AMB255 Avoiding the Dark Side: Marketing, Ethics and Society


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:AMB255
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:48 credit points of completed studies.
Coordinator:Ellen Tyquin | e.tyquin@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

Avoiding the Dark Side: Marketing, Ethics and Society seeks to equip students with a strong understanding of the principles and practical tools necessary to understand the impact of marketing decisions and strategies on consumers, the natural environment and society with a view to avoiding the ‘dark side’ of marketing.

A marketer's individual values and perspectives influence the approach to ethics in the design and delivery of marketing, and hence form part of the foundation of this unit. Students will discover their personal ethical approach as well as learn ethical principles, concepts, and theories, and how to apply these to a professional marketing context. Students will analyse real world ethical dilemmas and develop innovative and creative solutions to creating a better society, one step at a time.

This is an elective unit.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Understand the key principles of applying ethics in a marketing context.
  2. Identify your own perspective on, and approach to, ethics in a marketing context.
  3. Use ethical principles, concepts and techniques to analyse and plan how to tackle real-world ethical problems and recommend creative solutions.
  4. Communicate effectively; in writing and electronically.

Content

Students will learn about and engage with ethical principles, theories, approaches and concepts, understand their own approach to ethics, and apply their learnings to authentic scenarios. 

Learning Approaches

This unit will adopt a teaching and learning methodology that includes the presentation of core ethics principles, concepts and theories. A lecture format will be used to introduce the core principles, concepts and theories, and tutorials will be used to review and apply them to real world ethical issues through a range of experiential activities. These experiential activities will provide students with an opportunity to link the theory to practical application of ethics in a marketing context. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

  • Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
  • Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
  • Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

There are two assessment items.

Assessment 1 covers lecture topics up to and including week 6, and is formative.

Assessment 2 covers learning content from week 1 to 13, and is summative.

Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Self-Reflective Essay

This assessment item requires students to reflect on their own perspectives and approaches to ethical issues in marketing, and is a self-reflective style. In addressing this assessment item, students will need to apply knowledge of ethics principles, concepts, theoretical approaches. Guidelines and format for the assessment, and marking criteria will be made available on the unit's Canvas page.

Formative or Summative: Formative 

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1), HO (2.1), PC (3.1), TS (4.1), SE (5.1)

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 40
Length: 2,000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4

Assessment: Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)

Students will be given the challenge of critically analysing and responding to ethical dilemma scenarios from the perspective of a business executive. This assessment item is an in-person individual exam format. Students will identify and critically evaluate ethical issues in scenarios and make informed recommendations.

Formative or Summative: Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.2), HO (2.2), SE (5.1, 5.2)

Weight: 60
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Central Examination Period
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

This unit will be supported by relevant readings, content delivered via Canvas and in classes, and a recommended text.

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Eagle, L., & Dahl, S. (Eds.). (2015). Marketing Ethics & Society. Sage.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to view the Emergency video.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)

KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge

Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay

KS (1.2): Technical and Technological Skills

Relates to: Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO4, Self-Reflective Essay

SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding

Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Self-Reflective Essay, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)

SE (5.2): Global Social Responsibility

Relates to: Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)

TS (4.1): Self-Reflection and Accountability

Relates to: ULO2, Self-Reflective Essay

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BS05 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  3. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  4. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay
  5. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  6. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Self-Reflective Essay
  7. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, Self-Reflective Essay
  8. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Self-Reflective Essay, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)

BS06 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  3. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  4. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay
  5. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  6. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Self-Reflective Essay
  7. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, Self-Reflective Essay
  8. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Self-Reflective Essay, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)

BS08 Bachelor of Business - International

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay
  2. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  3. Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  4. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: Self-Reflective Essay
  5. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)
  6. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Self-Reflective Essay
  7. Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, Self-Reflective Essay
  8. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, Self-Reflective Essay, Ethical Dilemma Response (Exam)