BUSINESS ETHICS - 2025/6
Module code: MAN1090
Module Overview
To introduce students to the ethical principles that will allow them to fully appreciate the implications of decision-making and leadership in an increasingly complex business environment. It introduces students to core principles of ethical thought, to models of ethical decision-making and to a variety of business situations within which ethically-informed decisions will be consequential for individuals, organizations and wider societies.
Module provider
Surrey Business School
Module Leader
HU Yanfei (SBS)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 4
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 107
Lecture Hours: 11
Seminar Hours: 10
Guided Learning: 11
Captured Content: 11
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
- A framework to identify and analyse salient stakeholders of organisations
- Normative ethical theories that provide plural moral perspectives for business ethical issues
- Descriptive theories that provide explanations of how people in organisations engage in (un)ethical behaviour
- Ethical issues as related to a range of stakeholders ( e.g., employees, shareholders, suppliers, consumers and civil society)
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Online Scheduled Summative Class Test | ONLINE TEST (1.5 hours) | 40 |
| Coursework | INDIVIDUAL COURSEWORK (1200 WORD ESSAY) | 60 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy for this module is designed to allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the principles of ethics as well as their ability to apply these principles to address actual business issues. An interim remote online test will be administered to assess students’ understanding of concepts and theories. The final assessment, an individual essay on an ethical issue, will offer students the opportunity to apply theories in a real world ethical problem; in the process they will develop critical thinking skills and writing skills that are critical for Business Ethics and for their future career.
Formative assessment and feedback
•Students will receive individual feedback during the module from the tutor.
Module aims
- Introduce the ethics of decision-making
- Introduce ethical theory and models for developing moral frameworks
- Provide links to contemporary business issues in a global context
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Identify salient stakeholders of organisations and analyse ethical issues related to these stakeholders; | KC |
| 002 | Explain and critically analyse competing normative ethical theories; | KC |
| 003 | Explain what individual and contextual factors cause (un)ethical behaviour in organisations; | KC |
| 004 | Articulate and defend your moral position by developing clear and compelling arguments; | PT |
| 005 | Write fluently and professionally on ethical topics | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The module will use a combination of delivery methods to promote learning.
These will include conventional and more inter-active lectures, web-enabled support and guest speakers.
There will a clear emphasis on small group discussion and debate around the ethics of business decisions and behaviours.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN1090
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.