Download PDF

Course Outline

EMB761 Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

Course Coordinator:Meredith Lawley (mlawley1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2021Session 5

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

The course aims to develop an understanding of the underlying concepts of Corporate Governance, business ethics and CSR which are relevant to the contemporary business environment. It is designed to foster candidates'
understanding of the ethical influences on economic, financial, managerial, and environmental aspects of business. The course further aims to develop a candidate's ability to critically analyse ethical issues in business.
This course reviews different regulatory processes essential to the understanding of the principles of corporate governance in Australia.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 2hrs Not applicable Not Yet Determined

Course Topics

Essential Principles, of Corporate Governance, Board Functions and Structures

Corporate Governance in Australia and Globally

Normative Theories of Ethics

Managerial and Organisational Ethics

Business and Society, the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility, Citizenship and Performance

Stakeholder Management

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

6 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Compare and analyse the corporate governance issues involved in business and the workplace. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Engaged
2 Compare and analyse the role of stakeholders and corporate managers moral obligations in business decision making. Ethical
Sustainability-focussed
3 Apply regulatory requirements to develop appropriate board and committee functions and structures. Empowered
4 Apply corporate governance best practice principles and recommendations to achieve appropriate business practice. Empowered
5 Analyse and explain economic, social and environmental sustainability issues relating to business practice. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
Sustainability-focussed

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in Program BU791

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

MBA711 or MGT712

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

An understanding of Strategic Management would be advisable.

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Online discussion questions will be posted following the first intensive workshop and responses moderated to ensure understanding of concepts and approaches to analysis.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 30% 
1 hour -6 short answer questions
 Week 6 In Class
All 2 Case Study Individual 70% 
1,750 words minimum to 2,000 words maximum
 Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:In class test
Goal: 
The goal of this task is to test your knowledge and understanding of Ethical issues; and apply corporate governance best practice principles and recommendations related to appropriate business practice.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Six short answer questions will form the basis of this individual assessment task.The purpose for this assessment is to assist students in early assessment of understanding the course content.The six short answer questions will relate to material covered during the previous 3 sessions (modules 1 to 3).
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
identify corporate social responsibility dilemmas
2 
compare and analyse the role of stakeholders and corporate managers’ moral
obligations in business decision making
3 
written communication skills
4 
Assessment criteria are mapped to the course learning outcomes.
 1 2 3 4 5
Generic Skills: 

                        

                    

                

                

                    

                        

                            
                                All - Assessment Task 2:Corporate governance and ethics case study - report
                            
                        

                        

                            Goal:
                            
The purpose of this assessment is to test your ability to think, write, research and analyse independently when uncertain situations present themselves during the course of business at all levels of management and specifically at the level of strategic managers and board of directors.

                        

                        

                            Product:
                            Case Study
                        

                        

                            Authorship Statement:
                            
                        

                        

                            Format:
                            
1750 to 2000 words. Individual. Choose a perspective.
Standard case study report format – see Blackboard for more information.
This task is being used for measuring assurance of learning towards Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. The following Program Learning
Objective will be assessed:
Program Learning Objective 4.1
demonstrate a capacity for a socially responsible and sustainable approach to business
decisions

                        

                        

                            Criteria:
                            
                                

                                    
                                        

                                            No.
                                            
                                            Learning Outcome assessed
                                        

                                    
                                    
                                            

                                                1
                                                
Knowledge and application of sustainability frameworks, theories and concepts and
responsibilities in a business context

                                                
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                2
                                                
Knowledge and application of ethical frameworks, theories and concepts and
responsibilities in a business context

                                                
                                                
                                            

                                            

                                                3
                                                
Knowledge and application of the relevant legislation/standards/codes of conduct
/universal principles associated with social responsibility, ethical conduct and
sustainable practice in a business context.

                                                
                                                
                                            

                                    
                                

                            		
                        

                        

                            Generic Skills:
                            

                        

                    

                

        

    

    

        

            

                
Directed study hours

                
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

            

        

    


    

        

            

                
What resources do I need to undertake this course?

                

                    Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
                

            


            

                
Prescribed text(s) or course reader

                    
There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

            

        


        

            

                
Specific requirements

                    
Not applicable

            

        

    


    

        

            
How are risks managed in this course?

            
Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

        

    


    

        
What administrative information is relevant to this course?


        

            

                
Assessment: Academic Integrity

                
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Additional Requirements

                Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Submission penalties

                Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
            

        


        

            

                
Links to relevant University policy and procedures

                
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

            

        


        

            

                
Student Charter

                
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful.  The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

            

        


        

            

                
General Enquiries

                
  • In person: 
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au

            

        

    







    

        Download PDF