenberg, F. (2020). Ethical challenges posed by big data.
Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 17(10-12), 24.
• Petrosyan, A (2023). Number of compromised data records in selected data
breaches as of April 2023.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/290525/cyber-crime-biggest-online-data-breaches-
worldwide/
• Pazzanese, C (2020). Great promise but potential for peril. https://
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/10/ethical-concerns-mount-as-ai-takes-bigger-d
ecision-making-role/
• Silverglate, P (2021). Beyond good intentions. https://
www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/ethical-dilemmas-in-technology.
html
• Kazim, E., & Koshiyama, A. (2021). The interrelation between data and AI ethics in
the context of impact assessments. AI and Ethics, 1, 219-225.
• Kenwright, B. (2018). Virtual reality: ethical challenges and dangers [opinion]. IEEE
Technology and Society Magazine, 37(4), 20-25.