ETHICS IN FINANCE - 2025/6

Module Overview

As a result of a range of recent corporate scandals an increased emphasis has been put on corporate social responsibility and the need for the board of directors to conform to an ethical code of conduct while managing the affairs of an entity. This module explores how corporate governance examines the system of rules, principles and procedures through which a company is run to promote the best interest of its shareholders, other stakeholders and the wider society. 

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

GILL Jaitinder (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes, but not exhausted to:

• Theoretical frameworks for corporate governance, accountability and ethics


• 
  The UK corporate governance framework: Codes of Practice and governance reviews
  


• 
  Internal mechanisms: board effectiveness, the role of non-executive directors, remuneration structures
  


• 
  International corporate governance: comparative analysis
  


• Corporate governance and stakeholder accountability: holistic governance

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Individual Presentation instead of Group Presentation and Individual coursework instead of group coursework

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a number of learning outcomes that are directly related to the topics delivered in various weeks.

The assessments are designed to capture learning in all the topics and the summative assessment for this module consists of two parts:

• the coursework


• the group presentation 

Formative assessment and feedback

Tutorials provide a platform of frequent feedback in the topics covered preparing, thus, the student for his/her success in the group presentation and coursework. Additionally, the module offers a platform for students to give and receive feedback via SurreyLearn. Finally, weekly student feedback and consultation hours aim to provide additional feedback and assist students with the workload.

Module aims

• The aim of this module is to give a critical awareness of corporate governance and ethics.
• Students will explore the relevance of ethical frameworks within modern organizations and the mechanisms which can be adopted to improve corporate governance, professional principles and ethical decision making.
• Further, the module enables students to discuss, analyse, and assess the relevance of stakeholders, normative ethical principles, institutionalization of ethics and globalization in ethical decision making.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to allow students to familiarize themselves with an essential mix of theory and practice of various aspects in governance and ethics.

• Lectures introducing the topic of discussion

• Tutorial sessions for solving problems and understanding the underlying theory introduced in lectures. Tutorials are an integral part of the module as they provide a critical review and an empirical assessment of each topic.

• Lectures and tutorials will be supported by directed reading in textbooks and relevant journal articles.

• SurreyLearn is used as the main pool of resources and guided learning including lecture handouts, tutorial problems, and mock test/exams.

• Feedback will be provided on a regular basis during lectures and tutorials as well as during weekly office hours.

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: MANM378

Other information

Digital capabilities: The students will explore how ethical challenges are perceived in the digital age and what ethical challenges arise from the digital means of business practices across case studies from different industries. In addition, the students will collaborate and present for the group assessment using digital means and practice reviewing the quality of information available online.

Global and Cultural Capabilities: The module requires students to apply a range of ethics perspectives in a collaborative group project. The case study companies are multinationals and therefore require students to analyze ethical issues in a global business context. The module also explores the role of global and cultural diversity in organizational ethics frameworks.

Employability: The module involves a large variety of group tasks that help build transferrable skills. Students will critically evaluate the ethical issues at hand and undertake media reviews to understand the scope of the ethical challenge. The module will help enhance the interpersonal and professional skills in addition to engaging in holistic business decision making relevant to the case study scenarios.

Sustainability: Students will explore the scope of sustainability issues that are current or anticipated in the medium-long term for case study businesses. The module will also explore institutionalization of business ethics and how sustainability goals are embedded into ethics frameworks and business practices across the decision-making chain.

Resourcefulness and resilience: Students will work together in groups towards the final assessments. This will provide the opportunity to practice self-monitoring, co-operation, empathy and a collegial supportive work culture. The module provides the opportunity for students to explore various roles in a team, assess strengths and weaknesses amongst the team participants to strategize group tasks.

Programmes this module appears in

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.