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365-1151-00L 2 Credits NDS D-MTEC
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Applied Business Ethics: From Individual to Corporate Moral Responsibility

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Bastian Jörg Bergmann
Exclusively for MAS MTEC students (2nd and 4th semester).
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:55:22

Abstract

With leadership comes responsibility. In this course we explore the ethical duties we are facing as individuals, as managers and as an organization. We combine analytical frameworks with latest insights on findings on human behavior. Selected guest speakers will provide insights on ethical decision making and strategies in their own field.

Objective

- Understand the central questions and concepts moral philosophy and business ethics - Understand the different contexts in which ethical decision making in business is addressed - Understand the gap between business ethics and the concerns of most managers and how ethics and interests can and do conflict - Realize and be able to deal with the diverse set of ethical viewpoints when making decisions (ethical issues are “not issues of right versus wrong,” but “conflicts of right versus right”) - Reveal and assess your ethical intuitions and learn how to use ethics in business settings

Content

This course has four parts. Each part is structured over one day. In part one we will begin to investigate the reasons for acting morally on the individual level. With that, this part provides a brief introduction to moral philosophy, going through classical approaches and will introduce moral agency and moral obligations. Selected readings provide the basis for this part. The second part will extend the scope of ethical consideration to the business context and to the level of an organization and corporate moral agency. This part will address the numerous ethical duties faced by managers and organizations. Selected research papers and reports provide the basis for this part. The third part will focus on particular cases and offers insights ranging across different industries. In that part, selected professionals will join the session to share their experience. In part four the students will present their projects, based on a small group exercise. Overall, an open discussion and a self-discovery of the ethical aspects by the participants will be key for the interactive character of the seminar. More details on the structure and interactive elements (e.g. simulations, role plays) will follow closer to the seminar.

General Information

Language
English
Levels
NDS
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
ungraded semester performance
Credit points will only be assigned if the following criteria are met: Full attendance of all course days and full completion of all course assignments.

Registration & Places

Max Places
25
Signup End
14.02.2021
Priority: Registration for the course unit is only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
seminar Applied Business Ethics: From Individual to Corporate Moral Responsibility
Four-day course: 29./30.06.2021 / 01.07.2021 and 08.07.2021. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 09:15-17:00
  • 29.06 Date 09:15-17:00 (HG D 16.2)
  • 30.06 Date 09:15-17:00 (HG D 16.2)
  • 01.07 Date 09:15-17:00 (HG D 16.2)
  • 08.07 Date 09:15-17:00 (HG D 16.2)
24 h semesterly

Offered In