Program Overview

MGT230 Ethics, Sustainability and Culture

Subject Description

In this subject, students explore the nature of ethics. Major ethical theories are studied and applied to a range of business issues, including corporate social responsibility, ethics in the workplace, and discrimination. The subject includes a study of organisational and diverse societal cultures, and an examination of Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary realities of Indigenous People in Australia. Environmental sustainability is considered from ethical, business, and cultural perspectives.

Availability

• Session 1 (30)
  • On Campus: Albury-Wodonga Campus, Bathurst Campus, Wagga Wagga Campus
  • Online: Wagga Wagga Campus
• Session 2 (60)
  • On Campus: Albury-Wodonga Campus, Bathurst Campus, Port Macquarie Campus, Wagga Wagga Campus
  • Online: Wagga Wagga Campus
• Session 3 (90)
  • Online: Bathurst Campus

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Accounting and Finance

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to outline ethical theories in western moral philosophy and apply them in organisational contexts
• be able to solve real-life ethical dilemmas
• be able to describe the issues and debates associated with the concept of corporate social responsibility
• be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Indigenous Australian relationships to land
• be able to discuss the responsibility that business has to conduct its operations in a manner that does not threaten environmental sustainability
• be able to describe what constitutes a just society, and outline opposing arguments about justice and economic distribution
• be able to demonstrate knowledge of the historical policies and practices that resulted in the marginalisation of Indigenous Australian peoples and critically discuss the links between past and present Indigenous socio-economic disadvantage
• be able to apply ethical theories to assess how successive Australian governments have treated Indigenous Australians, and discuss how an understanding of ethics can assist in creating a more equitable society
• be able to critically reflect on their role as business professionals and how their future actions as business professionals can affect society in positive and negative ways

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• the nature of ethics, ethical theories in western moral philosophy, and their use in dealing with ethical dilemmas in organisational contexts with particular applications to Indigenous Australian contexts
• issues and debates associated with the concept of corporate social responsibility and the impact this may have on Indigenous Australians
• the application of ethical principles within organisations and how these principles may affect Indigenous Australians
• ethical issues in the workplace and working with Indigenous Australians
• the application of ethical theories to cultural issues affecting Indigenous Australians and how these can be applied to working with other cultures
• environmental and economic sustainability and Indigenous Australian relationship to land
• historical policies and practices which have resulted in the socio-economic marginalisation of Indigenous Australians
• explore Australian human rights obligations including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of intervention in an international arena
• the role of business professionals in promoting social justice and the empowerment of marginalised groups in society, including Indigenous Australians