Course Title: Ethics and Governance

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Ethics and Governance

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
BUSM4296	City Campus	Undergraduate	650T TAFE Business	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2013, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013

Course Coordinator: Warren Staples

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5964

Course Coordinator Email:warren.staples@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

History of Management Thought

Course Description

Ethical issues in management and the development of systems of corporate governance are pressing concerns in modern business. This course will develop your understanding of the ethics of business practice and the importance of good governance in contemporary commercial and organisational settings. You will study key theoretical and practical approaches to business ethics and corporate governance. Case studies will also be investigated in the light of ethics and governance theory as well as through consideration of both international and local ethical understandings and corporate governance codes.

If you are undertaking this course in Melbourne from semester 2, 2012 onwards your teacher will advise you if you require access to a computer for the course. It is recommended that you have access to a mobile computing device to allow greater flexibility in terms of where you can work on campus outside class times.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Capabilities
This course will help you develop your ability to:
• contribute to decisions within diverse political, economic, environmental and social contexts
• work collaboratively
• pursue continuous personal development of knowledge and skills related to a management career
• communicate ideas, intentions and outcomes clearly to a variety of audiences
• engage with business activities in a disciplined and ethical manner
• contribute to the management of business in contemporary organisations

Learning outcomes
At the conclusion of the course you should be able to demonstrate:
• Knowledge and understanding of ethical issues as they apply to business conduct
• Knowledge and understanding of various corporate governance theories that underlie the development of corporate governance
• Awareness of the impact of the key factors and mechanisms on corporate governance
• An ability to apply critical approach to the analysis of ethical and governance issues in business
• An ability to access the potential impact of good corporate governance on corporate performance
• Awareness of the benefits that good ethics and governance may bring to the globalised economy

Overview of Learning Activities

The course comprises lectures and/or tutorials and independent study. The structure of the teaching and learning environment will promote critical engagement. You will be introduced to a range of theories and approaches, and their application in different situations.

Overview of Learning Resources

Prescribed readings from a textbook and other resources.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment in this course is designed to enable you to develop knowledge and skills which will be useful as you continue your studies and in your employment. For example, written assignments enable you to learn, demonstrate and improve your ability to synthesise and present ideas in a coherent and concise manner; examinations enable you to develop, demonstrate and improve your ability to work under pressure, communicate ideas concisely within a fixed time frame, and reinforce the knowledge learned in this course. Assessment in this course will also allow you to develop, demonstrate and improve your skills in logical thinking, coherent communication and criticial analysis.