MNGT 3711: Business Ethics and Society
Students explore the complex business environment and the relationships organizations have with civil society, the natural environment, and each other. Through this examination, students learn that ethical decision-making is critical to the successful management of any organization. Topics include primary and secondary stakeholder groups; the impacts of various organizational-stakeholder relationships; the varying levels of responsibility of stakeholder groups; the biases, influences, and reasons that drive stakeholder perspectives; changing economic, political, social, and cultural forces and their influences on business and society; the continuum of socially responsible management and ethical business practices; and the challenges and opportunities that influence where an organization fits on the continuum.
Learning outcomes
- Describe the various primary and secondary stakeholder groups.
- Analyze impacts of various organizational-stakeholder relationships.
- Analyze organizational issues from multiple stakeholder perspectives.
- Discuss the varying levels of responsibility of stakeholder groups.
- Identify biases, influences, and reasons driving stakeholder perspectives.
- Discuss the changing economic, political, social, and cultural forces and their influences on business and society.
- Explain the continuum of socially responsible management and ethical business practices and describe the challenges and opportunities that may influence where an organization fits on the continuum.
Course topics
- Unit 1: Business-Government-Society Relationship: What is the purpose of business?
- Unit 2: Government: Is regulation enough
- Unit 3: Business-Society Relationship: The Social Contract
- Unit 4: Called to Ethical Leadership
- Unit 5: Managing Ethics: Managing Organizational Identity and Compliance
- Unit 6: Institutionalizing Ethics and Brand Management
- Unit 7: Triple Bottom Line: Profit—(Un)Ethical Ownership
- Unit 8: Triple Bottom Line: Organizations and People Issues
- Unit 9: Planet—Organizations and the Natural Environment
- Unit 10: Responsibility and the Supply Chain
- Unit 11: Community Impact
- Unit 12: Organizations and Technology
Required text and materials
The following textbook is required for this course:
- Lawrence, A. T., Weber, J., Hill V. D., & Wasieleski, D. M., (2023). (International Student Edition) Business & Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy. (17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Type: Textbook. ISBN-13: 9781265079246
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
To successfully complete the course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Exam.
| Assignment 1: Company Issue Analysis | 20% |
| Assignment 2: Ethical Dilemma Analysis | 20% |
| Assignment 3: Company Sustainability Initiative Analysis | 20% |
| Mandatory Final Exam | 40% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
