BUS3017 : Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics
Offered for Year: 2018/19
Module Leader(s): Dr Laurence Vigneau
Lecturer: Professor Iain Munro
Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value:
10
Semester 2 Credit Value:
10
ECTS Credits:
10.0
Aims
The overall objective of this module is to provide an in-depth ethical reflection on the relationship between business and society as well as an analysis of the management of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices within corporations. The module explores the main theoretical perspectives on business ethics and CSR. It also addresses the debates around the changing role of corporations in relation to sustainability challenges (such as climate change and human rights).
Outline Of Syllabus
The topics covered in this module include:
- Introduction to Business Ethics and CSR
- Theoretical perspectives on Ethics and CSR
- Actors, pressures and issues in Ethics and CSR
- CSR management & communication
- The ethics of branding
- CSR and globalisation
- Bureaucracy and business ethics
- Critics of CSR
- Future perspectives on Ethics and CSR
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
Category
Activity
Number
Length
Student Hours
Comment
Guided Independent Study
Assessment preparation and completion
1
62:00
62:00
N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities
Lecture
15
2:00
30:00
N/A
Guided Independent Study
Directed research and reading
1
50:00
50:00
N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities
Small group teaching
4
1:00
4:00
N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities
Drop-in/surgery
4
1:00
4:00
N/A
Guided Independent Study
Independent study
1
50:00
50:00
N/A
Total
200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code
Title
BUS3020
Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics for Erasmus and SA S2 students (NUBS only)
BUS3023
Business Ethics for Erasmus and SA S1 students (NUBS only)
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures will introduce the theories and approaches related to the relationship between business and society as well as the management of CSR practices. Case studies will be discussed in seminars to develop insight on current issues involved in CSR management. Drop-in sessions will be used to discuss the exam and essay preparation.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
Description
Length
Semester
When Set
Percentage
Comment
Written Examination
90
2
A
50
N/A
Exam Pairings
Module Code
Module Title
Semester
Comment
2
N/A
Other Assessment
Description
Semester
When Set
Percentage
Comment
Essay
1
M
50
Individual assignment of 2000 words
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The essay will enable an in-depth investigation of one aspect of CSR and assess the students’ ability to relate theoretical concepts to a practical example. The examination will assess the students’ overall understanding of the module content and their ability to critically analyse key issues in CSR.
