Faculty of Management Studies

BUSINESS ETHICS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

COURSE CONTENTS
Course Instructor: Dr. Mala Sinha
OBJECTIVES
Business Ethics and Corporate Governance has an interdisciplinary character, where questions of
economic policy and business practices intertwine with issues in politics, sociology, and
organizational theory. Even though it remains anchored in philosophical traditions and cultural
frameworks, it mingles with practical problems and real life dilemmas. The course seeks to
bridge the gap between the ethical behavior of the individual and the challenges posed by
organized business activity in the global marketplace. It further seeks to educate students about
the importance of Corporate Governance issues- matters legal, social and ethical in business,
and make them sensitive to the consequences of their decisions. The course does not provide
solutions to critical dilemmas, but encourages critical ethical thinking and decision making. The
main objectives are four-fold:
1. To expose students to important ethical issues that arises in varied business contexts.
2. To provide students with an understanding of moral, social and economic environments
within which these ethical issues occur.
3. To introduce students to the ethical concepts and philosophies relevant for resolving those
problems.
4. To sensitize participants about Corporate Governance issues in National and Multinational
organizations
5. To assist students in developing necessary analytical skills for ethical decision-making.
DETAILED COURSE CONTENT
1. Conceptual Framework

Ethical considerations in Business.

Law , Morality and Ethics
Non Market environment of business
The costs of being unethical.

2. Nature of Business - Purpose and Goals

Profit Maximization versus Corporate Social Responsibility
Global Business Environment & Changing Work Values
3. Philosophical Frameworks for Ethical Decisions

Western : Teleological, Deontological and Modern theories

Islam and Business Ethics
Chinese and Confucian ethics of Business
Indian Ethics : Philosophies of Vedanta , Jainism and others
Modern India and Ethics

4. Workplace Issues

Human Resource ethical issues in Hiring, Promotions, Discipline ,Discharge etc

Discrimination related Gender ,Caste etc. Sexual Harassment
Mergers & Acquisitions: Reorganization, Rationalization & Redundancy
Labor Issues and Unions Tactics
Privacy Issues: Organizations influence on private lives, Testing etc
Intellectual Property Rights, Patents etc
Work Conditions , Health & Safety
Marketing Ethics :Price, Packaging & Labeling
Advertising and Communication Ethics
Consumer Protection and Product safety
Financial issues :Insider Trading &Financial Statements etc

5. Ethical Choices Facing Employees

Obligation & Loyalty to the Firm

Abuse of Official Position
Bribes & Kickbacks
Gifts & Entertainment
Whistle Blowing

6. Corporate Social Responsibility & Corporate Environmental Responsibility.

7.

Corporate Governance in Indian & Multinational Organizations

8. Institutionalizing Ethics in Organizations

Ethical Decision Making and Accountability
Ethical Systems & Structures & The Ethical Audit
Codes of Conduct & Ethics Training

SESSION PLAN
SESSION TOPIC

READING

Introduction , Terms & Definition

1a. 1b

Business Organizations and Non

Market Environment

2.

Western Theory of Ethics

Islamic Business Ethics

5.

CSR

7a 7b

Chinese Business Ethics

Corporate Governance

Indian Philosophy and Ethics

6a, 6b & 6c

9
Whistle Blowing & Implementing
Ethical Policy in organizations
10

Work Place Ethics 1.Gender &

Diversity 2. Human resources

11

Work Place Ethics Marketing &

Advertising
Work Place Ethics Finance & Privacy
Issues

12
13

To be
discussed with
faculty
Readings 8, 9,
10a, 10b, 10c,
11, 12

Work Place Ethics Cases of Ethical

Organizations

14
Class Test

EVALUATION
Class Participation (includes attendance):10 marks
Assignment test (individual): 10 marks
Project Work & Presentation (group work): 10 marks
Total marks: 30
NOTE

 Cases to be used in the class can be changed if required

Readings will be given for all the key topics.
REFERENCES
1. The Management and Ethics Omnibus.S.K. Chakraborty, Oxford University
Press, 2001 New Delhi
2. Business Ethics.Laura Hartman ,2008
3. Ethical Choices in Business .R.C. Sekar Response books, 2000 . New Delhi
4. Corporate Crisis Management .S. Shiva Ramu . Response books 2001. New
Delhi
5. Robert Audi. Business Ethics and Ethical Business. Oxford University Press.
2009.
6. Flynn. G. Leadership and Business Ethics . Springer . UK. 2008
7. Williams. O.F. ( Ed.) Business Religion and Spirituality : A new synthesis. Notre
dame Press , 2003
8. Malden , M. The Blackwell Guide to Business Ethics. Oxford : Blackewell,2002
9. Valasquez,M.G. Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases, 5 th Ed. New Delhi:
Prentice Hall. 2002.
10. Malachowski, A . Business Ethics: Critical perspective on business and
management . Routledge . 2001.
11. AIMA. Corporate Governance & Business Ethics. New Delhi: Excel Books, 1997.
12. Coomaraswamy, A. K. ( 1972) . Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power in The
Indian Theory of Government. Motilal Banaridas Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 1972