1.

Name of Course
Business & Society

2.

Course Code
BBDM2013

3.

Name(s) of academic staff

Cheng Yuen Inn

4.

Rationale for the inclusion of the course in the programme

This course will enable students to appreciate the importance and necessity for businesses to
engage with its stakeholders for mutually-rewarding relationships. In view of the competitive
environment, these relationships have become increasingly important to be considered in the
overall business strategic planning.
Objectives:
1. To help students understand the interrelation between business, government and society.
2. To provide students with management models on how the various components of society
interact in influencing business organisations to achieve business goals and fulfil social
needs.
3. To provide students with knowledge on how moral standards influence ethical judgement.

5.

Semester and Year offered

Semester 5

6.

Total Student Learning Time (SLT)

Total Student Learning Face to Face
Time (SLT)
L=Lecture
T=Tutorial
P=Practical
O=Others

7.

Credit Value
3

8.

Prerequisite (if any)

Nil

9.

Learning outcomes

Total Guided and

Independent
Learning

28

21

66

Total SLT

120

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. Examine the relationships between an organisation and its multiple stakeholders in terms of
economic, legal, social and ethical responsibilities in the Malaysian and global contexts.
(C3, P2, TS)
2. Discuss the types, costs and benefits of governmental regulations of business and the
challenges of competitions policies across national borders. (C5, P2, A4, CTPS, TS)
3. Discuss the challenges and opportunities of the ecological, natural resource and
technological issues; and the need for business organisations to adopt a more sustainable

business model. (C5, P2, A4, CTPS, TS)

10.

Transferable Skills
Skills and how they are developed and assessed, Project and practical experience and
Internship
Transferable Skills
Critical thinking and
problem solving skills
Teamwork skills
Ethical, professional, and
moral skills

11.

How they are developed

Developed through lectures,
tutorials, coursework and
case studies
Developed through
tutorials, coursework and
case studies
Developed through lectures,
tutorials, coursework and
case studies

Assessment
Assessed through tutorials,
coursework and
examination
Assessed through tutorials,
coursework and
examination
Assessed through tutorials,
coursework and
examination

Teaching-learning and assessment strategy

Teaching-learning strategy
Lectures, tutorials, group discussions, individual/group presentation, case study, e-learning,
independent research, independent reading, etc.
Assessment strategy
Coursework and Examination

12.

Synopsis
As the world economy becomes more integrated, the relationship between business and society
becomes ever more complex. Students will be made aware that with the globalisation of
business, corporate governance, and host of new technologies, ecological and environmental
problems, new governmental regulations and international agreements have significantly altered
the strategic direction of businesses.

13.

Mode of Delivery
Lecture and Tutorial

14.

Assessment Methods and Types

Coursework (40%)
Mid-term test
Assignment
Examination (60%)

15.

Mapping of the course to the Programme Aims

PA1, PA2

16.

Mapping of the course to the Programme Learning Outcomes

LO4, LO5, LO6

17.

Content outline of the course and the SLT per topic

Week
Topic
L

Student Learning Time (SLT)

T
P
O
Total Guided and
Independent Learning

The Corporation in Society

The Corporation and Its Stakeholders
Business-Government-Society: An
interdependent system
The stakeholder concept
Forces shaping business & society
relations

1.5

Business and the Social

Environment
Corporate Social Responsibility
The meaning of corporate social
responsibility
How CSR began
The CSR debate
Balancing economic, legal and
social responsibility

1.5

Business and Ethical Environment

Ethics and Ethical Reasoning
The meaning of ethics
Why ethical problems occur in
business
The core elements of ethical
character

1.5

Business and Ethical Environment

(contd)
Analysing ethical problems in
business
Whistle-blowing
Business and Government in a
Global Society
Business Government Relations
Strategic management of
government relations
Critical problems
Responsible business politics

1.5

1.5

Antitrust, Mergers, and

1.5

Competition Policy
The dilemma of corporate power
Antitrust regulation
Corporate mergers
Global competition and antitrust
policy
7

The Corporation and the Natural

Environment
Managing Environment Issues
Role of government
Cost and benefits of environment
regulations
The greening of management

1.5

Business and Technological Change

Technology: A Global EconomicSocial Force
The explosive force of technology
The emergence of high-technology
business
Technology in our daily lives
Special issue: The digital divide

1.5

Managing Technological
Challenges
Business protecting privacy
The management of information
security
The management of adult-oriented
information
Protecting intellectual property
Managing scientific breakthroughs

1.5

10

Building Relationships with

Stockholders
Stockholders Rights And Corporate
Governance
Stockholders
Corporate governance
Current trend in corporate
governance
Government protection in
stockholder interest
Stockholders and the corporation

1.5

11

Consumer Protection

1.5

 Pressure promotes consumer

interest
How government protects
consumers
Positive business responses to
consumerism

18.

12

The Community and the

Corporation
Community relations
Strengthening the community
Corporate giving
The role of volunteerism

1.5

13

Employees and the Corporation

The employment relationship
Workplace rights
Privacy in workplace
Whistle-blowing

1.5

14

Business and the Media

The media industry
Special issue: Government
regulation of tobacco advertising
How businesses influence their
public image

Assessment:
Coursework
Examination
Total
Total
Total SLT
Subject Credit
Main references supporting the course
1.

4
1.5

28

21

2
3
5
5

5
5
56
66
120
3

Lawrence, AT & Weber, J 2011, Business and society: Stakeholders, ethics, public policy,
13th edn, McGraw-Hill.

Additional references supporting the course

19.

1.

Steiner, GA & Steiner, JF 2012, Business, government and society, 13th edn, McGraw-Hill.

2.

Carroll, AB 2012, Business and society, 8th edn, South Western/Cengage Learning.

Other additional information

Nil