Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a theological and interdisciplinary understanding of the connection between integrity, honesty and business ethics

• Show evidence of applied knowledge of ethical problems in issues such as competitiveness, the moral effects of free-market capitalism, fair wages and branding

• Display critical skills in discussing research findings and showing awareness of tensions, potential points of integration and questions raised through the process of comparing and contrasting distinctive and similar ethical guidelines and perspectives for facing challenging workplace choices

• Show evidence of personal/professional integration into the student’s theory and practice

• Employ applied research methodology to identify a specific concern pertaining to the practice of shaping truthful business practice.

• Design and implement a practical intervention to address a particular concern

Unit Description

Whether as consumer, employee, manager, stockholder, citizen, or church leader/teacher, each one of us makes value choices in economic decisions that shape our world. Specific challenges such as: competitiveness, the moral effects of free-market capitalism, fair wages, branding, use of deception and building ethics into an organisation, will be explored from various theoretical standpoints that include Theology. The connection between integrity, honesty and business ethics is the focus of this unit.

Integrity is vital for the functioning of society and those in business have a responsibility to assure that their business operate in truth and justice. Honesty is a key element of integrity. Data integrity, truthfulness in communication, brand promise and corporate character are all qualities that need to be present to have integrity and these qualities will be examined in this unit.

The unit will also explore how leadership in business is accomplished within an atmosphere of honesty, integrity and character. Learners will explore how a company can project and demonstrate that its policies and methods are honest, have integrity and are ethical. Learners will explore business ethics as they consider the actions of companies. Truthfulness is the attribute of consistently telling the truth. The proof of a company, individual or organisation to tell the truth is evident in all business communication. Special attention will be given to the internal and external communication activities of companies. The ethical ramifications of the “credibility gap” in organisational communication will be explored. The role of leadership, to ensure that integrity and ethics in the workplace is a requirement will be considered. Learners will explore how business leadership instils these qualities not only in their words but also their actions.

Teaching Strategies

The learning process consists of three phases: Reading, Residential, and Research. Each phase has a blend of individual and group learning, and subsequent phases build upon the learning of those that come before.

The first phase is a Reading phase, and lasts for 12 weeks. The learner, as part of a small cohort study group (3 to 5 members), is guided through a reading program to explore the current scholarship on the practice of “Shaping Truthful Business Practice”.

Reading assignments are compiled with the help of the librarian, the educational technologist, and administrative support staff. Required weekly readings are posted to the unit website once a week for downloading, utilising Tabor Victoria’s Moodle platform.

Students are also required to read the prescribed textbooks in this phase.

During this first phase learners in cohort groups embark on a guided social inquiry, resulting in a research project . Hands-on research conducted in the context by each participant allows him/her to gain an understanding of specific, emerging ministry concerns/questions encountered by persons working in business.

Second phase is a residential phase: Equipped with the reading and research, learners then undertake a Residential phase of 40 hours’ worth (one week, full-time) of residential study. During the residency, all cohort groups gather in business companies and/or organisations chosen because of a leader who is known as a thoughtful practitioner, and because the agency has a proven track record in “Shaping Truthful Business Practice”.

In the third Phase students complete a personal theology in which issues related to “Shaping Truthful Business Practice” are explored. Cohorts also plan and implement an intervention at a business company or organisation. The intervention is a professional presentation that summarises findings and proposes a number of ways the agency might go about addressing the emerging questions. The intervention invites thoughtful practitioners into theological reflection and constructive thinking about the concern and what might be done to begin addressing it. Following the intervention, the small cohort study group reflects upon and assesses their collaborative work.

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Unit offerings

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.