Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

No Banner module data is available

Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: TP511)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

This module is designed to provide course participants with the necessary conceptual tools to analyse ethical dilemmas in the world of business at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It will train and enhance students’ skills in applying ethical theories to a wide range of business ethics topics. Course participants will examine the core concepts and methodologies of the field of study of business ethics and learn how to apply ethical decision-making models to real cases of business decisions. Additionally they will critically discuss issues such as stakeholder theory, corporate social responsibility and the nature of capitalism. The following are some of the questions that will be addressed during the course: • What are the different ethical frameworks to analyze and solve dilemmas? • What is the purpose of the firm? Shareholder or Stakeholder value creation? • What are the limits between a fair marketing strategy and consumers’ deception? • What are the boundaries of CSR in international business? Through active participation in class discussions, team-work and individual presentations, participants will improve their capacity of ethical analysis, appreciate different perspectives and practice and sharpen their writing and communication skills. Finally, students will be encouraged to examine one particular business ethics issue in depth in their final paper.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of relevant ethical principles and values in contemporary business.
2. Apply a range of appropriate ethical theories, value systems and principles in order to elucidate ethical issues in modern-day business.
3. Display a critical understanding of business organizations’ corporate social responsibility in general.
4. Critically analyze business organizations’ impact on and responsibility towards a variety of stakeholders in particular.
5. Apply and appraise appropriate ethical decision-making models to explore various resolutions to ethical problems in business.
6. Construct reasoned arguments for a justified course of action in ethically difficult cases.
7. Give evidence of an in-depth ethical analysis of one particular business ethics issue by completion of a paper

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	2	No Description
Class Presentation	6	Preparation for individual presentation
Independent Study	2.1	No Description
Assignment Completion	15	Preparation for Assignment
Independent Study	10	No Description
Total Workload: 35.1

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	A 5,000 word formal essay providing in-depth analysis and discussion of one particular business ethics issue concerning a specific industry, corporation or stakeholder group.	80%	Sem 1 End
Laboratory Portfolio	Active and constructive engagement in each class discussion and team work.	10%	Every Week
Presentation	Individual presentation of a paper	10%	Sem 1 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 Business ethics

Framing business ethics: corporate responsibility, stakeholders, and citizenship

Evaluating business ethics: normative ethical theories

Making decisions in business ethics: descriptive ethical theories

Managing business ethics: tools and techniques of business ethics management

Shareholders and business ethics

Employees and business ethics

Consumers and business ethics

Civil society and business ethics

Government, regulation, and business ethics

Conclusions and future perspectives

Indicative Reading List

Books:

The following will be recommended to course participants as core texts for the module: 0, :,
Andrew Crane, Dirk Matten.: 2015, Business ethics - Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization, Fourth, Oxford [Oxfordshire]; Oxford University Press, 9780199697311
Audi, Robert: 2008, Business Ethics and Ethical Business, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Fisher Colin, Lovell Alan: 2009, Business Ethics and Values, 3rd edition, Pearson Education Limited, Essex,
Jeurissen, Ronald: 0, Ethics & Business, Royal Van Gorcum, Assen,
May, Steven K, George Cheney, Juliet Roper: 2007, The Debate over Corporate Social Responsibility, Oxford University Press, New York,

Articles:

Butler, Eamonn: 2011, The Condensed Wealth of Nations and the Incredibly Condensed Theory of Moral Sentiments, Adam Smith Research Trust, http://www.adamsmith.org/sites/default/files/resources/condensed - WoN.pdf, 25627
1848: Manifesto of the Communist Party,

Other Resources

Webpage: Student Reading, http://global.oup.com/uk/orc/busecon/business/cranebe3e/01student/reading/