BTEC HND Unit 37: Understanding Business Ethics

 

Centre Name
Qualification	Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business
Unit number and title	Unit 37: Understanding Business Ethics
Learner Name
Assessor Name	xxxxxxxxxxx
Date issued		Completion date		Submitted on

 

Assignment Title

Understanding Business Ethics

 

Assessment criteria to be assessed in this assignment

Criteria Reference	To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the learner is able to:	Task No.	Page No.
P1	Explain the ethical issues a business needs to consider in its operational activities	1.1
P2	Explain the implications for the business and stakeholders of a business operating ethically	1.3
P3	Describe the social implications of business ethics facing a selected business in its different areas of activity	1.5
P4	Examine the ethical concerns of the communities in which a selected business operates	1.7
M1	Assess how a selected business could improve the ethics of their operations	1.2
M2	Assess the social implications of business ethics facing a selected business in its different areas of activity	1.6
M3	Explain the ethical concerns of the communities in which a selected business operates and suggest measures that could be taken to improve corporate responsibility	1.8
D1	Evaluate the impact of a selected business’s ethical behaviour on stakeholders and the business	1.4
Learner Declaration
I, ................................................................... hereby confirm that this assignment is my own work and not copied or plagiarised. It has not previously been submitted as part of any assessment for this qualification. All the sources, from which information has been obtained for this assignment, have been referenced. I further confirm that I have read and understood New London Educational Trust rules and regulations about plagiarism and copying and agree to be bound by them.
Learner Signature:                                                           Date:

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF – 2016/17

 

Unit number and title	Unit 37: Understanding Business Ethics
Qualification	Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business
Start date
Deadline/Hand-in
Assessor	xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Assignment title	Understanding Business Ethics
For  this assignment, you have to select an organisation which either: you are currently involved in, or  you have recently worked in, or  one you would like to start to research, or refer to the scenario provided. In order to be successful it is important that you read the grading tips before you attend to complete these tasks.
Learning Outcomes On completion of this assignment learners should: LO 1 Understand the meaning and importance of ethics in the business world LO 2 Understand the implications of businesses operating ethically LO 3 Know the social implications of business ethics LO 4 Understand ethical concerns facing different communities.
Assessment criteria to be assessed in this assignment PASS MERIT DISTINCTION P1 P2 P3 P4 M1 M2 M3 D1 √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Scenario You work for a firm which manufactures UPVC windows, doors and conservatories. Directors have recently commissioned a new website for the company and want to make sure that a ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ section is included on the site. You have been given the importance task of gathering background information for this purpose.
Task 1.1 (Assessment Criteria: P1) ·       Explain the general ethical issues a particular business of this sort needs to consider in its operational activities. Grading tip: You could take a local firm and, after investigating its basic operations, outline at least three ethical concerns. Note: this does not mean that the business should be doing something wrong, just that these things are ‘concerns’ for it.
Task 1.2 (Assessment Criteria: M1) ·       Assess how this firm could improve the ethics of its operations. Grading tip: This requires careful consideration. Think about the issues you have described for P1 and assess how/if the business could deal with them better.
Scenario The company Directors were pleased with your work. The company has decided to adopt a comprehensive CSR policy and wishes to make maximum PR use of the new set of values. You have been asked to do the following:
Task 1.3 (Assessment Criteria: P2) ·       Explain the implications for the business and its stakeholders of the business operating ethically. Grading tip: You should consider: ·       Benefits of ethical behaviour by business. ·       Who benefits the most? Is it the staff, people in developing nations or perhaps the environment? ·       If products are any better and how the customers benefit?
Task 1.4 (Assessment Criteria: D1) ·       Evaluate the impact of the business’s ethical behaviour on its stakeholders and the business. Grading tip: You should focus on one business and cover as many stakeholders as possible. Look also at the remaining issues in the unit to add to your perspectives. Remember, these are your views, but they should be backed up by clearly researched evidence.
Scenario The manufacturing company you work for has taken a strong CSR stance. It wants to put out a press release stressing environmentally friendly processes, sustainability and concern for local good causes. You are asked to do the following.
Task 1.5 (Assessment Criteria: P3) ·       Describe the social implications of business ethics facing the business in its different areas of activity.   Grading tip: Consider those ethical issues that you think affect society as a whole. Describe what these issues are and why they are of concern. Relate your thinking on this to a specific business.
Task 1.6 (Assessment Criteria: M2) ·       Assess the social implications of business ethics facing the business in its different areas of activity. Grading tip: Continuing on from P3, describe to what extent you feel that these social issues are a real problem in the case of the particular business you are looking at. Consider what the consequences are for different stakeholders.
Scenario The newly appointed managing director of the company you work for wishes to take a strong stand on social responsibility. In the past, local people have complained about lorries and vans travelling in the area. They have also complained about the smells from the factory. The Managing Director wants full awareness and has asked you to complete the following tasks.
Task 1.7 (Assessment Criteria: P4) ·       Examine the ethical concerns facing the communities in which the business operates. Grading tip: Think about your business or the industry, then describe the ethical concerns that are generated by its activities. These concerns are likely to be local ones. Example: a forest or woodland is being lost; a local ecological system is disrupted.
Task 1.8  (Assessment Criteria: M3) ·       Explain ethical concerns facing the communities in which the business operates and suggest measures that could be taken to improve corporate responsibility. Grading tip: Give a full explanation of why there are concerns about the activities of the business. What steps, if any, could the management of the business take to minimise the concerns?
Sources of information Textbooks Chryssides G D and Kaler J H – An Introduction to Business Ethics (Thomson Learning,1993) ISBN 1861523564 Fisher C and Lovell A – Business Ethics and Values: Individual, Corporate and International Perspectives (FT Prentice Hall 2008) ISBN 039564267 Gillespie A – Business in Action ‘The Business of Business’ (Hodder Arnold, 2002) ISBN 0340848200 Journals Business Review Magazine (Philip Allan Updates) Economic Review Magazine (Philip Allan Updates) Ethical Consumer (ECRA Publishing Ltd) Company annual reports Materials from relevant charities and pressure groups, such as Amnesty, World Development Movement, Compassion in World Farming, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Baby Milk Action, Campaign against the Arms Trade, Anti-slavery International. Websites www.bbc.co.uk/news                               BBC News www.benjerry.co.uk                                  Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream www.business-ethics.com                        Business Ethics online magazine www.business-ethics.com/100best.htm     Business Ethics online – 100 Best Corporate Citizens www.ethicalconsumer.org                         Ethical Consumer www.ethical-junction.org                           Ethical businesses directory for the UK and Ireland www.ethicalthreads.co.uk                          Ethical clothing and merchandise www.uk.oneworld.net/guides                     Guides on wide range of ethical issues www.ft.com                                              Financial Times www.hm-treasury.gov.uk                           HM Treasury www.ibe.org.uk/faq.htm                            Institute of Business Ethics www.loreal.com                                        L’Oreal www.nike.com                                          Nike www.nologo.org                                       Official No Logo site www.redbox.gov.uk                                  The Red Box, an interactive resource to teach learners                                                                  about tax and public spending www.tax.org.uk                                         The Chartered Institute of Taxation www.tes.co.uk                                          The Times Educational Supplement www.uk.thebodyshop.com                        The Body Shop www.unilever.com                                     Unilever Films The Corporation (Joel Bakan, 2003) – a documentary film exploring the world of corporations and the impact they have on children, health and the environment. This film is not essential, but good viewing.
Guidelines for completion   This assignment will involve you in considerable research through the tasks, accessing relevant information and planning out your answers.   Produce work that meets the assessment criteria given for each assignment brief   Use the checklist to ensure you have completed all tasks and show where the evidence is for each assessment criteria   Use the standard business report format. ·       A standard citation and Harvard referencing system is required.   Complete the assignment front page and sign the statement of authenticity. ·       You may use course notes, articles, textbooks, internet, and any additional paper-based material to facilitate completion of this assignment.   Personal observation of company operations is evidently crucial to this research, for example taking close note of recent events and how each organisation has performed.   Manage and organise own time to complete all tasks and submit work by the deadline.   Late work will only be marked on the next occasion the unit is taught in. If the unit does not run again then you will need to pay a late assessment fee in line with the requirements of the college’s assessment policy.