Keele Badge

MAN-20209 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

MAN-20209 - Contemporary Business Ethics Debates
Coordinator: Samir Dani
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733094

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

NA

Barred Combinations

NA

Description for 2026/27

The business world is full of ethical dilemmas. This module is a practical, discussion-based module where you will select and explore current ethical issues in business. With your peers, you will engage in debates, presentations, and discussions, applying ethical theories to real-world scenarios. This hands-on approach develops critical thinking and communication skills, preparing you to navigate and address ethical challenges in today's business environment. 

Aims
To introduce students to moral, philosophical and sociological theories related to issues of ethics and integrity in business
To cultivate awareness and consider what constitutes ethical decision making for individuals in organisations.
To place ethical issues in local, national and global contexts and consider the importance of a range of different cultural values on ethical decision making.
To examine how ethical theories apply to cases in business.

Intended Learning Outcomes

analyse and engage with the main theories underpinning business ethics: 1
analyse a range of ethical issues confronting business managers in the modern world and the individual decision making within the context of ethics.: 1
place ethical issues affecting the individual within the frameworks of common legal requirements and cultural norm: 1

Study hours

12 hours of lectures
12 hours of tutorials/seminars/ workshops
80 hours of private study which includes additional reading, thinking time, discussing ideas with other students, etc.
46 hours guided assignment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 100%
Case study on a topic ethical debate in business
In this task, students will analyse a real-world ethical issue in business, exploring the complexities and challenges faced by organisations and stakeholders. Max 2000 words.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026