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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code (ITS: AC583)
Faculty School
NFQ level Credit Rating
Description

This module provides a self-reflective and systematic approach to the design and implementation of an effective ethics corporate culture, underpinned by appropriate codes, procedures, training and review. Participants will analyse their own specific contribution, as business leaders, and will consider the building of an ethics culture where there may be integral tensions among the leadership team, leading to a range of outcomes from cognitive dissonance to successful implementation. Specific cases will be reviewed. Stakeholder Theory, Shareholder Concept and Agency Theory will be examined and the role of the business professions will also inform the discourse.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the principles that sustain the establishment of an effective corporate ethics culture, underpinned by tailored policies and procedures.
2. Assess core issues for consideration when selecting a compliance versus integrity approach to culture.
3. Apply the knowledge and competencies acquired in previous and co-terminous modules in developing an understanding of the tension between moral agency and externally generated codes and regulations.
4. Critially assess core components in organisations which impact on culture.
5. Apply reflective learning to an understanding of the learner’s own contribution to the design and implementation of good corporate ethical culture.


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture24Weekly lectures
Independent Study113Independent study and review of lecture materials
Assignment Completion113Independent student learning and preparation for continuous assessments
Total Workload: 250
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentReflective assignment, focused on an ethical dilemma experienced by the learner in the workplace20%Week 8
EssayEssay examining the relevance of corporate culture to today's governance model in organisations80%Sem 2 End
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to the Module
Introduction to organisation culture; consideration of the learner's personal ethical framework

Understanding of the learner’s own framework
Philosophical background, reflecting on personal values; significant influencers, influence of corporate culture, empathy, dissonance.

Stakeholder v. Shareholder
The primacy of shareholder v stakeholder; moral agency; stakeholder theory.

Understanding ethical culture – fundamental foundations
Classifications of organisation culture; culture in practice - indicators of organisation culture; organisation culture and ethics.

Components of organisation culture
Identifying, assessing and developing strategies: including for trust, bias, diversity and inclusion.

Constructing and transforming organisation culture
Cultural change; cultural audit; ethical sinkholes.

Regulation v. Behaviour – ethics integrative to Corporate Governance
Compliance v integrity approaches to ethics; development of organisation ethics; codes of ethics v codes of conduct.

Professionals in business – a different ethic?
Codes within professions; characteristics of effective codes; assessing effectiveness of codes.

Whistleblowing
Motivations and impacts of whistleblowing activity; global perspectives; key considerations when facing a decision to blow the whistle.

Corporate Psychopathy
Psychopathic behaviour; how psychiatry informs corporate ethics; psychopathy in the workplace.

Future of work
Impact of technology on organisation culture; impact of shift from intangible to intangible drivers of corporate value.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Bachmann, B.: 0, Ethical Leadership in Organizations: Concepts and Implementation, Springer,
  • Schein, E: 0, Organizational Culture and Leadership,
  • Moon, J.: 0, A Handbook of Reflective and Experiential Learning: Theory and Practice, RoutledgeFalmer,
  • Kaptein, M.: 0, The Living Code: Embedding Ethics into the Corporate DNA,


Articles:
None
Other Resources

None

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