• DO Not circulate to other seminar groups because their

tutors may have different requirements

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 BE 2601
Management Principles,
Competencies and Skills

Individual Ethical Reasoning Assignment

Dr Koh Cheng Boon

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Lesson 3: Ethics and Corporate Social
Responsibility

Corporate
Ethics
Moral principles Social
and standards that Responsibility
guide behaviour in The obligation of a
the world of business to
business contribute to
society

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 Lesson 3: Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Ethical decision making
Definition of ethics
Ethical climate
• Ethical issue
• Business ethics
Danger signs of
unethical behaviour

Ethical systems Code of ethics Corporate social responsibility

• Utilitarianism • Economic
• Egoism • Legal
Ethics programmes
• Relativism • Ethical
• Virtue ethics • Philanthropic
• Universalism
Ethical decision making

Reporting ethical problems

Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Definitions

Definition of ethics
Ethical issues: a situation, problem, or opportunity in
• Ethical issue
• Business ethics which an individual must choose among several actions
that must be evaluated as morally right or wrong

Business ethics: moral principles and standards that guide

behaviour in the business world.

Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Ethical Systems
Ethical Descriptions
Systems
Ethical systems Universalism People should uphold certain values, such as
honesty, treat society needs to functions
• Universalism
• Egoism Egoism Acceptable behaviour that maximizes benefits for
• Utilitarianism the individual
• Relativism
Kohlberg’s model of cognitive moral
Utilitarianism Directly seeks the greatest good for the greatest development
• Virtue ethics
number of people
Relativism Ethical behaviour based on opinions and
Preconventional stage: make decision based on rewards
behaviors of relevant other people and punishments and immediate self-interest
Virtue ethics Goes beyond the conventional rules of society
that the moral standard is derived from the level Conventional stage: Conform to expectations of ethical
of maturity and “moral character”. behavior held by groups or institutions such as society,
family, or peers

Principled stage: See beyond authority, laws, and norms

and follow their self-chosen ethical principles.

Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

Ethical Decision Making

Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Ethical Decision Making

Ethical
Systems
Universalism Understand
all moral Determine the
Egoism standards economic outcome
Utilitarianism

Relativism

Virtue ethics Define

Complete moral Consider the legal Propose
problem requirements
convincing
moral solution

Recognize all Evaluate the ethical

moral impacts: duties
Benefits/harms to others
Rights exercised/denied

Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Briefing
on
Individual Ethical Reasoning Assignment

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 Individual Ethical Reasoning Assignment
Course Learning Goals & Outcomes Assessment Methods

Ethical Reasoning: Assignment Report (Case-Study)*

(Ethical Reasoning
• Describe the business ethical issue(s) Assessment rubric will be used)

• Evaluate the ethical issue(s), report its implications Students are required to analyze a workplace ethical
and support the judgment dilemma and propose a future action plan

• Apply ethical reasoning to develop solutions

• Evaluate the appropriateness and feasibility of the

proposed solutions

15%

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Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain the importance of ethical behaviour and corporate social responsibility in the
global environment

2. Describe the implications of ethical behaviour and corporate social responsibility

3. Apply the concepts and implications of business ethics and ethical systems in decision
making

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Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Individual Ethical Reasoning Assignment: Sem 1 2019
Unethical acts in Organization(s)

1. Organisation:

2. You are required to analyze and describe the situation from an ethics perspective for the
identified organization and report on the following scope as highlighted below:

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Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Many References

• “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” By now, everyone’s read the tagline on
Nike’s ad featuring Colin Kaepernick. The text refers to Kaepernick’s NFL protests against racism and
police brutality, and it resonated — both positively and negatively — across social media. But among the
louder reactions, a smaller group of people asked: “Isn’t this the same company known for sweatshop
labor?”

• Other References
Ethical Issues at Nike
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/business-strategy/ethical-issues-at-nike-0288.php

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Instructions:
1. This individual assignment comprises of 15% of the total marks for the module
2. The following are assessed:
o Ethical Sensitivity or Awareness (1st item in the Ethics Rubrics)
o Ethical Knowledge, Understanding and Judgment (2nd item in the Ethics Rubrics)
o Ethical Reasoning and Solution (3rd item in the Ethics Rubrics)

3. The report is limited to 800 words (with a tolerance level of +/- 5%)
4. There should be a cover page with the essential details included (e.g. name, student ID, etc.), but the word count excludes this page.
5. The headings, in-text citations and footnotes are included in the word count. You should state the number of words on the front title page of your
report.
6. It should be typewritten in ‘Times New Roman’ font (size 12), double spaced
7. Refer to Assessment Document (p. 6) for the “Student Assignment Declaration Cover Sheet”. You are required to submit the declaration together with
the assignments
8. The softcopy of the Student Assignment Declaration cover sheet form will be available via NTULearn at our SEM sites, under the folder ‘Assignment’
9. Upload the 800-word essay to “Turnitin Assignment” for plagiarism check. (Note: Do not use the lecture site. Use our own seminar group site)
10. Submit the final version of your assignment through NTULearn to “Turnitin Assignment” of the seminar you belong to. You will work on your own and
submit the report within 48 hours from the ending time of your respective seminar session in Week 5
Seminar Groups Week 5 Due Date

Sem 5 (Tue: 1430-1730hrs) 10 Sep 19 12 Sep 19 (Thur) 1730 hrs

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Sem 8 (Thur: 0830-1130hrs) 12 Sep 19 14 Sep 29 (Sat) 1130 hrs
Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World
Assignment Folder in Respective Seminar Group

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Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Requirements

Criteria Scope

Ethical Sensitivity or
Awareness
(20%)
Ethical Knowledge,
Understanding and
Judgment (45%)
Ethical Reasoning and
Solution (35%)
Identify and describe at least one (1) business ethical
issue in the identified organization
Ethical Systems
Critically evaluate the ethical issue with appropriate
ethical system(s) Universalism
Egoism
Propose viable solution(s) to resolve the issue Utilitarianism
Relativism
• Evaluate the feasibility of proposed solution(s) after
weighing practical constraints with ethical Virtue ethics
considerations

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Nanyang Business School Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World

 Assignment Report (Ethical Reasoning) Assessment Rubric Criteria
Criteria
Ethical Sensitivity or
Awareness
(20% of overall grade)
Ethical knowledge,
Understanding and
Judgment
(45% of overall grade)
Ethical Reasoning and
Solution
(35% of overall grade)
Nanyang Business School
Below expectation
(Rubric Score: 1-2)
Poor and weak in identifying and describing the ethical
issue(s) - Demonstrate adequate ability to identify and
describe the ethical issue(s) - Have a strong ability to identify
and describe the ethical issue(s)
Not able to critically evaluate the ethical issue using
appropriate ethical system(s) - Adequately able to evaluate
the ethical issue using appropriate ethical system(s) - Able
to accurately and critically evaluate the ethical issue using
appropriate ethical system(s)
Unable to propose viable solution(s) to resolve the issue
- Weak/or unable to evaluate the feasibility of proposed
solution(s) after weighing ethical considerations - Adequately
able to propose viable solution(s) to resolve the issue
- Fairly able to evaluate the feasibility of proposed solution(s)
after weighing ethical considerations - Able to propose a
well thought through and high quality viable solution(s) to
resolve the issue
- Accurately able to evaluate the feasibility of proposed
solution(s) after weighing ethical considerations
Meets Expectation
(Rubric Score: 3-4)
Poor and weak in identifying and describing the
ethical issue(s) - Demonstrate adequate ability
to identify and describe the ethical issue(s) - to identify and describe the ethical issue(s)
Have a strong ability to identify and describe the
ethical issue(s)
Not able to critically evaluate the ethical issue
using appropriate ethical system(s) - Adequately
able to evaluate the ethical issue using appropriate
ethical system(s) - Able to accurately and critically
evaluate the ethical issue using appropriate ethical
system(s)
Unable to propose viable solution(s) to resolve the
issue
- Weak/or unable to evaluate the feasibility of
proposed solution(s) after weighing ethical
considerations - Adequately able to propose
viable solution(s) to resolve the issue
- Fairly able to evaluate the feasibility of proposed
solution(s) after weighing ethical considerations -
Able to propose a well thought through and high
quality viable solution(s) to resolve the issue
- Accurately able to evaluate the feasibility of
proposed solution(s) after weighing ethical
considerations
Nurturing Global Leaders for a Sustainable World
Above Expectation
(Rubric Score: 5-6)
Poor and weak in identifying and describing the
ethical issue(s) - Demonstrate adequate ability
-
Have a strong ability to identify and describe the
ethical issue(s)
Not able to critically evaluate the ethical issue
using appropriate ethical system(s) - Adequately
able to evaluate the ethical issue using appropriate
ethical system(s) - Able to accurately and critically
evaluate the ethical issue using appropriate ethical
system(s)
Unable to propose viable solution(s) to resolve the
issue
- Weak/or unable to evaluate the feasibility of
proposed solution(s) after weighing ethical
considerations - Adequately able to propose
viable solution(s) to resolve the issue
- Fairly able to evaluate the feasibility of proposed
solution(s) after weighing ethical considerations -
Able to propose a well thought through and high
quality viable solution(s) to resolve the issue
- Accurately able to evaluate the feasibility of
proposed solution(s) after weighing ethical
considerations
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