LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences

MGMT242BusinessEthicsandCorporateSocialResponsibility
FallSemester2015

Instructor
RoomNo.
OfficeHours
Email
Telephone
Secretary/TA
TAOfficeHours
CourseURL(ifany)

RaziAllahLone
SDSB440
TBA
razi.lone@lums.edu.pk
111115867Ext:5014
TBA
TBA
suraj.lums.edu.pk

COURSEBASICS
CreditHours
Lecture(s)
Recitation/Lab(perweek)
Tutorial(perweek)

3
NbrofLec(s)PerWeek
NbrofLec(s)PerWeek
NbrofLec(s)PerWeek

Duration
Duration
Duration

1h15m

COURSEDISTRIBUTION
Core
Elective
OpenforStudentCategory
ClosedforStudentCategory

Core
Freshman,Sophomore,Juniors,andSeniors

COURSEDESCRIPTION
This course provides an introduction to ethics and their application in the arena of business. It begins with an exploration of
theoretical concepts and related contestations in the area of moral philosophy. Thereafter, descriptions and analyses of the
problemsandchallengesposedbyethicaldilemmasinrealworldsituations,usingthelensoftheconceptualframeworks,forma
majorpartofthiscourse.Tothisend,issuesonthelevelsoftheindividual,theorganizationandthesystem/societywillbetaken
upastheyrelatetotheinternalandexternalstakeholdersofbusinesses;furthermore,debatesaroundtheideaofcorporatesocial
responsibility and its use as a policy will be one of our focuses. Since the underpinnings of moral philosophy explored at the
beginningofthecourseareprimarilyareligious,andsinceabroadperspectiveonethicsandmoralityshouldincludetheroleof
religion and culture, this becomes our point of departure for discussing the Islamic ethical philosophy and prescriptions for
business.

Thiscourseisdividedintothefollowingsixmodules:

Module1:FoundationsofEthics:IntroductiontoMoralPhilosophy
Module2:TheBusinessSystem:GovernmentandMarkets
Module3:EthicalIssuesinBusinessSettings:ExternalStakeholderIssues
Module4:EthicalIssuesinBusinessSettings:InternalStakeholderIssues
Module5:EthicsandCorporateSocialResponsibility
Module6:IslamicBusinessEthics

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences
COURSEPREREQUISITE(S)

None

COURSELEARNINGOBJECTIVES

Todevelopanindepthcomprehensionofthethreepillarsofthediscipline,viz.moralphilosophy,ethicalissuesand
dilemmas,andcorporatesocialresponsibility

Tostrengthenstudentsabilitytoanticipate,analyze,evaluate,andappropriatelyrespondtosomeofthecriticalethical
challenges,whichmanagersconfrontinthebusinessworld

ToenablestudentstoappreciatetheIslamicprinciplesofethicalconductinbusiness

UNDERGRADUATEPROGRAMLEARNINGGOALS&OBJECTIVES

GeneralLearningGoals&Objectives
Goal1EffectiveWrittenandOralCommunication
Objective:Studentswilldemonstrateeffectivewritingandoralcommunicationskills
Goal2EthicalUnderstandingandReasoning
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletoidentifyandaddressethicalissuesinanorganizational
context.
Goal3AnalyticalThinkingandProblemSolvingSkills
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletoidentifykeyproblemsandgenerateviablesolutions.
Goal4ApplicationofInformationTechnology
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletousecurrenttechnologiesinbusinessandmanagement
context.
Goal5TeamworkinDiverseandMulticulturalEnvironments
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletoworkeffectivelyindiverseenvironments.
Goal6UnderstandingOrganizationalEcosystems
Objective:StudentswilldemonstratethattheyhaveanunderstandingofEconomic,Political,Regulatory,Legal,
Technological,andSocialenvironmentoforganizations.

MajorSpecificLearningGoals&Objectives
Goal7(a)ProgramSpecificKnowledgeandUnderstanding
Objective:Studentswilldemonstrateknowledgeofkeybusinessdisciplinesandhowtheyinteractincluding
applicationtorealworldsituations.
Goal7(b)Understandingthesciencebehindthedecisionmakingprocess(forMGSMajors)
Objective:Studentswilldemonstrateabilitytoanalyzeabusinessproblem,designandapplyappropriate
decisionsupporttools,interpretresultsandmakemeaningfulrecommendationstosupportthedecisionmaker

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences
PROGRAMLEARNINGGOALSAND
OBJECTIVES

COURSELEARNINGOBJECTIVES

COURSEASSESSMENTITEM

Goal1EffectiveWrittenandOral
Communication

Speakingandwritingskillsarehoned
througharticulationofwellformulated
ideasduringclassdiscussion,andin
assignmentsandexams
Anindepthunderstandingofmoral
philosophy,ethicaldilemmasandCSRis
developed
Theabilitytoanticipate,analyze,evaluate
andappropriatelyrespondtocritical
ethicalchallengesisstrengthened

ClassParticipation,Assignment,
Midterm,Final

Goal2EthicalUnderstandingand
Reasoning
Goal3AnalyticalThinkingandProblem
SolvingSkills
Goal4ApplicationofInformation
Technology
Goal5TeamworkinDiverseand
MulticulturalEnvironments

Quiz,Assignment,Midterm,Final
ClassParticipation,Quiz,Assignment,
Midterm,Final

Resolvedifferencesofopinionwhile
workinginteamsbycollaboratively
analyzingandevaluatingethicaldilemmas

Assignment

Goal6UnderstandingOrganizational
Ecosystems

Appreciatethecriticalityofthecontextin
whichorganizationsoperate,particularly
throughthelensofCSR

Quiz,Final

Goal7(a)ProgramSpecificKnowledge
andUnderstanding

Understandhowandwhatmoralissues
ariseinvariousfunctionalareasofa
business

Quiz,Assignment,Midterm,Final

Goal7(b)Understandingthescience
behindthedecisionmakingprocess

Understandthemodelsofmoral
developmentandframeworksofethical
decisionmaking

Quiz,Assignment,Midterm,Final

LEARNINGOUTCOMES

Uponsuccessfulcompletionofthiscourse,studentsshould beableto:

1. Demonstratecomprehensionofsomeprincipalethicaltheoriesthatcanguidetheirthinking
2. Applythemoralreasoningprocessthroughthelensofvariousethicaltheories
3. Appreciatetheimportanceofethicaldecisionmakingandthedifficultiesinherenttherein
4. Evaluateethicalproblemsbynavigatingtheterrainofexternalandinternalstakeholdersofbusinesses
5. UnderstandtheconceptofCSRandthedebatesaroundit
6. Comprehendanddebatetheroleofreligionandcultureinanalyzingethicalissues

GRADINGBREAKUPANDPOLICY
Assignment(s):20%
2 assignments will be given through the course. The format and other requirements will be specified by the instructor.
Studentswillhavetopresenttheirworktoo.
Assignmentssubmittedafterthedeadlinewillnotbeaccepted.
ClassParticipation:7%
CPisgradedbetween04pointseachsessionforeachstudent;pointsaregivenprimarilyonqualitativebasis.
Cominglatetotheclass(after5minutes)causesyoutolose1CPpointforthesession.
Attendance:3%
Youcanhaveupto4absencesthroughoutthecoursewithoutlosinganyattendancepoints.
Cominglatetotheclass(after5minutes)orbeingawayfromtheclassformorethan10minutesgetsyoumarkedLatefor

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences
thesession.TwolatemarkingsequaloneAbsentmarking.
Pleaseswitchoffyourmobilephonesbeforeenteringtheclass.
Quiz(s):20%
Quizzeswillbefieldedunannouncedasreadingspotchecks.
Outofatotaloffivequizzes,onewillbedropped.Nomakeupquizzeswillbegiven.
MidtermExamination:20%
FinalExamination:30%

EXAMINATIONDETAIL

Midterm
Exam

FinalExam

Yes/No:Yes
CombineSeparate:
Duration:
PreferredDate:
ExamSpecifications:TBA

Yes/No:Yes
CombineSeparate:
Duration:
ExamSpecifications:TBA

COURSEOVERVIEW
WEEK/
LECTURE/
MODULE
Week1

TOPICS

Introduction&Overview:
WhyStudyBusinessEthics?
TheNatureofBusinessEthics
MoralReasoning

Module1
FoundationsofEthics:
Week2,3& IntroductiontoMoralPhilosophy
4
ConsequentialistandNon
ConsequentalistTheories
VirtueEthics
Module2
Week5
TheBusinessSystem:
GovernmentandMarkets
Module3

EthicalIssuesinBusinessSettings:
Week6
ExternalStakeholderIssues
(Environment)
Module3
EthicalIssuesinBusinessSettings:
Week7&8 ExternalStakeholderIssues(Production
andMarketing)
MidTerm

RECOMMENDED
READINGS

Chapter1(Velasquez,2006)

Chapter2(Velasquez,2006)

Chapter3(Velasquez,2006)
Chapter5(Velasquez,2006)

Chapter6(Velasquez,2006)

OBJECTIVES/
APPLICATION
Introductionanddiscussiononthe
importanceofthesubject
Understandhowmoralreasoning
works
Understandthefourwidelyused
basesformakingethicaldecisions
invariousbusinesscontexts

Appreciatetheargumentsforand
againstmarketsandfreetrade
Explorehowcertainbusiness
practicesdamagetheenvironment,
andtheethicalresponsibilityof
businesses
Discussdifferenttheoriesofafirms
dutiestoconsumers,andthe
ethicaldimensionsofadvertising
andconsumerprivacy

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences
Week9&
10

Week11&
12

Week13

Week14

Module4
EthicalIssuesinBusinessSettings:
InternalStakeholderIssues(Job
Discrimination)
Module4
EthicalIssuesinBusinessSettings:
InternalStakeholderIssues(Employees
RightsandObligations)
Module5
EthicsandCorporateSocial
Responsibility:
ArgumentsforandagainstCSR
PrinciplesofSocialResponsibilityin
Business
SchoolsofThoughtonSocial
Responsibility
Module6
IslamicBusinessEthics

Chapter7(Velasquez,2006)

Chapter8(Velasquez,2006)
Reading:Detienne,K.B.,Lewis,
L.W.ThePragmaticandEthical
BarrierstoCorporateSocial
ResponsibilityDisclosure:The
NikeCase.JournalofBusiness
Ethics.2005.

DiscussthevaryingviewsonCSR
andevaluatetheargumentsforand
againstitusingNikeasacase

Parts1,2,3,4and5(Beekun,
1996)
Reading:Khan,Kishwar.,Aftab,
Sarwat.ConsumerProtectionin
Islam,AustralianEconomic
Papers.2000.

UnderstandtheIslamicpreceptsof
ethicalbusinessconductand
appreciatetheirrelationwiththe
IslamicWorldview

TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARYREADINGS
Velasquez,M.G.(2006).BusinessEthics:ConceptandCases.Delhi:Pearson.

Beekun,R.I.(1996).IslamicBusinessEthics.InternationalInstituteofIslamicThought.

Analyzethenatureandextentof
jobdiscriminationalongwiththe
ethicaldilemmasinherentin
affirmativeaction
Understandtheemployeesrights
andresponsibilitiesandafirms
dutiestotheemployee