Overview
This course examines the ethical, social, environmental, and governance responsibilities of businesses and their leaders. Students develop moral awareness and apply ethical reasoning to questions of values, character, stakeholder interests, corporate citizenship, profit, purpose, and public trust.
Topics include ethical decision-making, conflicts of interest, organizational culture, codes of conduct, ethical leadership, whistleblowing, corruption, bribery, fraud, data and privacy, artificial intelligence, technology, marketing, consumer protection, employee rights, workplace justice, supply-chain responsibility, human rights, environmental sustainability, climate risk, circular economy principles, diversity and inclusion, corporate governance, executive accountability, risk management, transparency, reporting, social enterprise, responsible investment, and international differences in legal and cultural expectations.
Through stakeholder mapping, ethical dilemma analysis, policy evaluation, debates, sustainability reporting reviews, and organizational planning, students distinguish legal compliance from ethical responsibility. They evaluate the effects of business decisions on employees, customers, communities, investors, governments, and the environment, and communicate accountable recommendations in professional formats.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify ethical, social, environmental, and governance issues arising in business decisions.
- Apply multiple ethical frameworks to analyze complex organizational dilemmas.
- Evaluate competing claims and impacts affecting stakeholders, communities, investors, and the environment.
- Distinguish legal compliance from broader ethical and corporate responsibility obligations.
- Assess organizational cultures, codes of conduct, reporting systems, and leadership practices.
- Analyze corporate responses to corruption, fraud, privacy, artificial intelligence, climate risk, human rights, and workplace justice.
- Evaluate sustainability, responsible investment, social enterprise, and corporate citizenship strategies using appropriate evidence.
- Develop an organizational ethics or responsibility plan with measurable accountability mechanisms.
- Defend well-reasoned recommendations through clear, professional written and oral communication.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Seminar | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Stakeholder mapping and ethical issue analysis | 15.00% |
| Quiz | Ethical frameworks and corporate responsibility concepts | 10.00% |
| Test | Mid-semester case analysis test | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Sustainability reporting and policy evaluation | 20.00% |
| Capstone | Organizational ethics and responsibility plan | 25.00% |
| Exam | Final applied case examination | 10.00% |
Prerequisites
- BCOM201 Business Research and Decision-Making
- Requirement At least 60 points of university study in business, economics, management, or a related discipline.
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
