Unit Outline
BMA250
Managerial Social Responsibility
Accelerated Study Period 1, 2024
Mark Wickham
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Mark Wickham
Email: Mark.Wickham@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Sound and effective management and leadership require not only financial and technical expertise but also ethical competency. This unit provides a focus on ethical decision-making, and in particular introduces a series of frameworks for discerning what is right and wrong in important areas of business practice. Ethical competency is the ability to, a) perceive the ethical implications of a situation, b) engage in sound ethical reasoning, and c) develop sustainable problem-solving strategies.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Describe theories and concepts of ethical reasoning
2.
Explain the ethical issues of relevance to a business context
3.
Apply ethical reasoning to make evidence-based management decisions
4.
Communicate complex ethical analyses and judgements using a team-based approach
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
1 x introductory level, or higher, unit
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
BMA350, BAA310
Alterations as a result of student feedback
None
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Lecture (On Campus)
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Workshop
2-hr workshop, fortnightly, commencing in Week 1
2
1 time per fortnight
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Online
Online Class
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Independent Learning
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Online Class
1-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
1
Weekly
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics regularly hosts Masterclasses and Industry Engagement and Employability Events, which students are encouraged to attend. Registration and details will be available via the College of Business and Economics channel on the Uni App and/or via your Unit Coordinator.  
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Team Case Analyses x 2
Week 5
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Live Case Analysis
Week 10
30 %
LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Capstone Assessment
Week 13
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Team Case Analyses x 2
Task Description:
ALL Students are required to form teams of 3 – 5 people for the Team Case Analysis assessment tasks due in Weeks 5 and 7.

Students need to ensure that the team members’ names are included in each of the presentations to ensure the marks are awarded accurately.

Students who are not satisfied with their team or a team member’s performance may change teams between presentation topics – see the Team Agreement Form.
Task Length:
10 – 20 minute presentation
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Define key foundational ethics theory
LO1
2
Identify relevant case facts and case issues
LO2
3
Define the ethical dilemma and punishments
LO2
4
Present a logical application of ethics theory
LO3
5
Communicate a team-based analysis and sustainable resolution(s) to the ethical dilemma
LO4
6
Demonstrate the student’s unique contribution to the team’s case analysis
LO4
 
Assessment Task 2: Live Case Analysis
Task Description:
The purpose of this assessment task to is to develop and assess your ability to conduct independent desk-top research concerning a recent ethical scandal, and apply the ethics analysis process to (i) identify the relevant ethical dilemma, and (ii) apply ethics theory to resolve the ethical dilemma in a sustainable and justifiable manner. See MyLO for the relevant cases and further details and instruction.

This assessment task also aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 8 (i.e., Decent Work and Economic Growth) by developing the students' ability to devise and implement policies to promote sustainable human resource management practices, and Sustainable Development Goal 12 (i.e., Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns) by developing students' ability to develop, implement and monitor sustainable business strategies.
Task Length:
2500 words (maximum) – no 10% leeway
Due Date:
Week 10
 
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify relevant case facts and case issues
LO2
2
Define the ethical dilemma and punishments
LO2
3
Present a logical application of ethics theory
LO3
4
Communicate sustainable resolution(s) of the ethical dilemma
LO3
5
Present a logical academic argument using the required formatting and referencing standards
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Capstone Assessment
Task Description:
The purpose of this assessment task is to assess your ability to apply ethics theory for the purposes of identifying, defining, resolving and/or preventing ethics issues that can arise in an organisational context.

This assessment task aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 8 (i.e., Decent Work and Economic Growth) by developing the students' ability to devise and implement policies to promote sustainable human resource management practices, and Sustainable Development Goal 12 (i.e., Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns) by developing students' ability to develop, implement and monitor sustainable business strategies.

You are required to select FOUR (4) cases from a choice of at least SEVEN (7) alternatives and answer a series of questions for each case. Each essay-style question has a 1000-word limit and is valued at 10 marks.
Task Length:
750 words MAXIMUM for each essay
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify and define the relevant business ethics issue(s) in the case.
LO2
2
Explain the business ethics issue(s) using ethics theory, concepts or processes.
LO1
3
Communicate a logical application of ethics theories in the resolution or prevention of the ethical issue(s).
LO3
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
There is no prescribed text for this unit. See MyLO for access to the required readings in this unit. 
 
Recommended reading materials
Carroll, AB, Brown J & Bocholtz, AK 2017, Business and society: Ethics and stakeholder management, 10th ed., Cengage, Stamford.
Crane, D, Matten, D, Glozer, s & Spence, L 2019, Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization, 5th ed., Oxford University Press, UK. 
De George, RT 2013, Business ethics, International ed., Pearson, UK.
Hartman, LP, DesJardins, JR & McDonald, C 2017, Business ethics: Decision making for personal integrity & social responsibility 4th ed., McGraw-Hill, Sydney.
Kofman, P & Paine C 2018, A matter of trust: The practice of ethics in finance, Melbourne University Press, Victoria.
Shaw, WH, Barry, V, Issa, T, Catley, B & Muntean, D 2016. Moral issues in business, 3rd ed., Cengage, Victoria.
 
Other required resources
NA