Applied Ethics and Sustainability

Definition of ethics and basic elements of the main philosophical approaches in ethics
Definition of sustainability and relations with ethics
Definition of Corporate Social Responsibility
Stakeholder Theory
Socially responsible organisation, strategy and management
Business Ethics
Ethics in practice and ethical dilemmas
Case Studies

This course will provide students a knowledge of ethical issues related to business operations. A business is sustainable if it contributes to economic, environmental and social development. Sustainable businesses are responsible companies with ambition and high ethical standards. The course will focus in theory and examples how responsible businesses are organized and managed. The course will highlight ethical dilemmas that may arise in complex decision situations. We discuss the normative consequences that recent thinking within business ethics and environmental efforts for the organization of economic activity at the micro and macro levels. After completing this course students should have:

Knowledge:
- Understand term sustainability.
- Understand some Ethics Theories and Business Ethics.
- Understand Stakeholder Theory.
- Understanding the concept of "corporate social responsibility".
- Knowing new trends in marketing and management practices with emphasis on sustainability.

Skills:
Be able to develop reflective solutions to ethical dilemmas that arise in various decision-making processes. Be able to lead continuous improvement toward sustainability and ethical behavior in business.

Competence:
Students should have an understanding of sustainability and ethics. Students should have an understanding of ethical dilemmas and be able to reduce negative effects that can decisions have on the business.

Lectures, Group Work, Casework, Task Solution.
Lectures are in English, but exams may be in Norwegian or English.
Mandatory work requirement: One mandatory group work via Blackboard. Ideal group size is 2-5 students (campus students), 0-5 nett students.