Students

PHIX2010 – Ethics, Business and Work

2023 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jean-Philippe Deranty
jp.deranty@mq.edu.au
Paul-Mikhail Catapang Podosky
paul.podosky@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit investigates some of main ethical issues that arise in professional life and from the activities of businesses and corporations. The unit explores the nature and value of work as well as its role in personal identity and social organisation. We also consider the obligations and responsibilities that come with professional work and the management of businesses. We examine the nature of corporations and their responsibilities to individual workers and consumers, stakeholders, groups such as women and minorities, and the environment.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: demonstrate good general knowledge of the major issues in contemporary business and professional ethics.
  • ULO2: understand the major ethical concepts and theories that inform the business and professional ethics literature.
  • ULO3: analyse and critically evaluate theories and arguments in the relevant literature.
  • ULO4: relate ethical concepts and theories to relevant case studies and current events.
  • ULO5: develop your own perspective, through analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit.
  • ULO6: demonstrate improved skills in clarity of thought and communication.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 15% No Ongoing
Final Test 35% No Sunday 4th June, 11.55pm
Reading assignment 30% No Friday 7th April, 11.55pm
2 short quizzes 20% No Friday 17th March and Friday 12th May

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

 

Engaging constructively in online discussions and associated activities.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate good general knowledge of the major issues in contemporary business and professional ethics.
  • understand the major ethical concepts and theories that inform the business and professional ethics literature.
  • analyse and critically evaluate theories and arguments in the relevant literature.
  • relate ethical concepts and theories to relevant case studies and current events.
  • develop your own perspective, through analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit.
  • demonstrate improved skills in clarity of thought and communication.

Final Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Sunday 4th June, 11.55pm
Weighting: 35%

 

A series of questions that assess your knowledge and understanding of concepts, methods and arguments in work and business ethics.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate good general knowledge of the major issues in contemporary business and professional ethics.
  • understand the major ethical concepts and theories that inform the business and professional ethics literature.
  • analyse and critically evaluate theories and arguments in the relevant literature.

Reading assignment

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Friday 7th April, 11.55pm
Weighting: 30%

 

Critically analyse a selected text.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate good general knowledge of the major issues in contemporary business and professional ethics.
  • understand the major ethical concepts and theories that inform the business and professional ethics literature.
  • analyse and critically evaluate theories and arguments in the relevant literature.
  • develop your own perspective, through analysis of the views and arguments presented in the unit.
  • demonstrate improved skills in clarity of thought and communication.

2 short quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Friday 17th March and Friday 12th May
Weighting: 20%

 

A series of questions that assess your knowledge and understanding of key concepts and arguments regarding work and business ethics.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate good general knowledge of the major issues in contemporary business and professional ethics.
  • understand the major ethical concepts and theories that inform the business and professional ethics literature.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Required and recommended texts and/or materials

All weekly readings for the unit will be made available through the Leganto link in iLearn.

Lectures 

Lectures in this unit will be delivered online. Two one-hour lecture videos for each of the 12 topics will be released through the Echo 360 block in iLearn. You should watch these videos before attending the weekly tutorial. 

Tutorials

For "on campus" students, tutorials in this unit will be held in person on campus each week of semester for one hour.

"Online scheduled" students have zoom tutorials.

"Online flexible" students participate in assessed discussions.

 

Unit Webpages and E-Resources

Much of this unit (lectures, readings, assessment instructions etc.) is delivered online through iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au). PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements. 

Unit Schedule

  • Week 1: Introduction

  • Week 2: What is work and why does it matter?

  • Week 3: Work and freedom

  • Week 4: The goods of work

  • Week 5: Work in a just society

  • Week 6: The end of work? 

  • Week 7: Business ethics: narrow and broad

  • Week 8: Equality and freedom in the workplace

  • Week 9: Sweatshops and globalisation

  • Week 10: Discrimination, bias & stereotypes at work

  • Week 11: Factoring animals into business ethics

  • Week 12: Business and the environmen

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

The first section of the unit was updated, with a revision of the thematic focus for each week and a change in required readings.

Weeks 7 and 8 in the previous offering were consolidated and a new week was introduced on "equality and freedom in the workplace". 

Unit information based on version 2023.02 of the Handbook