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Course & Unit Catalogues


MN30436: Contemporary issues in business and society

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: School of Management
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100% - Qualifying Mark: 35)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must take MN10079 OR take MN10574 OR take MN10569 OR take MN20445 OR take MN20434 OR take MN10103 OR take MN20624
Learning Outcomes: This course should enable students to engage with contemporary social issues related to global business, and gain an appreciation of these issues from the perspective of managers, government, and citizens or consumers. Students should gain greater appreciation of key types of economic and ecological externalities created by business activity, as well as the broader influence of business on social and cultural patterns. Upon completing the course, students should be able to critically evaluate different ethical choices and prospects and limits of different policy approaches related to these issues.


Aims: This course aims to engage students with contemporary issues related to the relation between business and society in a global perspective. Students will be asked to critically assess policy choices adopted by business sector, such as voluntary codes and corporate social responsibility practices. The course will also deal with the role of government as a regulator of business.

Skills: Critical writing (F, A)
Interpretation of data (T, A)
Application of theories from economics, political science and sociology to real world cases (T, A)
Ability to use internet resources (F).

Content: The module introduces students to a selected of issues related to business and society. The specific topics covered in the course may vary, but will be selected from among contemporary policy debates around economic or ecological externalities arising from business, or the broader social and political context in which business operates. These topics will be studied from the perspective of corporate management and possible responses via programs to ensure corporate social responsibility. In addition, these topics will also be explored from the perspective of government and with regard to different policy tools for encouraging or regulating better corporate behaviour. Key topics may include but are not limited to multinational firms, global warming and resource scarcity, issues of economic and social inequality, or the influence of business on cultural, social and political dynamics of the UK.

Course availability:

MN30436 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry
  • USCH-AFB03 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Management (Year 3)
  • USCH-AAB04 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Management with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USCH-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry with Management with Industrial Placement (Year 4)
  • USCH-AFM07 : MSci(Hons) Chemistry with Management (Year 3)
  • USCH-AKM07 : MSci(Hons) Chemistry with Management with Industrial Placement (Year 4)
School of Management
  • UMMN-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Accounting and Finance (Year 3)
  • UMMN-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Accounting and Finance with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UMMN-ANB07 : BSc(Hons) Business with Thin sandwich placement(s) (Year 4)
  • UMMN-ANB01 : BSc(Hons) Business Administration with Thin sandwich placement(s) (Year 4)
  • UMMN-AYB06 : BSc(Hons) International Management with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UMMN-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Management (Year 3)
  • UMMN-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Management with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UMMN-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Management with Marketing with Year long work placement (Year 4)
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UXXX-AYB05 : BSc(Hons) International Management and Modern Languages (French) with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UXXX-AYB04 : BSc(Hons) International Management and Modern Languages (German) with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UXXX-AYB06 : BSc(Hons) International Management and Modern Languages (Spanish) with Year Abroad (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.