Business Ethics (Level 8)

Learners will be introduced to the interplay between ethics and the world of business. A comparative analysis will be undertaken in class between different businesses and their understanding of ethics.

The interaction between business ethics and law will be discussed. Business has the potential to provide a major contribution to our societies, in terms of producing the products and services we want, providing employment, paying taxes etc. How or indeed whether, this contribution is made raises significant ethical issues that go to the heart of the social role of business in contemporary society.

The concept of globalisation will be explored, and the interaction globalisation has with business ethics. Learners will evaluate cultural issues, legal issues and accountability issues in respect of multinational organisations. Learners will be introduced to the concept of a corporation and moral responsibilities will be discussed; specifically, learners will consider Milton Friedman’s questioning of the social role of corporations.

Learners will consider the various ethical and legal responsibilities officers of an organisation owe to their fellow directors, shareholders and society at large. Learners will be introduced to the key provisions of the Companies Act 2014 and the Directors’ Duties specified therein. This topic will also consider the duties owed to shareholders arising under the Companies Act.

Ethical theory does not only extend to society at large; additionally, there are ethical responsibilities owing to all levels of the business. The concept of corporate governance will be introduced to learners with a specific emphasis of the role of the board, senior management and management in promoting good corporate governance.

This topic considers the responsibilities that lie with organisations to society at large. Corporate social responsibility refers to the economic, legal, ethical and discretionary expectations that society has of organisations. Learners will discuss the social cost of business activity.

Learners will be introduced to ethical issues arising in respect of marketing. Specifically, learners will discuss some of the marketing campaigns advanced by some businesses both domestically and internationally and be able to discuss the ethical issues marketing can present.

• Fairtrade ethics
  • During this case study, learners will consider the impact of fair trade and how fair trade ethics fits into the normative concept of business ethics and the interrelationship with corporate social responsibility.
• Environmental ethics
  • During this case study learners will be introduced to sustainability issues and will specifically look to environmentally ethical corporations and socially ethical companies.