SYLLABUS OF BUSINESS ETHICS

COURSE SYLLABUS
Course title: BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Course code: QTR305E
Department: Human Resource Management
Credit hours: 3 credits
Prerequite(s): Fundamental of Management

1. INSTRUCTOR(s) INFORMATION
No. Instructors’ name Email Phone number Office
1. Dương Thị Hoài Nhung nhungdth@ftu.edu.vn 0985867488

2. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the study of ethics in an
organizational context and to provide some useful resources for the study of business ethics.
Besides, the course also introduces some theories of applied ethics in professional perspectives
of management where ethical evaluation centers on consequences of action, motive of duty and
justice for the decision maker and a small surrounding group of individuals. Furthermore, the
subject shows how importance of business ethics in managing enterprises to build sustainable
development is. The emphasis in this course will be learning how to become a business man who
does business ethically and how to make contribution to organization, community and society
through a greater understanding of learning theories, case study and classroom inquiries.
3. EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
*Knowledge
1. Understand concepts of ethics, business ethics and professional ethics, Corporate
social Responsibility
2. Understand theories of ethics and business
3. Identify stakeholders and the roles of stakeholders in corporate social responsibility

1
 4. Understand and demonstrates the principles of marketing, human resource, accounting
and environmental management ethics
5. Understand and build the codes of conduct in the organization
*Skills
6. Ability to debate and argue to defend your point of view based on ethical principles
7. Build self-learning and self-study skills
8. Build and enhance problem-solving and decision-making ability in management
situations in general, and in human resource management in particular.
9. Improve human skills such as team work, communication and presentation.
*Attitude
10. Be cooperative and proactive in teamwork

4. READINGS MATERIALS
4.1. Textbook(s)
- Laura P.Hartman, et.al, 2014, Business Ethics- Decision making for integrity and social
responsibility, Mc. Graw Hills.
4.2. Optional reading(s)
- Thomas Donaldson, et al., 2008, Ethical issues in business- A philosophical approach
(8th ), Pearson Prentice Hall.

5. COURSE CONTENT AND SCHEDULE

5.1. Course content
Sessions Chapters Main contents
1 Chapter 1: An introduction to business
ethics 1. What is ethics?
Readings: Textbook 2. Ethical terms in organisational
- Chapter 1: Ethics and Business contexts
2 Chapter 1: An introduction to business 3. Concepts in business ethics
ethics 4. Role of ethics in business
Readings: Textbook 5. Why Ethical Problems Occur in
- Chapter 2: Ethical Decision Making: Business
Personal and Professional Contexts

2
 Chapter 2: Theories of ethics and
business 1.Egoism- Thomas Hobbs & Plato
3 Readings: 2.Utilitarianism- Jeremy Bentham
-Textbook: (chapter 3: Philosophical 2.1 Content of Utilitarian theory
Ethics and Business) 2.2 Objections to utilitarianism
- Reference: (Utilitarianism and business Case: Ford’s Pinto
ethics- Andrew Gustafson, p78-p89)

4 Chapter 2: Theories of ethics and

business 3. Kant’s Ethics
Readings: 3.1 Kant’s objections to Utilitarianism
- Textbook: (chapter 3: Philosophical 3.2 Kant’s conception of freedom
Ethics and Business)
3.3Kant’s conception of morality
- Reference: (A Kantian approach to
3.4 Kant’s conception of imperative
business ethics- Norman E. Bowie, p56-
Case: Motherhood for Sale
p66)
Case: Confidentiality
Chapter 2: Theories of ethics and
5 business 3.5 Social contracts
Readings: 4. Theory of Justice- John Rawls
-Textbook: (chapter 3: Philosophical 4.1 Foundation of justice theory
Ethics and Business)
4.2 A hypothetical contract
-Reference: (Distributive justice- John
4.3 Moral force of actual contract
Rawls, p222-p231)
4.4 The two principles of justice theory

6 Chapter 3: Stakeholders and Corporate 3.1.Stakeholders

Social Responsibility (CSR) 3.1.1 Stakeholder theory development
Readings: Textbook 3.1.2 The stakeholder concept
- Chapter 5: Corporate Social 3.1.3 Stakeholders impact on
Responsibility organization
Case : Aaron Feuerstein and Malden
Mills: How Values Guided Actions in a
Post-Crisis Situation
Case: Milk product contamination

3
 involving the Sanlu Group in 2008
7 Chapter 3: Stakeholders and Corporate 3.2. Corporate Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility (CSR) (CSR)
- Chapter 5: Corporate Social 3.2.1 Definition of CSR
Responsibility 3.2.2 Components of CSR
Case 3: Mini-case CSR
Case 4: The body shop’s CSR/
Starbuck’s CSR strategy
8 Mid-term Test
9 Chapter 4: Ethics and Human Resource 1. Ethical considerations when making
Management HR decisions
Readings: Textbook 2. Ethics and Performance management
- Chapter 6: Ethical Decision Making: 3. Ethics and Human resource
Employer Responsibilities and Employee
development
Rights
- Case: Is Bob special?
- Case: Outward bound training
10 Chapter 5: Ethics and Marketing 1.Fundamentals of marketing ethics
Readings: Textbook 2. The ethical problems in marketing
- Chapter 8: Ethics and Marketing 2.1 Ethics in marketing practices
(Consumer-related issues)
2.2 Ethical considerations when
deciding advertising strategies
2.3 Analysing advertisement using
applied ethics
Case: Ethical dilemmas in fashion
marketing
11 Chapter 6: Ethics and the Environment 1. What is environmental ethics?
Readings: Textbook 2. Applying ethical theories to
- Chapter 9: Business and Environmental environmental issues
Sustainability
3.The relationship between business and
the environment
4.Environmental management
Case 1: Should toxic chemicals be

4
 exported?
Case 2: Ethics in environment
management in X chemical factory
Case 3: Vedan Vietnam (Part 1+2)
12 Chapter 7: Ethics, Accountancy and 1. Ethics and Accounting
Corporate Governance 1.1 Roles of Accounting
Readings: Textbook 1.2 Ethical issues in accounting
-Chapter 10: Ethical Decision Making: 1.3 Role of creative accounting
Corporate Governance, Accounting, and
1.4 Ethical issues in creative accounting
Finance
2. Ethics and Auditing
2.1 Role of auditing
2.2 Conflicts of interests in auditing
process
3. Ethics and Corporate Governance
Case: Enron Corporation
13 Discussion, Q&A, Preparation for A guide to ethical case analysis and
Group Debate organisational research
14 Group Debate
15 Group Debate

6. COURSE ASSESSMENT

Assessment Rate Form of Assessment Time

allowance

Class participation 10% Student attendance During 15

sessions

Mid-term assessment 30%

Group Debate 15% Group assignment/Oral Group 20 minutes
presentation

Mid-term exam 15% Mid-term exam 50 minutes

Final-term exam 60% Multiple choice and essay questions 70 minutes

 Mid-term test (15%)

5
- Content covered: chapter 1, 2, 3

- Type of test: answering short questions and brief explanation, closed books

- Time Allowance: 50 minutes

 Group Assignment (15%)

- Form of group: 2-3 members/ group

- Type of assignment: Oral group presentation, submitting a handout report

- Time: presenting (20 minutes) + Q&A (10 minutes)

Topic: Your group is expected to select one functional perspective that arises ethical issues, then
giving presentation of these issues and your recommendation.

(Guideline: A guide to ethical case analysis and organisational research)

 Final exam (60%)

- Content covered: chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

- Type of test: multiple choice and essay questions, closed books, taking test in class

- Time: 70 minutes (20 minutes for multiple choice and 50 minutes for essay questions)

DEAN OF FACULTY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT