Business Ethics (BLAW 3002)

Welcome to "Business Ethics," a comprehensive online course designed specifically for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students. This course is grounded in the rigorous and engaging OpenStax textbook authored by Stephen M. Byars and Kurt Stanberry. In today's rapidly changing global economy, understanding business ethics is no longer just a theoretical exercise; it is an essential foundation for long-term corporate success and personal professional integrity.

This course defines ethics as the standards of behavior to which we hold ourselves accountable in our personal and professional lives. It emphasizes that true business ethics extends far beyond mere legal compliance. While the law sets minimal standards for behavior, this course will challenge you to move beyond the letter of the law to create a strong culture of ethics and promote corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Throughout our modules, we will cover a diverse and robust range of topics:

• Foundations of Ethical Thought: We begin by exploring the historical and philosophical roots of ethics, comparing Eastern and Western traditions from Aristotelian virtue ethics and Confucianism to modern Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Justice Theory.
• Stakeholder Management & CSR: You will learn practical strategies for identifying and prioritizing stakeholder claims. We will demonstrate how a business must balance the needs of customers, employees, the environment, and the community to generate long-term goodwill and true profitability.
• Employer and Employee Relations: The course deeply examines reciprocal workplace duties. You will discover what employers owe their workforce—such as a safe environment, fair wages, and privacy—and what employees owe their employers, including brand loyalty, financial integrity, and a strict commitment to avoid conflicts of interest, bribery, or insider trading.
• Contemporary Social Challenges: We will tackle urgent modern workplace issues, including managing diversity and inclusion, addressing income inequality, accommodating differing abilities and faiths, and responding to evolving consumer demands regarding sustainability and animal rights.
• The Future of Work: Finally, the course casts a critical eye toward the future by analyzing the ethical challenges presented by the gig economy, the rise of telecommuting, and the integration of robotics and artificial intelligence into the modern workplace.

By the end of this course, you will not only be able to recognize complex legal and moral issues, but you will also possess the practical wisdom to reason through various courses of action and prioritize social responsibility. Join us on this journey to become an ethical leader and a professional of integrity who is prepared to make a positive, lasting difference in the global business world.