Applied Business Ethics

The seminar Applied Business Ethics focuses primarily on the relationship between theory and practice in business ethics. Students will thus critically discuss and present current topics and issues on international business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability management. The participants will train their ethical reflection capabilities and get to know the challenges linked to multinational companies’ efforts to practically implement ethical business practices.
 
The seminar will be held in English, meaning that coursework, presentations and papers can be submitted in English only.

Preliminary topics to be covered in this seminar are:
 
1) Digital Business Models of the Platform Economy: A Critical Analysis from a Business Ethics Perspective
2) Sharing Economy: Concept, Cases and Critical Analysis from a Business Ethics Perspective
3) Critical Perspectives on Political CSR: Limits, Potential and Cases
4) Sweatshops and their Role in Global Value Chains: A Critical Analysis
5) Integrative Social Contracts Theory: Concept and Critical Analysis of the Grand Theory in International Business Ethics

Students are required to write a paper and give a presentation to earn credit points. The seminar is thus organized as follows: On April 6th, 2021, 10:15 am, the seminar will start with a kick off meeting, where students will be briefed on the overall subject of the seminar. Upon this occasion, students will also be introduced to the different topics of the seminar which will be allocated to students according to their preferences. During this meeting, we will also give advice on general expectations on giving a presentation, writing a paper as well as on the formal requirements for drafting an academic paper.

After the kick-off meeting, students start writing their papers and work together to prepare a group presentation of their topic. During this phase students are supported by a tutor and can receive feedback in order to prepare the group presentations.

The group presentations will take place on June 1st, June 8th, June 15th, June 22nd, and June 29th, 2021.

Introductory literature will be provided following the topic allocation.

The grade is comprised as follows:

50% paper (10-12 pages), 50% group presentation and discussion of findings.