Singapore University of Social Sciences

Sustainability, Ethics and Law

Sustainability, Ethics and Law (BUS308)

Synopsis

BUS308 Sustainability, Ethics and Law focuses on the role of ethics and law in business sustainability. Businesses operate in an environment defined not only by market forces, but also by ethical, legal, political and cultural obligations. This course introduces students to ethical and legal challenges they will face as business people, managers, and entrepreneurs. Students will learn about broad sustainability issues involving business, and how business managers, constrained by law and motivated to act ethically and responsibly, should make decisions about the proper courses of action. With the rise of the digital economy, the increasing use and application of information technology across business areas also means that data privacy and cyber-security are now crucial aspects of business ethics and compliance. In this era where customer data and greater understanding of customers drives businesses to become more competitive than ever, there must be a line drawn such that personal customer data are protected from being exploited by businesses for profits. Students will learn about the various applicable data privacy and security laws and standards that businesses ought to take into account to foster business sustainability. Fundamentally, this is a course about judgment. Students will learn to think critically and make judgments in a sustainability-oriented business context that will broaden individual and business priorities far beyond traditional business aims of profit.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every semester

Topics

  • Concept of Sustainability
  • Social Responsibility of Business
  • Sustainability Issues
  • Ethical Concepts and Principles
  • Business Ethics Reasoning and Decision-Making
  • Corruption and Bribery
  • Labour Rights and Environmental Issues
  • Data Protection
  • Privacy Laws
  • Cyber-Security Laws
  • Information Security Governance
  • Whistleblowing

Learning Outcome

  • Examine the concept of sustainability and the emerging context of sustainable development, and the role that ethics and law play in sustainability
  • Recognise ethical and legal problems and issues that arise in business contexts, and discuss ethical theories and frameworks used in analysing business decisions
  • Appraise the compliance of business practices with the prevailing applicable laws
  • Apply the various ethical theories and frameworks to business situations
  • Formulate an appropriate judgment(s) in making sustainability-oriented business decisions
  • Recommend solutions and improvements for ethical and legally compliant business practices that promote sustainability
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