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Unit of study_

IBUS3104: Ethical International Business Decisions

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

In order to succeed in international business, both corporations and individuals need broad decision-making abilities. Business decision-making tools yield more coherent and justifiable results when used with an understanding of the ethical, social and environmental aspects of the process. This applies to various situations in the international business setting including business relations with government, customers, employees, and NGOs. This unit is designed to look at these non-financial elements in the decisions made within the international business context. Following the completion of this unit, students will have enhanced skills and knowledge relevant to the understanding of ethical issues and ethical decisions making in international business organizations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code IBUS3104
Academic unit International Business
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
Completion of at least 48 credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Julian James, julian.james@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Participation
TBA
10% - Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Take-home exam (short release) Type D
30% Formal exam period 3 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Reflection 1
Written task
10% Week 05 600 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Group project
Written task
30% Week 08 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Reflection 2
Written task
20% Week 12 1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Group project: Groups will work on a recent news topic that is related to international business and poses ethical challenges specifically relevant to the international business setting. Groups are to identify these challenges, analyse the environment they occur in as well as the motivations that may have caused them, and provide justified, well-reasoned and realistic suggestions for implementing improved business practices of a higher ethical standard.
  • Reflections 1&2: Critical statements that integrate student’s reflections on the course (classes, readings, interactions with other students and associated experiences). The critical reflections should help students make sense of the unit of study overall by integrating formal learning with lived ‘experiential’ learning and knowledge. they aim to utilise the richness of lived experience and apply it to learning on ethical decision making in the international business context.
  • Final exam: The exam is designed to test students’ understanding and digestion of key concepts and processes from the course materials including lectures, readings and cases.
  • Participation: An ongoing assessment of student participation and contributions.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit introduction Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 02 International Business Ethics issues - an overview Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 Schools of ethics 1: Consequentialism Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 04 Schools of ethics 2: Deontology Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 Schools of ethics 3: Virtue ethics Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 06 Workshop Workshop (3 hr)  
Week 07 Social Contract Theories Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 08 Rights-based approaches Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 09 Ethical decision-making in complex environments Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 10 Ethics Management Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 11 Ethics of Technology and Innovation Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 Environmental Ethics Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 13 Review - Embedding a culture of integrity Seminar (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

The following reference books are available in the library if you require or wish further theoretical support: 

  • Jones, C., Parker, M., and Bos, R. (2005). For business ethics. London: Routledge.
  • Beauchamp, T., Bowie, N., and Arnold, D. (2009). Ethical theory and business (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
  • Frédérick, R. (2002). A companion to business ethics. Oxford: Blackwell.

Required and recommended unit readings are available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. identify ethical dilemmas in strategic decision making in complex international business systems
  • LO2. effectively use a broad range of analytical, critical, creative and ethical thinking skills to make decisions when confronted with ethical dilemmas and theorise towards reasoned solutions to ethical questions in international business settings
  • LO3. theorise towards reasoned solutions to ethical questions in international business settings
  • LO4. clearly communicate ethical reasoning and decision-making both orally and in writing to a to a cross-cultural audience at a professional standard
  • LO5. constructively discuss ethical dilemmas with people from diverse backgrounds demonstrating inclusiveness, open-mindedness and integrity
  • LO6. work collaboratively within small teams and manage the dynamics within these teams.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.