Business Ethic and Culture - Learning Guide

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Southwest University

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Section 1 - Introduction

Unit Overview

Business Ethic and Culture focuses on a variety of perspectives and analytical approaches. These include:-

The choice perspective of Business Ethics;  

External environmental assessment and choice;

Analysis of international business and management and managing across culture:  

Ethics and the conduct of business, Ethics and value and international organisation behaviour

Business Ethic is a designed Unit created to suit students who are furthering their studies. The unit develops communication and information literacies and provides integrates theoretical and applied knowledge to analyse and solve complex and novel problems facing organisations from a cultural and Ethical point of view. This is essential and is the basis for students to develop and apply comprehensive and connected knowledge in management. 

When students have successfully completed this unit they should be able to:

1. Describe the contrasting theoretical approaches to business ethics.
2. Reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to Ethics and diversity.
3. Utilise the theoretical knowledge presented to undertake analysis, and develop a selection of planning options, for case study scenarios.
4. Develop planning implementation strategies based on an understanding of key organisational and environmental constraints.
5. Understand the impact of key elements of leadership, people and culture in the implementation and formulation of business ethics.
6. Work effectively with others to both formulate; and present, planning options based upon analysis and investigation of case study and other material.

Brief forms of the University's attributes are;

Commands communication, social interaction, information literacy, technology literacy skills

Demonstrates comprehensive, coherent and connected knowledge

Applies knowledge in professional or applied contexts

Brings knowledge to life through responsible engagement and appreciation of diversity

Contact Information                                                                

Unit Coordinator

The first point of contact for this unit is your Unit Coordinator. Contact details for the unit coordinator are:

Unit Coordinator:         Dr Gassan Deeb

Email:                          gassandeeb@hotmail.com

Phone:                  138 8379 1552

Office Location:         

Link to Staff Profile:

Please liaise directly with your lecturer regarding appropriate consultation times. It is usually best to arrange to meet before or after the teaching session.

Teaching Staff

Teaching staff will be able to assist you with enquiries relating to

Tutor:

Telephone:

Email:

Office Location:

Tutor:

Telephone:

Email:

Office Location:

Learning Guide Overview                                                        

This Learning Guide supplements the Unit Outline and is designed to help you navigate through the unit.  It will help you focus each week on what you need to do to prepare for lectures and tutorials, as well as the various assessment tasks throughout the unit.

Each week, you should consult this Learning Guide as you plan your study.  The Learning Guide will provide guidance on what will be covered in the week’s lecture and how to prepare effectively for the week’s lecture and tutorial.  The Learning Guide will assist you in developing the skills and techniques of an effective learner at University level.  In addition to acquiring information and skills relevant to this unit, a key focus that you should have is to develop the habits of a successful University student.  These are essential in your successful progress, not only through this Unit, but through your degree program.

Using the learning guide will help you identify any particular problems or issues that you can then take up with your lecturer or tutor and resolve as early as possible.  It is not good enough to struggle through your study and hope for the best come exam time—as an adult learner you need to take control of your own learning and ensure your own success.  This Learning Guide is specifically designed to help you achieve this.

Section 2 – Learning Resources and Information

Essential Reading                                                                        

Textbook

The prescribed textbook for this unit is:

Deresky, H, Christopher, E., 2012. International Management, Managing Cultural Diversity, 2nd Ed, Australia: Pearson.

Recommended Reading

Kippist, L, 2009, International Management,  Pearson Australia.

Fuchs, PH, Mifflin, KE, Miller, D & Whitney, JO 2000, 'Strategic integration: competing in the age of capabilities', California Management Review, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 118-47.

Grant, RM 1996, 'Prospering in dynamically-competitive environments: organizational capability as knowledge integration', Organization Science, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 375-87.

Harvard Business School, Institute for strategy and competitiveness, http://www.isc.hbs.edu.

Hitt, MA, Keats, BW & DeMarie, SM 1998, 'Navigating in the new competitive landscape: building strategic flexibility and competitive advantage in the 21st century', Academy of Management Executive, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 22-42.

Hitt, M, A. & Ireland, RD 2002, 'The essence of strategic leadership: managing human and social capital', Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 3-14.

Mintzberg, H, Ahlstrand, B & Lampel, J 2009, Strategy safari: the complete guide through the wilds of strategic management, Pearson Prentice Hall, New York.

Porter, ME 1996, 'What is strategy?’ Harvard Business Review, vol. 74, no. 6, pp. 61-78.

Prahalad, CK & Hamel, G 1990, 'The core competence of the corporation', Harvard Business Review, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 79-91.

Online Resources

SWU Library E-Resources

Related Databases:

AIMMAT: AIM Management & Training Database – a source for Australian, New Zealand and South East Asian articles on management and training. Includes many case studies.

Informit – Australasian content on social, economic and political issues.

Proquest ANZ Newsstand – provides full text of Australian and New Zealand newspapers, except the AFR.

Relevant Journals:

Academy of Management Journal

Administrative Science Quarterly

California Management Review

Harvard Business Review

Management International Review

People & Strategy

Strategic Management Journal

The Academy of Management Review

NOTE: Wikipedia can be a great help with initial information on some topics, however in this unit Wikipedia articles should not be used in assessment tasks

Where to go for assistance                                                        

Teaching Staff

Your unit coordinator will be your primary contact for all matters relating to this unit. If you have any concerns about the unit, please contact your Unit Coordinator in the first instance. If you would prefer to speak to someone else you are advised to speak to your Head of Program. Contact details for both the Unit Coordinator and the Head of Program can be found in Section 1 of the Learning Guide.

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