Business ethics WSE-ZP-EB
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of business ethics, taking a multi-level perspective that examines the micro, meso, and macro aspects of the field. Students will gain an understanding of the interdependence between these levels and recognize that businesses operate within a broader cultural, institutional, and policy framework.
The course takes into account the social and cultural embeddedness of the economy, emphasizing the impact of global challenges and sustainability issues. A common good approach is adopted, focusing on developing ethical rules and norms that promote justice and the well-being of groups and communities.
To provide a global perspective, the course draws on examples from diverse cultures and languages, with a particular focus on the European Union.
Key ethical concepts such as values, virtues, norms, and conscience are examined, along with different philosophical traditions in business ethics and their practical application to economic problems. The course covers consequentialism, deontology, value ethics, virtue ethics, integrative ethics, and governance ethics.
Ethical challenges faced by various groups, types of enterprises, and industries at the micro, meso, and macro levels are addressed. In addition, the course delves into global and governmental ethical challenges, including climate change, environmental responsibility, modern slavery, development in low-income countries, redistribution, and equality. Students will analyze the implications of these challenges for businesses.
(in Polish) Dyscyplina naukowa, do której odnoszą się efekty uczenia się
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Learning Outcomes Acquired by Students Upon Completion of the Course
Knowledge
Understanding the fundamentals of business ethics, including key theoretical approaches and their practical applications.
Familiarity with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, as well as their impact on corporate strategies.
Awareness of market, social, governmental, and environmental factors that shape ethical decision-making in business.
Ability to analyze corporate moral responsibility and construct arguments for and against viewing businesses as moral actors.
Understanding the drivers of ethical business behavior and the risks associated with greenwashing, technowashing, ethical manipulation, and misleading CSR practices.
Ability to categorize different levels of business ethics and recognize their interconnections.
Knowledge of ethical challenges in hiring, compensation, workplace safety, employee well-being, layoffs, and retirement processes.
Understanding corporate ethical responsibilities toward different stakeholders (consumers, investors, competitors, suppliers, local communities, and the environment) and how these responsibilities can be implemented.
Principles of developing corporate ethical codes, evaluating their effectiveness, and integrating ethical standards into organizational practices.
Familiarity with key aspects of ethical business management, including the role of regulations and international standards.
Awareness of ethical dilemmas arising from globalization, technological advancements, and sustainability challenges.
Skills
Analyzing and assessing business decisions from an ethical perspective.
Identifying, interpreting, and classifying ethical arguments according to different theoretical approaches.
Evaluating external influences on corporate ethics, including the roles of consumers, investors, governments, and social organizations in shaping business policies.
Critically assessing CSR, ESG, and sustainability initiatives—analyzing case studies, evaluating the credibility of CSR reports, and comparing ethical standards across organizations.
Identifying ethical risks in human resource management, particularly in recruitment, compensation, and termination practices.
Developing recommendations for implementing ethical business practices.
Creating and assessing corporate ethical codes, evaluating their effectiveness, and proposing improvements.
Engaging in Oxford-style debates and presenting well-reasoned ethical arguments in a business context.
Social Competencies
Developing the ability to make ethical and socially responsible decisions.
Recognizing manipulative practices and critically assessing the real impact of businesses on society and the environment.
Working effectively in teams to analyze real-world ethical challenges.
Strengthening awareness and sensitivity to ethical issues in markets, globalization, technology, and environmental policy.
Assessment criteria
Test
20 multiple-choice questions with several answer options
10 short open-ended questions
To pass the test, students must achieve a minimum score of 60%
Bibliography
• Lütge, Christoph, Matthias Uhl, and Oxford University Press Wydawca. Business Ethics : An Economically Informed Perspective. First edition published in 2021. Impression: 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021.
• Sroka, Włodzimierz. Etyka w Biznesie: Wyniki Badań Polskich Przedsiębiorstw., 2016.
• Wojciech Gasparski. Biznes, Etyka, Odpowiedzialność. 1st ed. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, 2012.
• Cullen, John G. Business, Ethics and Society: Key Concepts, Current Debates and Contemporary Innovations. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2022.
• Weiss, Joseph W. Business Ethics: A Stakeholder and Issues Management Approach. Seventh Edition. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler, 2022.
• Becker, Christian U. Business Ethics: Methods, Theories, and Application. Second edition. London ; New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.
• Meinhold, Roman. Business Ethics and Sustainability. Abingdon, Oxon New York, NY: Routledge, 2022.
• Savur, Sunil. Business Ethics: The Sustainable & Responsible Way. London Thousand Oaks, California New Delhi Singapore: Sage, 2024.
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Term 2022/23_L:
1. Shaw, W. H. (2020). Business Ethics: A Textbook with Cases (8th Edition). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. |
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: