Indian Institute of Management Rohtak
Course Outline
Course Title : Ethics
Credits : 1 (20 Sessions)
Type : Compulsory
Session Duration : 75 minutes
Term : VII
Year : 2025
Faculty : Dr. Rama Shankar Yadav
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Introduction
Ethics in organizations requires values-based leadership from top management,
purposeful actions that include planning and implementation of standards of appropriate
conduct, as well as openness and continuous effort to improve the organization’s ethical
performance. Although personal values are important in ethical decision making, they
are just one of the components that guide the decisions, actions and policies of
organizations. In this course, it is aimed to help students to improve their ability to make
ethical decisions in business by providing them with a framework that they can use to
identify, analyse, and resolve ethical issues in business decision making.
Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are:
1) To introduce and motivate students about basic ethical concepts, principles,
and examples while enhancing their understanding and use of ethics in
solving moral dilemmas.
2) To understand the main ethical-philosophical approaches.
3) To introduce the main concepts of business ethics.
4) To think about the relationship between theories of ethics and questions of
business ethics.
1
Pedagogy
The pedagogy will be a mix of Lecture, Discussion, Group exercises in class, Case Analysis,
Assignments, Quizzes and Project Presentation. Participants are expected to read the
prescribed readings/book chapter before attending the session, summarize and critique the
readings and try to identify the linkage between the prescribed readings for the session and
those covered earlier.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, students should be able to achieve the following learning
outcomes:
1) Identify complex areas of business ethics.
2) Thoroughly understand major theories of business ethics.
3) Analysis of corporate governance and ethical leadership perspectives.
4) Gain knowledge to analyse ethical dilemmas and build a foundation to make
ethical decisions in personal and professional life.
Evaluation Scheme
Assessment/Presentation/ Quizzes 15%
Group Assignment 15%
Mid Term Exam 30%
Final Exam 40%
Text Book
Business and Professional Ethics - by Leonard J. Brooks, Paul Dunn | 9th Edition |
Copyright 2021
References
Archie B. Carroll; Jill Brown Business & Society: Ethics, Sustainability &
Stakeholder Management, Cengage , 11th Edition,
2
Special Instructions
Please read and prepare well in advance for case presentation individually and in group & discussion
in the class. The case for each session is indicated in the Session Plan. The sessions will be of 75
minutes’ duration. During the class, students need to prepare and present the cases/assignments
individually or in groups.
Session Plan
S.No. Topic and Sub-topics Reference (Book Lecture/ Case / Exercise
chapter)
1 Introduction to Ethics C1: Text Book Introduction to ethics and exercises
1. Ethical and Moral C3: Text Book E1: Trolley Problem
behaviour
2. Moral sensitivity Case from C3
3. Judgements 1. Art forgeries
2 Ethics and values C3: Text Book Cases from C3
1. Moral Principles 1. Deciding who receives the
2. Moral codes swine flu vaccine
3. Values
3. Ethical behaviour at C3: Text Book Cases from C3
workplace 1. Spy vs Spy
1. Self interest 2. Gender discrimination at IKEA
2. Integrity
3. Ownership
4. Ethical behaviour
4. Ethical Theories C3: Text Book Discussion on ethical theories
1. Consequentialism
2. Deontology
3. Ethics of Care
5. Ethical Theories C3: Text Book Discussion and
1. Virtue Ethics Video analysis: Ethics unwrapped
2. Contractarianism
(Social Contract
Theory)
3
6. Models and framework C4: Text Book Discussion
of Ethical Decision Making
7. Introduction to Business C1: Text Book Ethics cases from C1
Ethics
1. Developments in 1. Buying and selling blood
business ethics 2. Tiger Woods:
2. New Mandate for Winning takes care of
business everything
3. Role and conduct
8. Business Ethics C1: Text Book Discussion
(Continued)
1. Threat to good Cases from C1
governance 1.Goldman Sachs and the Greek
2. Issues of veil
accountability
9. Business Ethics Matters C1: Text Book Cases from C1
1. Ethics from finance 1.Google vs China
aspects 2. Nestle bottles water in a
2. Information California drought
management
aspects
3. Environment
aspects
10. Workplace Ethics C7: Text Book Cases from C7
1. Equal Opportunity, 1. Texaco’s Jelly Beans
2. Discrimination and 2. Gender discrimination at Dell
Affirmative Action Inc.
11. Management and C7: Text Book Cases from C7
Organizational Ethics 1.Harry Potter and the green
1. CSR brigade
2. Corporate 2.The carbon footprint of British
citizenship airways
4
12. Stakeholder Management C7: Text Book Cases from C7
1. Internal and 1.Walt Pavlo’s MCI scams
2. External 2. Jail and German Subcontractor
Stakeholder Issues
13 Modern Governance and C5: Text Book Cases from C5
Accountability framework
1. Spying on HP director
2. Dow Corning silicons breasts
implants
14 Developing Ethical C5: Text Book Cases from C5
Corporate Culture
1. Hospital governances challenges
15 Ethical Leadership C5: Text Book Cases from C5
1. Values
2. Role in 1. Salary equality at Gravity
developing ethical payments
culture
16 Professional Code of C6: Text Book Cases from C6
conduct
1. NOCLAR Solutions
2. KPMGs ethical red flags
17 Public interest, Laws and C6: Text Book Cases from C6
Jurisprudence
1. Multinationals and tax planning
2. Marketing aggressive tax
shelters
5
18. Global ethical issues & C8: Text Book Discussion and wrapping up
lessons
19-20 Presentation by the Groups
