Ethics and Morality of Business – BS3728
Final year examination notes:
Advice for exam:
Revision should be a matter of going over and condensing notes that have already
been taken – rather than engaging in fresh or de novo reading of academic texts
just a few days prior to the exam.
You’ll have 24hrs to complete your exam – scrambling to find notes and information
during this short period of time is a guaranteed method of contracting ‘information
overload’, which is not the best way to prepare for an exam.
You’ll be required to answer TWO questions – ONE from PART A and ONE from
PART B. Total word count of BOTH questions is 2000 words (so 1000 words for
PART A and 1000 words for PART B). +-10% is allowed.
• PART A features 3 questions about globalization
• PART B features 3 questions about the environment
Failing to answer two questions, or answering two questions from part A, or two
from part B will result in serious penalty
Potential topics:
• Ethics of globalization and inequality
• Fair trade and ethical consumption
• Antiglobalizaiton/Resistance movements
• Corporate environmentalism and ‘business-as-usual’
• Philosophizing about human-nature relations and ‘the end of nature’
• Using capitalism to address climate change
All the necessary reading material for each of the subject areas/topics will appear in
the exam is on LC
Seminar reading is a good place for revision
The exam exists to test your knowledge and intellectual understanding of key
module themes
To get a first you must go beyond the recommended reading and ideas
Show some independent reflecition
Marking criteria:
• Knowledge and Understanding - using knowledge of relevant theories and subject
literature, demonstrating an understanding of the dimensions of the
displine/topic, its relationship to other frameworks, and the boundaries in which
the subject matter is situated
• Analysis and evaluation - using understanding and insight, demonstrating an
awareness of gaps or limits in the knowledge base, selecting appropriate methods
of enquiry and presenting a lucid and rational argument, well thought out
conclusion and identification of next steps
,• Synthesis and critical thinking - logical reasoning, synthesis and combination of
different viewpoints dealing with complex and conflicting information and drawing
conclusions in the absence of complete data
• Academic and information literacy - the ability to identify information needs to
locate, manage, authenticate and critically evaluate a range of sources. The
ability to select and apply appropriate tools to manage, manipulate and process
information effectively
• creativity, originality and imagination - demonstrating original thinking and
presenting complex and original ideas in different ways and employing
appropriate techniques
• conceptualisation, applicaiton/ reflection / and evaluation - inventing or contriving
an idea, concept or explanation through observation, experience, data, reflection,
etc, or applying existing concepts, theorems, technologies etc to new fields
• use in text references but don’t need a bibliography
- To get a taste of the formal assessment process in the spring semester, past
exam papers are available from the Cardiff University website. The relevant papers
refer to the Ethics and Morality of Business Module (BS 3728).
- The exam papers, in terms of topics covered, are not exactly the same from year
to year, as certain themes and areas are rotated or changed.
- Our advice would be to use these past papers to write practice essays under
timed conditions, once you have revised a subject in sufficient detail.
• Do not try to revise pre-prepared answers developed around past questions. The
rehearsed style of this strategy is miss the point of the question, which the
examiner will pick up.
He will send example essays in a couple of weeks
His personal advice on our zoom call:
Points to go over with George - ethics and morality
Got 68/70
⁃ Good grasp of CSR and theories
⁃ Right well, clear with argument
⁃ Main concern - dull, just standard arguments and theories
⁃ Way beyond that, more theoretical, more insight and make it more
interesting
Can you give me an example of how to do that
⁃ Foundations are there
⁃ Extra edge
⁃ Cite all the people you’re meant to cite, can you draw from literature or
ideas you weren’t presented with
,⁃ Look out for more critics, theories and ideas
⁃ Criteria is creativity
⁃ Try to be a bit surprising
⁃ Easiest way, go somewhere that’s distant from subject writing about
⁃ Business literate go beyond that, gender studies, politics or religion, will
find ideas to move field forward
⁃ Easiest way to go about it
⁃ Recommend resources - best way
⁃ Nutrition, link to nutrition industry, there is a lot there, in the US
supermarket 80% has added sugar, this is causing obesity
⁃ Different, strange context, can shed light on business
⁃ Digestive system works, how carbs processed etc. used as metaphor for
business, use a context like that, ulterior nervous system, can we use
that to make a decision in ethics, treat CEO as the brains, but there are
lots of other things, gut health and brains, use that as a metaphors
⁃ Really stands out, above a 75, makes
⁃ Push the boundaries with original ideas, how do you make the creative
leap
⁃ Don’t repeat the material you’re given, look outside of what’s given to
you
⁃ Cardiff marking criteria, 3rd year emphasis on creativity, bring in own
personal intelligence
⁃ e.g. digestive system, context we don’t talk about in business
⁃ Mental health, obesity, causing mental health crisis, obesity and mental
health
⁃ Gut by German lady, gut
What would you like to see in the exam
⁃ Emphasises the aspects of creativity and pushing boundaries
⁃ Powerpoint with clear topics
⁃ Practice
⁃ Never send someone a complete draft, bullet points
⁃ Write out the essay
⁃ Copy first line of the paragraph, and bullet point it, draft
⁃ Rest doesn’t matter
⁃ Got the idea and the references, filling it out
⁃ Pick 2 topics, write detailed plans so can get as much info as possible,
and then he’ll write back, uncertain ask back for zoom
⁃ Happen once or twice
How do I differentiate what ive just produced to make it really really good
, Would you be able to show me a piece of work or papers that you think are
really well written so I can get an understanding on what you perceive to be
really well written
⁃ Asking for last year students
⁃ A guy who wrote about body shaming, did it with theory,
W3 - free trade vs. Fair trade
Video 1:
• the world of ethical consumption is vast
• Most relevant and most interesting is fair trade
• Looking specifically at that
• What it means to be an ethical consumer
• How corporaations are working in that space
Ethical consumption is the conscious and deliberate decision to make certain
consumption choices due to personal moral beliefs and values
• way in which society and individuals go in the market, not necessarily better, not
rational choices, but because they feel something, an emotion, a thought or
action that relates to ti what they consider their moral beliefs
• Very broad concept
The UK has a long tradition of using consumption as a political tool
e.g. consumer boycott of sugar from Caribbean plantations that used slaves during
the abolitionist campaigns in the 1790’s
Takes many forms…
• ethical banking e.g. triodos bank
• Responsible tourism
• Recyclable or ‘green’/organic goods e.g. the body shop
• Developmental aid/poverty reduction e.g. Fair trade
Fair-trade label affects us all
Universities famously only sell faitrade coffee
Bananas famous for being fair-trade
Ethical consumption is big business…
2019 UK survey suggested that 65% of consumers now judge themselves ‘green or
ethical consumers’
• multibillion dollar industry now
• Looking at issues surrounding mainstreaming
Final year examination notes:
Advice for exam:
Revision should be a matter of going over and condensing notes that have already
been taken – rather than engaging in fresh or de novo reading of academic texts
just a few days prior to the exam.
You’ll have 24hrs to complete your exam – scrambling to find notes and information
during this short period of time is a guaranteed method of contracting ‘information
overload’, which is not the best way to prepare for an exam.
You’ll be required to answer TWO questions – ONE from PART A and ONE from
PART B. Total word count of BOTH questions is 2000 words (so 1000 words for
PART A and 1000 words for PART B). +-10% is allowed.
• PART A features 3 questions about globalization
• PART B features 3 questions about the environment
Failing to answer two questions, or answering two questions from part A, or two
from part B will result in serious penalty
Potential topics:
• Ethics of globalization and inequality
• Fair trade and ethical consumption
• Antiglobalizaiton/Resistance movements
• Corporate environmentalism and ‘business-as-usual’
• Philosophizing about human-nature relations and ‘the end of nature’
• Using capitalism to address climate change
All the necessary reading material for each of the subject areas/topics will appear in
the exam is on LC
Seminar reading is a good place for revision
The exam exists to test your knowledge and intellectual understanding of key
module themes
To get a first you must go beyond the recommended reading and ideas
Show some independent reflecition
Marking criteria:
• Knowledge and Understanding - using knowledge of relevant theories and subject
literature, demonstrating an understanding of the dimensions of the
displine/topic, its relationship to other frameworks, and the boundaries in which
the subject matter is situated
• Analysis and evaluation - using understanding and insight, demonstrating an
awareness of gaps or limits in the knowledge base, selecting appropriate methods
of enquiry and presenting a lucid and rational argument, well thought out
conclusion and identification of next steps
,• Synthesis and critical thinking - logical reasoning, synthesis and combination of
different viewpoints dealing with complex and conflicting information and drawing
conclusions in the absence of complete data
• Academic and information literacy - the ability to identify information needs to
locate, manage, authenticate and critically evaluate a range of sources. The
ability to select and apply appropriate tools to manage, manipulate and process
information effectively
• creativity, originality and imagination - demonstrating original thinking and
presenting complex and original ideas in different ways and employing
appropriate techniques
• conceptualisation, applicaiton/ reflection / and evaluation - inventing or contriving
an idea, concept or explanation through observation, experience, data, reflection,
etc, or applying existing concepts, theorems, technologies etc to new fields
• use in text references but don’t need a bibliography
- To get a taste of the formal assessment process in the spring semester, past
exam papers are available from the Cardiff University website. The relevant papers
refer to the Ethics and Morality of Business Module (BS 3728).
- The exam papers, in terms of topics covered, are not exactly the same from year
to year, as certain themes and areas are rotated or changed.
- Our advice would be to use these past papers to write practice essays under
timed conditions, once you have revised a subject in sufficient detail.
• Do not try to revise pre-prepared answers developed around past questions. The
rehearsed style of this strategy is miss the point of the question, which the
examiner will pick up.
He will send example essays in a couple of weeks
His personal advice on our zoom call:
Points to go over with George - ethics and morality
Got 68/70
⁃ Good grasp of CSR and theories
⁃ Right well, clear with argument
⁃ Main concern - dull, just standard arguments and theories
⁃ Way beyond that, more theoretical, more insight and make it more
interesting
Can you give me an example of how to do that
⁃ Foundations are there
⁃ Extra edge
⁃ Cite all the people you’re meant to cite, can you draw from literature or
ideas you weren’t presented with
,⁃ Look out for more critics, theories and ideas
⁃ Criteria is creativity
⁃ Try to be a bit surprising
⁃ Easiest way, go somewhere that’s distant from subject writing about
⁃ Business literate go beyond that, gender studies, politics or religion, will
find ideas to move field forward
⁃ Easiest way to go about it
⁃ Recommend resources - best way
⁃ Nutrition, link to nutrition industry, there is a lot there, in the US
supermarket 80% has added sugar, this is causing obesity
⁃ Different, strange context, can shed light on business
⁃ Digestive system works, how carbs processed etc. used as metaphor for
business, use a context like that, ulterior nervous system, can we use
that to make a decision in ethics, treat CEO as the brains, but there are
lots of other things, gut health and brains, use that as a metaphors
⁃ Really stands out, above a 75, makes
⁃ Push the boundaries with original ideas, how do you make the creative
leap
⁃ Don’t repeat the material you’re given, look outside of what’s given to
you
⁃ Cardiff marking criteria, 3rd year emphasis on creativity, bring in own
personal intelligence
⁃ e.g. digestive system, context we don’t talk about in business
⁃ Mental health, obesity, causing mental health crisis, obesity and mental
health
⁃ Gut by German lady, gut
What would you like to see in the exam
⁃ Emphasises the aspects of creativity and pushing boundaries
⁃ Powerpoint with clear topics
⁃ Practice
⁃ Never send someone a complete draft, bullet points
⁃ Write out the essay
⁃ Copy first line of the paragraph, and bullet point it, draft
⁃ Rest doesn’t matter
⁃ Got the idea and the references, filling it out
⁃ Pick 2 topics, write detailed plans so can get as much info as possible,
and then he’ll write back, uncertain ask back for zoom
⁃ Happen once or twice
How do I differentiate what ive just produced to make it really really good
, Would you be able to show me a piece of work or papers that you think are
really well written so I can get an understanding on what you perceive to be
really well written
⁃ Asking for last year students
⁃ A guy who wrote about body shaming, did it with theory,
W3 - free trade vs. Fair trade
Video 1:
• the world of ethical consumption is vast
• Most relevant and most interesting is fair trade
• Looking specifically at that
• What it means to be an ethical consumer
• How corporaations are working in that space
Ethical consumption is the conscious and deliberate decision to make certain
consumption choices due to personal moral beliefs and values
• way in which society and individuals go in the market, not necessarily better, not
rational choices, but because they feel something, an emotion, a thought or
action that relates to ti what they consider their moral beliefs
• Very broad concept
The UK has a long tradition of using consumption as a political tool
e.g. consumer boycott of sugar from Caribbean plantations that used slaves during
the abolitionist campaigns in the 1790’s
Takes many forms…
• ethical banking e.g. triodos bank
• Responsible tourism
• Recyclable or ‘green’/organic goods e.g. the body shop
• Developmental aid/poverty reduction e.g. Fair trade
Fair-trade label affects us all
Universities famously only sell faitrade coffee
Bananas famous for being fair-trade
Ethical consumption is big business…
2019 UK survey suggested that 65% of consumers now judge themselves ‘green or
ethical consumers’
• multibillion dollar industry now
• Looking at issues surrounding mainstreaming
