MGMT 321
Organisations and Ethics
Organisations, leaders, and employees can face complex ethical decisions in the workplace. This course critically examines the role of ethics in developing successful organisations (and successful individuals). We explore how to identify ethical dilemmas, different approaches for resolving them, and debate competing ethical perspectives using real world case studies. Students will come away with a deeper understanding of the complexity and and causes of ethical dilemmas, unethical behaviour, and and tools for guiding their own and others' ethical behaviour at work.
About this course
The course is very discussion-based and so benefits from in-person attendance whenever possible. In the first part of the course, we introduce key concepts, debate the relationship between business and ethics, and explore different understandings of what is ethical. In the second part of the course we use recent, real-world cases to test our thinking. As a class, we examine, discuss, and debate which course of action is ethical and why, aiming to draw out the complexities and nuance of organisational ethical dilemmas. In the last part of the course, we draw these ideas together with a deeper examination of the reasons why even good people might succumb to unethical actions and what organisations can do to help create a more ethical world.
Course learning objectives
Students who pass this course should be able to:
1. Identify and analyse reciprocal relationships between organisational behaviour and wider social issues
2. Identify, debate and apply ethical concepts in organisational behaviour
3. Identify, describe and defend their own ethical frameworks
4. Engage creatively with social and ethical aspects of organisational behaviour and generate a range of options for addressing them.
How this course is taught
In 2025 this course is delivered on campus.
Lectures are in person, on campus. Lectures are recorded and have no restrictions on recording availability. Lecture recordings are intended as a useful supplement to learning but not as a full substitute for lecture attendance.
Tutorials have both on campus and Zoom options.
The lectures will not be live streamed
The course assessment does not require on-campus attendance.
Assessment
Assignment One: Ethics Presentation Mark: 25%
Assignment Two: Ethical Case Analysis Mark: 40%
Assignment Three: Individual Reflection Mark: 35%