Outline

Overview

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. Upon 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 organisations.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	IBUS6005
Academic unit	International Business
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jacqueline Mees-Buss, jacqueline.mees-buss@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home short release)	Final exam Written exam	30%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Team case studies Case study	10%	Multiple weeks	2 x 3 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Class participation Class attendance and participation in discussions, and cases	10%	Ongoing	Ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reflective journal 1 Reflection	10%	Week 05	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	News item analysis Opinion piece	30%	Week 09	1000 - 1200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reflective journal 2 Reflection	10%	Week 12	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Team case studies: In groups of 5, students will be presented with cases to be solved in a workshop session during the class or tutorial. Each case will have a set of questions with regards to the ethical challenges presented in the case. Teams will need to upload their responses at the end of the class. Cases in week 4 and week 7 will be marked (these weeks may be subject to change).
Class participation: Ethical reasoning and decision-making needs practice in a diverse environment. Therefore, participation in class-discussions, quizzes, games, cases and polls is a critical part of this unit. Students are expected to attend and participate in a minimum of 10 out of 12 classes.
Reflective journals 1 and 2: The reflective journal is a self-reflection on what students have learned during the semester; how their knowledge and understanding of moral reasoning in general and in international business in particular has evolved; which particlar theories and/or cases have impacted them the most and why; and what they see as the greatest moral challenges facing international business in the future and therefore what they see as the most valuable lesson(s) they will take into the future
News item analysis: Based on a newspaper article provided in class, students will analyse the issues raised in the article. The article will be related to an actual topic of debate affecting the international business community. Students are to research the issue and write a short opinion piece on the ethical issue(s) presented in (or related to issues raised in) the article. Students are required to address the issue(s) from multiple perspectives to present a convincing point-of-view.
Final exam: The final exam is designed to test the students' in-depth understanding and ability to apply all unit content to real cases. It will be an open book exam consisting of 10 essay-questions based on two or three short case studies.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Standard late penalties apply

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to business ethics: absolutism, relativism and pluralism	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Schools of thought: consequentialism	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Schools of thought: deontology	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Schools of thought: virtue ethics	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Situational analysis and stakeholder theory	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Social justice and corporate social responsibility	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Distributive justice: free or fair trade?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Responsible international marketing in the context of differing social contracts	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Ethics in international finance and accounting: truth, wealth, growth and taxation	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Ethics in human resource (HR) management: the good or the fair workplace?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Ethics in technology and innovation	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Exit, voice or loyalty? Contributing to a 'better future'	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance and participation: An important part of studying ethics is to discuss complex cases in a group of people with differing opinions. Participation in in-class case studies represents 10% of the total mark. Students are expected to attend and participate in all lectures and tutorials.
Lecture recordings: Although some lectures may be recorded the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded.

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

There is no prescribed textbook for this unit. A link to the weekly readings can be found on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. identify and analyse ethical dilemmas in international business contexts
LO2. use effectively a broad range of analytical, critical, creative, and system-thinking skills to make moral decisions when confronted with ethical dilemmas
LO3. theorise towards reasoned solutions to ethical questions in international business settings
LO4. communicate a point of view on ethical dilemmas both orally and in writing to a professional standard
LO5. work collaboratively within small teams and manage the dynamics within these teams
LO6. discuss constructively ethical dilemmas with people from diverse backgrounds with inclusiveness, open-mindedness, and integrity.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

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

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Business School Policies

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

IBUS6005: Ethical International Business Decisions

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal evening] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect