Course outline

Code: EMB761
Title: Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate
Social Responsibility
Faculty of Arts and Business
School of Business
Teaching Session: Session 5
Year: 2015
Course Coordinator:
Oscar Imaz-Mairal
Office:
K2.14A
Telephone:
+61 7 5430 1271
Email:
OImaz@usc.edu.au
Consultation Times:
As advised on Blackboard

1.

What is this course about?

1.1

Course description

The course aims to develop an understanding of the underlying concepts of Corporate Governance,
business ethics and CSR which are relevant to the contemporary business environment. It is designed to
foster candidates' understanding of the ethical influences on economic, financial, managerial, and
environmental aspects of business. The course further aims to develop a candidate's ability to critically
analyse ethical issues in business. This course reviews different regulatory processes essential to the
understanding of the principles of corporate governance in Australia.

1.2

Course content
the concepts, essential principles, and stakeholders of corporate governance
corporate Social Responsibility, citizenship and performance
board and committee functions and structures and company officers training, induction, and
behaviour
corporate governance in Australia: background and regulations
principles of good corporate governance and corporate disclosure requirements
corporate governance disclosure in practice
future directions for corporate governance and considerations in corporate decision-making

2.
6 units

Unit value

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Course Outline: EMB761 Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

3.

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Specific Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of
this course you should be able
to:
Compare and analyse the
corporate governance issues
involved in business and the
workplace.
Compare and analyse the role
of stakeholders and corporate
managers moral obligations in
business decision making.
Apply regulatory requirements
to develop appropriate board
and committee functions and
structures.
Apply corporate governance
best practice principles and
recommendations to achieve
appropriate business practice.
Analyse and explain economic,
social and environmental
sustainability issues relating to
business practice.

4.

Assessment Tasks

Graduate Qualities

You will be assessed on the

learning outcome in task/s:

Completing these tasks successfully

will contribute to you becoming:

1 and 2

Knowledgeable.

1 and 2

Ethical.

1 and 2

Empowered.

1 and 2

Empowered.

1 and 2

Sustainability-focussed.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites

4.1

Enrolment restrictions

Must be enrolled in BU791

4.2

Pre-requisites

Nil

4.3

Co-requisites

Nil

4.4

Anti-requisites

MBA711 or MGT712

4.5

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills

An understanding of Strategic Management would be advisable.

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Course Outline: EMB761 Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

5.

How am I going to be assessed?

5.1

Grading scale

Standard High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)

5.2
Task
No.

Assessment tasks
Assessment Tasks

Individual
or Group

Weighting
%

In class test

Individual

30%

Corporate
governance and
ethics case study report

Individual

70%

What is the
duration /
length?
1 hour - 6 short
answer
questions
1750 words
minimum to
2000 words
maximum

When
should I
submit?
Saturday,
1st August,
2015
9th August,
2015

Where
should I
submit it?
In class

SafeAssign

100%
Assessment Task 1: In class test
Goal:

The goal of this task is to test your knowledge and understanding of Ethical issues; and
apply corporate governance best practice principles and recommendations related to
appropriate business practice.
Product: In class test
Format:
Six short answer questions will form the basis of this individual assessment task. The
purpose for this assessment is to assist students in early assessment of understanding
the course content. The six short answer questions will relate to material covered
during the previous 3 sessions (modules 1 to 3).
Criteria
identify corporate social responsibility dilemmas
compare and analyse the role of stakeholders and corporate managers moral
obligations in business decision making
written communication skills
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Developing
Information Literacy
Graduate
Assessment Task 2: Corporate governance and ethics case study - report
Goal:

Product:
Format:

Criteria

The purpose of this assessment is to test your ability to think, write, research and
analyse independently when uncertain situations present themselves during the course
of business at all levels of management and specifically at the level of strategic
managers and board of directors.
Case Study Report
1750 to 2000 words
Individual
Choose a perspective.
Standard case study report format see Blackboard for more information.
demonstration relevant theoretical and practical aspects of corporate social
responsibility correctly applied to the case study

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Course Outline: EMB761 Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
identification of ethical perspective
evaluation of scenario and implications
identification of environmental implications
present research findings using industry document and reporting standards
using appropriate analytical technics identify and solve a business problem
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Graduate
Problem Solving
Graduate

5.3

Additional assessment requirements

SafeAssign
In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its
assessment tasks are submitted electronically via SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to
be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. If
required, details of how to submit via SafeAssign will be provided on the Blackboard site of the course.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

5.4

Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate:
5% (of the assessment tasks identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified
as the due date for the assessment task.
10% (of the assessment tasks identified value) for the third day
20% (of the assessment tasks identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and
including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task.
A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date
identified as the due date for the assessment task.
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must
contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

6. How is the course offered?

6.1

Directed study hours

18 hours in distributed block format on campus

6.2

Teaching semester/session(s) offered

Session 5, 2015. Future offerings are yet to be determined.

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Course Outline: EMB761 Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

6.3

Course activities
Teaching
Week /
Module

What key concepts/content will I

learn?

Essential principles, of corporate

governance
Board functions and structures

Corporate Governance in Australia

and Globally

Normative theories of Ethics

Justice and Economic Distribution

Business and Society, the role of

Corporate Social Responsibility,
Citizenship and Performance

Stakeholder Management

What activities will I engage in to learn the

concepts/content?
Directed Study
Independent Study
Activities
Activities
In-class discussion
including a range of
activities: Case
studies and decision
making.
In-class discussion
including a range of
activities: Case
studies and decision
making
In-class discussion
including a range of
activities: Case
studies and decision
making
In-class discussion
including a range of
activities: Case
studies and decision
making
In-class discussion
including a range of
activities: Case
studies and decision
making
In-class discussion
related
to

7
Assessment Task 2 Due
Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation.

du Plessis, Hargovan
and Bagaric (2011)
chapters 1 and 3

du Plessis, Hargovan
and Bagaric (2011)
chapters 6, 7, 12 and
13
Shaw, Barry and
Sansbury (2009)
chapter 2 e-reading
provided; du Plessis,
Hargovan and Bagaric
(2011) chapter 14
Shaw, Barry and
Sansbury (2009)
chapter 5 e-reading
provided.
Carroll and Buchholtz
(2012) Chapter 1 and 2
e-reading provided; du
Plessis, Hargovan and
Bagaric (2011) chapter
2
Carroll and Buchholtz
(2012) Chapter 3 ereading provided; du
Plessis, Hargovan and
Bagaric (2011) chapter
2

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Course Outline: EMB761 Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

7. What resources do I need to undertake this course?

7.1

Prescribed text(s)

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below:
Author
Year
Title
Publisher
Du Plessis, J. J., McConvill, 2011
*Principles of
Cambridge University Press:
J., & Bagaric, M
contemporary corporate
Australia.
nd
governance, 2 edn
All other readings provided as e-links
*This textbook is available as an e-book via
http://usc.eblib.com.au.ezproxy.usc.edu.au:2048/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=647357&echo=1&userid=Sgub
GlCDgDg%3d&tstamp=1428884332&id=9D83CC79C7B6FB88377043713FE71A4CC36E4922

7.2

Required and recommended readings

Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These
materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further
information regarding particular aspects of your course.

7.3

Specific requirements

Nil

7.4

Risk management

There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the
Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.

8.

How can I obtain help with my studies?

In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Student Life and Learning
provides additional assistance to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can
drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 1226 or Email:
StudentLifeandLearning@usc.edu.au

9.

Links to relevant University policies and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
Review of Assessment and Final Grades
Supplementary Assessment
Administration of Central Examinations
Deferred Examinations
Student Academic Misconduct
Students with a Disability
http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching

10. Faculty specific information

Locating Journal Articles
If you have been notified that the journal articles in this course are available on e-reserve, use the on-line
library catalogue to find them. For journal articles not on e-reserve, click on the "Journals and Newspapers"
link on the Library Homepage. Enter the journal title e.g. History Australia, then search for the volume and
issue or keyword as needed.

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Course Outline: EMB761 Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Assignment Cover Sheets
The Faculty of Arts and Business assignment cover sheet can be found on Blackboard or on the USC Portal
at: Faculty of Arts and Business (Students) > Forms. It must be completed in full identifying student name,
assignment topic, tutor and tutorial time. This must be attached securely to the front of each assessment
item prior to submission. Claims of loss of assignments will not be considered unless supported by a
receipt.
Help: If you are experiencing problems with your studies or academic work, consult your tutor in the first
instance or the Course Coordinator as quickly as possible.
Difficulties: If you are experiencing difficulties relating to teaching and assessment you should approach
your tutor in the first instance. If not satisfied after that you should approach in order your Course
Coordinator, Program Coordinator then Head of School.
General enquiries and student support
Faculty Student Centre
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259
Fax: +61 7 5430 2859
Email: FABinfo@usc.edu.au