HOLMES INSTITUTE
FACULTY OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
HOLMES INSTITUTE
FACULTY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
SUBJECT OUTLINE
HC2121 COMPARATIVE BUSINESS ETHICS
AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Trimester 2 / 2016
Holmes Institute is committed to providing the highest quality education
in a dynamic, student-centred learning environment. Holmes Institute fosters in its
Students rational thought, intellectual integrity and social responsibility.
www.holmes.edu.au
FACULTY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Holmes Institute Faculty of Higher Education offers business courses that combine discipline-based excellence with practical application. The faculty operates on campuses in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Hong Kong.
The faculty offers a Bachelor of Business, a Bachelor of Professional Accounting, Bachelor of Fashion and Business, a Master of Professional Accounting, a Master of Business Administration and a Graduate Diploma in Business.
Details about the members of the faculty can be found on the homepage of the Faculty of Higher Education at www.holmes.edu.au/undergraduate.
HOLMES INSTITUTE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
At Holmes Institute, the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Professional Accounting programs offer domestic and international students the opportunity to study a set of contemporary subjects in the field of business. These subjects prepare students for the challenges in business environments of the 21st century. These programs emphasize the global and cross-cultural dimensions of business. Teaching utilizes a combination of delivery methods and includes critical analysis and case study methods. A combination of exams, case studies and company analysis are used in assessment.
The Bachelors’ programs of Holmes Institute focus on:
• Developing career related capabilities
• Emphasis on business numeracy and literacy
• Managerial proficiency
• The new economy
• Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Social responsibility and ethics
SUBJECT OVERVIEW & RATIONALE
Welcome from the Subject Coordinator
HC2121, Comparative Business Ethics and Social Responsibility is designed to immerse you in organisational ethical decision making processes, issues, organisational control mechanisms, and benefits of developing comprehensive and due diligence ethics programs. Most of the activities of business people, both inside and outside the organisation, have ethical dimensions. Particularly many business functions represent boundary spanning roles between the organisation and outside constituents and as such present challenges in the areas of: honesty and fairness, deceptive advertising, price fixing and restrictive trade practices, product misrepresentation and liability, billing issues. This subject provides students with an understanding of how national and organisational culture shapes thinking about ethics, morals, and social responsibility. Comparative business ethics and social responsibility are discussed and applied to the analysis of social, political, and economic contexts, using a variety of case studies.

SUBJECT OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of this subject, it is expected that student will be able to:
1. Distinguish the difference between personal and business ethics in organisations
2. Compare and contrast diverse approaches to ethical decision making
3. Evaluate the implications of the legal pressure for ethical behaviour in organisations
4. Recognise the key ethical issues related to workplace relations, decision making, product, pricing promotion, and distribution
5. Apply and enhance problem solving skills in solving and managing ethical dilemmas within an organisation.
KNOWLEDGE
Graduates will be able to identify the ethical issues involved in business and workplace and evaluate the legitimate interests of stakeholders (including, suppliers, employees and the wider community) and consider these interests when taking business decisions.
SKILLS
Graduates will be able to analyze complex ethical issues in business and organization and incorporate the standards, ethics and values into their business and personal decision making process, in both the local and global context.
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Graduates will be able to describe and explain major approaches and issues related to business ethics, corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability taking place in both local and global context.
Graduates will be able to demonstrate and apply research skills, showing initiative in consulting the academic literature and integrating fresh ideas into the discourse in preparation for life long learning.
Graduates will demonstrate the capacity to write persuasive reports containing sound recommendations, in preparation for their career in business.
SUBJECT ADMINISTRATION
Awards Duration Core/Elective Subject weight
BBus, BPA 1 semester Core 3 credit points
Mode of delivery On campus
Prerequisites HC1021, HC1031
Workload Students are expected to attend all classes
Delivery 2 hrs of lectures and 1 hr tutorial or equivalent
Independent study 5 hrs

CONTACT DETAILS
Subject Coordinator – Gold Coast Dr Mark Boulle mboulle@holmes.edu.au
Lecturer – Gold Coast Mariela Mott mmott@my.holmes.edu.au
Lecturer – Sydney Seyi Lagoke
Stephen Akpa SLagoke@Holmes.edu.au
sakpa@my.holmes.edu.au
Lecturer – Melbourne Sudhir Lad
Eugene Skewes slad@holmes.edu.au
eskewes@my.holmes.edu.au
Lecturer – Brisbane DrAhsley Orth Aorth@my.holmes.edu.au
Students please note:
Holmes Institute provides each student with a Holmes webmail. Faculty and Administrative staff can only communicate with you using your Holmes Institute mail address. Emails from private and/or business email accounts cannot be used and may not be answered.
CONSULTATION TIMES*
Please check with your lecturer
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Sydney campus By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment
Melbourne campus By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment
Gold Coast campus By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment
Brisbane campus By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment By Appointment

STUDENT ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT TYPE DUE DATE WEIGHT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Class Test WEEK 7 20% 1,2,3 & 4
Assignment 2
Group Case WEEK 10
5PM Friday 23rd Sept 2016 20% 1, 2,3 & 5
Final Examination EXAM WEEK 60% 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
ASSESSMENT POLICY
To be eligible to pass this subject, students must complete all forms of assessment and demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes. All assignments must be submitted electronically using a word processor, uploaded to Blackboard via SafeAssign. You must print and attach the full SafeAssign report with the Holmes Institute Cover Sheet to the printed assignment (hard copy). The assignment cover sheet must include the student/s name, number, subject code and subject name, subject lecturer’s name, assignment due date and time of submission. All hard copies must be submitted to the designated Assignment Submission Facility on Campus during opening hours.
Submission deadlines are strictly enforced and late submission incurs penalties of 5 (five) % of the assessment value per calendar day unless an extension and/or special consideration has been granted by the Subject Coordinator prior to the assessment deadline. Unless an extension and/or special consideration has been granted by the Subject Coordinator prior to the assessment deadline, no assessments are accepted after 14 calendar days of the due date or the end of the trimester for assessments due later in a trimester. Students are requested to familiarize themselves with the Holmes Institute Assessment Policy located on the Blackboard Student Subject: HE-General Study Information (HGEN_HE) General Information Policies and Procedures Holmes Institute Student Assessment Policy v1.pdf.
STANDARD GRADING SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTION
GRADE LETTER RANGE
High Distinction HD 80% and above
Distinction D 70 – 79%
Credit CR 60 – 69%
Pass P 50 – 59%
Fail NN 0-45% (did not meet the standard required according to the learning outcomes in the Subject Guide )
Faculty Pass* FP 46 – 49% (awarded by Board of Examiners)
Supplementary Exam Granted (a temporary grade) NS Supplementary examination granted
Deferred Exam (a temporary grade) ND Officially Deferred examination
Fail NA Student did not submit any work according to the schedule in the Subject Guide
Result Withheld RW Additional assessment and/or work required
Result Withheld WH Outstanding fees or non-return of Holmes Institute materials
* This grade is sometimes referred to as a conceded pass at other institutions
Explanation of Letter Grade

HD Outstanding work which exhibits sophisticated understanding and critical synthesis, analysis and evaluation of the subject matter. While the work utilizes opinions of others, judgements about the value of the subject matter are made and drawn together in an organized whole. Gaps in the subject matter might also be identified and the implications discussed.

D Substantial work of high quality, which demonstrates a clear understanding of the subject matter, in which the relationship between the constituent elements are identified clearly and discussed with some level of critical analysis. The work also applies abstract ideas in concrete situations.

CR Sound and competent work, which demonstrates a reasonable but not complete grasp of the subject matter. The work utilizes recall and paraphrases the work of others concerning the subject matter. Some basic level of critical analysis is evident. Originality in the work is rarely evident.

P Work that demonstrates a satisfactory engagement with the subject matter such that the student is said to have a general understanding of the field. Provides an adequate basis for further study.

NN Did not meet the learning objective of the subject
VIEWING STUDENT GRADES
Results including the final grade can be viewed via the Grade Centre on Blackboard. Results for all assessments are published within two weeks of the due date of the assessment and the final examination. Students who wish to appeal their mark for a specific assessment are advised to follow the procedures outlined at www.holmes.edu.au /undergraduate/appeals.
PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Holmes Institute view any forms of academic misconduct as most serious offences. Academic misconduct in any form during an examination is not tolerated and will be dealt with according to the policies and procedures set out in the Holmes Institute Student Handbook (located on Blackboard in the Student General information Subject: HE-General Study Information (HGEN_HE) General Information Student Handbook 2012 v.2.pdf).
Plagiarism occurs when one uses another person’s ideas or manner of expressing them and passes them off as one’s own work by failing to give appropriate acknowledgement (that is, referencing the source). Any instances of plagiarism will be dealt with promptly).
It is important that student reference their work appropriately. The Faculty of Higher Education at Holmes Institute uses the Harvard style of referencing. A detailed guide to referencing can be found in the Student Handbook and Resource Centres. It is expected that you will be familiar with the Harvard style of referencing.
USE OF BLACKBOARD
Holmes Institute uses Blackboard as its online teaching platform and all students enrolled have access to Blackboard to view and download their lecture material, grades, important announcements on their subjects and discussion rooms for selected subjects.
Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to check Blackboard on a regular basis. It is expected that students will have viewed lecture materials and additional readings before class. All students are advised to familiarize themselves with the use of Blackboard. Guides to Blackboard are available in the Resource Centre on each campus. Should you have difficulties accessing and/or using Blackboard, please contact your lecturer or the Holmes Institute Blackboard Helpdesk on: bbhelpdesk@holmes.edu.au.
USE OF RESOURCE CENTER AND PROQUEST
For most subjects, students are expected to engage in additional research. Textbooks and teaching materials available in the Resource Centre will be of use here. In addition, current students have access to a range of electronic academic journals via Proquest, which is accessible once you log into Blackboard.
Should you require any assistance with the use of Proquest and/or online research, please contact your lecturer and/or the Resource Centre staff on your campus.
STUDY SKILLS & ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Students who have difficulties with their studies and/or specific forms of assessment should contact their lecturer/tutor or Higher Education Coordinator on campus. Holmes Institute also offers regular Academic Support, which is free for any student enrolled. Students with insufficient academic progress are required to attend regular Academic Support sessions. Academic Support sessions are timetabled each trimester. For more details see http://www.holmes.edu.au/undergraduate/Information.

DETAILED INFORMATION ON SUBJECT ASSESSMENTS
Item Due date Weighting Length
Class Test Week 7 20% 1hr
Assignment 2 - Group Case Study
Topic:In groups of 4-5 students each group must read and complete a case study report based on the case New Belgium Brewing: Engaging in Sustainable Social Responsibility found in the 10th edition of the prescribed Business Ethics text book by Ferrell | Fraedrich on page 437.
You are not allowed to submit on your own as an individual. Each group will complete a detailed analysis and present a 3000 word report of your analysis to your lecturer. You must engage in additional research to gather more background information as well as current information on the company and situation.
IMPORTANT:
You must address each of the 3 case questions at the end of the case study. You must submit a soft copy to the Blackboard ‘Final submission link’, wait an hour, then print the blackboard safe assign report and attach it to your hard copy. Sign and attach an assignment cover sheet to your hard copy, then submit the hard copy to the lecturer in class. The percentage matching on safe assign must be no more than 15% with relevant Harvard references included.
Format: Report format, times new roman, 12 point, 1.5 line spacing. The report needs to consist at least the following:
a. Executive Summary: ideally one page but no more than two.
b. Sections 1: Introduction
c. Section 2: Main body of the report consisting the 3 questions at the end of case study
d. Sections 3: Conclusions,
e. Reference List (10-20 references). Week 10
(Friday
5PM, 23rd September)
20%
3,000 words
Final Examination (Closed Book Exam)
Information on the final exam will be provided by the lecture, and on blackboard.
Exam week 60%
SUBJECT RESOURCES
Prescribed Textbook (compulsory)
Ferrell, O., Fraedrich, J. and Ferrell, L (2013), Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases, 10 edn., South-Western, Cengage Learning.
All students will need access to a copy of the text to discuss the weekly cases
Recommended Reading
Caroll, Archie B. and Ann K. Bucholtz (2012) Business and Society. Ethics and Stakeholder Management, 8 edn., Cengage Learning
Recommended Website Link
1. ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
• Business for Social Responsibility
http://www.bsr.org
Resources to help companies implement ethics and social responsibility initiatives
• Corporate Watch
http://www.corpwatch.org
An online magazine and resource center that monitors corporate activity and works to expose corporate wrongdoing
• CSR Europe
http://www.csreurope.org/pages/en/history.html
Supports member companies in integrating corporate social responsibility into the way they do business, every day
• EthicScan
http://www.ethicscan.ca
A Canadian consulting, corporate responsibility research house, and educational resource center
• Ethics and Compliance Officer Association
http://www.theecoa.org/iMIS15/ECOAPublic
Professional association for ethics officers and managers of ethics and compliance programs
• European Business Ethics Network
http://www.eben-net.org
Promotes values-based and ethical aware management to stimulate and facilitate discussion and debate on common ethical problems and dilemmas
• Institute for Business Ethics
http://www.ibe.org.uk/index.html
European organization created to encourage high standards of business behavior based on ethical values
• Green America
http://www.greenamericatoday.org
Provides resources for green consumers and businesses, including Green Pages, an online directory of thousands of socially and environmentally responsible businesses, products, and services
• International Association for Business and Society
http://iabs.net
An organization comprised of scholars and practitioners who are interested in the field of business and societal relationships
• International Business Ethics Institute
http://www.business-ethics.org
Helps organizations and industries implement international ethics programs
• Net Impact
http://www.netimpact.org/
Association of students and professions who are interested in using the power of business to create a better world
• Redefining the Corporation
http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/~stake
Provides direction for implementing balanced perspectives of stakeholder management based on the work of hundreds of researchers
• Social Venture Network
http://www.svn.org
An organization dedicated to supporting socially conscious entrepreneurs and changing global business practices
• Society for Business Ethics
http://www.societyforbusinessethics.org
An international organization of scholars and others interested in business ethics
• Transparency International
http://www.transparency.org/
An organization dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing bribery and corruption worldwide
• World Business Council for Sustainable Development
http://www.wbcsd.org/templates/TemplateWBCSD5/layout.asp?type=p&MenuId=MQ&doOpen=1&ClickMenu=LeftMenu
A CEO-led, global association of over 200 companies dealing with business and sustainable development.
2. Codes of Conduct
• Creating a Code of Ethics for Your Organization by Chris MacDonald, Ph.D.
http://www.ethicsweb.ca/codes
• Bell South Code of Conduct
http://www.ethics.bellsouth.com./OVIA_K00801W.02.pdf
• Boeing Code of Conduct
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/ethics/code_of_conduct.pdf
• Buckman Laboratories Code of Ethics
http://www.buckman.com/about-us/46-fundamentals/255-the-buckman-code-of-ethics
• Nortel Supplier Code of Ethics
http://www.nortel.com/prd/suppliers/collateral/nn118656.pdf
• Texas Instruments Code of Conduct
http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/investor/gov/conduct.shtml
• Texas Instruments Code of Ethics for CEO and Financial Officers
http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/investor/gov/CodeOfEthics.shtml
• Tom's of Maine Statement of Beliefs
http://www.tomsofmaine.com/business-practices/values-beliefs/our-reason-for-being
3. CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
• AT&T/BellSouth
http://www.att.com/gen/landing-pages?pid=7735
• Cisco
http://www.cisco.com/web/about/citizenship/index.html
• ConocoPhillips
http://www.conocophillips.com/en/susdev/pages/index.aspx
• Sony
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/csr/index.html
• Texas Instruments
http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/csr/index.shtml
4. ETHICS CENTERS, FOUNDATIONS, AND SOCIETIES
• Business for Social Responsibility
http://www.bsr.org/index.cfm
• Center for Ethical Business Cultures
http://www.cebcglobal.org/
• Ethics Resource Center
http://www.ethics.org/
• Institute for Global Ethics
http://www.globalethics.org/
• International Business Ethics Institute
http://www.business-ethics.org/index.asp
• International Society of Business, Economics and Ethics
http://www.isbee.org/
• The Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Research
http://www.onlineethics.org/
5. PUBLICATIONS (Journal & Magazines)
• Business Ethics (Online Magazine)
http://business-ethics.com/
• Business Ethics Quarterly
http://secure.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/journal?openform&journal=pdc_beq
• Ethikos
http://ethikospublication.com/
• Journal of Business Ethics
http://www.springer.com/social+sciences/applied+ethics/journal/10551
• Journal of Macromarketing
http://jmk.sagepub.com/
• Teaching Business Ethics
http://www.springer.com/social+sciences/applied+ethics/journal/11234

LECTURE SCHEDULE/SYLLABUS
WEEK DATE COMMENCING LECTURE/
SESSION TOPIC
WEEK 1
18 July 2016
1 Introductions/Structure and Assessment overview
Lecture: The Importance of Business Ethics (Chapter 1)
WEEK 2
25 July 2016
2 Stakeholder Relationships, Social Responsibility, and Corporate Governance (Chapter 2)
WEEK 3
1 Aug 2016
3 Emerging Business Ethics Issues (Chapter 3)
WEEK 4 8 Aug 2016
4 The Institutionalization of Business Ethics (Chapter 4)
WEEK 5 15 Aug 2016
5 Ethical Decision Making (Chapter 5)
WEEK 6 22 Aug 2016
6 Individual Factors: Moral Philosophies and Values (Chapter 6)
WEEK 7
29 Aug 2016
7 Organizational Factors: The Role of Ethical Culture and Relationships (Chapter 7)
WEEK 8
5 Sept 2016
8 Developing an Effective Ethics Program (Chapter 8)
WEEK 9 12 Sept 2016

9 Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs (Chapter 9)
WEEK 10 19 Sept 2016
10 Globalization of Ethical Decision-Making (Chapter 10)
WEEK 11 26 Sept 2016
11 Ethical Leadership (Chapter 11)
WEEK 12 3rd Oct 2016
12 Sustainability: Ethical and Social Responsibility Dimensions (Chapter 12)
Exam Revision Session
* Note: Students must consult the Academic Calendar and Blackboard for the dates of the Study and Examination Week.
STUDENT ASSISTANCE
Studying in higher education presents many experiences and challenges. These might involve academic, personal and/or professional issues. At Holmes Institute, we have a range of people who can help you with various challenges. The following table identifies contact points should you require any support.
SUPPORT REQUIRED WHO TO CONTACT
Information for Current Students Holmes Institute Student Handbook:
Academic Probation / Mentoring Academic Mentors, Associate Dean
Accommodation Holmes Institute Home Stay
Computers, Blackboard, Email IT and Blackboard Help Desk emails: ithelpdesk@holmes.edu.au; bbhelpdesk@holmes.edu.au
Disability Needs Holmes Institute Campus Directors
Employment and Careers Career Development Team
Enrolment Higher Education Coordinator
Exams Higher Education Coordinator
Financial Issues Holmes Institute Campus Directors
Personal Issues National Higher Education Program Manager, Mentoring Team
Proquest Database Librarian on each Campus
Study Skills Holmes Institute Academic Support & Study Skills Team
Visa Issues, COEs etc. Higher Education Coordinator
GLOSSARY OF DIRECTION WORDS FOR ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
Analyse Show the nature of something identifying the essential elements and g how they are related.
Argue Present the case for and/or against a particular proposition.
Compare Identify the characteristics/qualities that resemble each other. Look for similarities but also differences.
Contrast Emphasize differences between things, events, problems, or qualities.
Criticise Express your judgement about the truth of factors or views mentioned. Come to conclusions and discuss the positive points as well as possible limitations.
Define Give clear and concise meanings of an item. Do not provide a detailed explanation but include limits of the definition and how the item defined differs from other items.
Describe Recount, characterise, outline, and relate in sequence.
Discuss Examine, analyse and give reasons for and against. Be comprehensive in your answer and give details, usually to assess how satisfactory something is.
Evaluate Carefully appraise in relation to some standard including advantages, limitations, the costs and benefits as appropriate; attempt to make a judgement.
Examine Investigate critically, appraise a subject or matter in detail.
Explain Clarify, interpret, and elaborate on the material presented. Give reasons for differences of opinion or results, and try to analyse reasons behind it.
Illustrate Use a concrete example, diagram, or figure to explain or clarify a problem or issue.
Indicate Identify and then focus attention so as to clarify.
Justify Prove or give reasons for particular conclusions or decisions.
Outline Present the main features or aspects showing main points and subordinate points. Do not include minor details and emphasize the classification of things.
Review Examine a subject critically, analysing and commenting on important or controversial statements.
State Present the main points in a brief and clear sequence. Do not give specific details or examples.
Summarise Give the main points or facts in a condensed, concise form.
(Source: Adapted from Monash University, http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/quickrefs/29-direction-words.xml, accessed 14 February 2013)
This subject outline was prepared by the Course Development Team for the Undergraduate Programs, Faculty of Higher Education, Holmes Institute. It was correct at the time of publication. Change to the Subject Outline may occur at any time. However, the Faculty of Higher Education endeavours to inform the students accordingly. This publication is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism, or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process or placed in computer memory without written permission. Enquires should be made to Holmes Institute Faculty of Higher Education. © Copyright 2015.