MA612 - Ethics

Credit Points: 15 credit points

Workload: 36 hours

Prerequisite: MA511 Financial Accounting and Reporting

Co-requisite: N/A

Aims & Objectives

This is a Year 2, Elective Unit in the Master of Professional Accounting. For Course Learning Outcomes and further information relating to Master of Professional Accounting program please visit our website: http://www.mit.edu.au/study-with-us/programs/master-professional-accounting.

Ethics is the consideration of how we should conduct ourselves. How should we behave? In this program the work of major philosophers is used to introduce values and the impact of values on human behaviour. This foundation study is applied to the ethical circumstances of business within which accountants practice. The Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (APES110) is examined and applied to case studies throughout this course.

This unit will cover the following topics:

  • The foundations of ethical behaviour.
  • Ethical issues of business and accounting
  • Ethical codes of conduct including the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants
  • Case studies of ethical problems and issues
  • Current ethical issues in business and accounting

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes
The Course learning outcomes applicable to this unit are listed on the Melbourne Institute of Technology’s website: www.mit.edu.au. 

Unit Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this unit students should be able to:
a. Recognise, analyse and discuss the key elements of an ethical issue.
b. Demonstrate the application of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants to a range of ethical issues and problems in accounting and business.
c. Be able to work with others in the resolution of ethical issues and problems.
d. Be able to recognize the significance of cultural issues in the resolution of ethical issues.
e. Present solutions to ethical issues orally and in writing.

Assessment

Assessment Task Due Date A B Unit Learning Outcomes
1. Formative Assessment Week 2 - - a
2. Contribution and Participation Weeks 1-12 - 10% a-e
3. In-Class Test Week 6 - 10% a,e
4. Presentation [Group] Week 8 onwards - 10% a-e
5. Essay [individual] Week 11 20% - a,b,d,e
6. Final Examination [3 hours] TBA - 50% a,b,d,e
TOTALS   20% 80% 100%

Task Type: Type A: unsupervised, Type B: supervised.

Contribution and Participation (in class) (10%)

Students are expected to attend each scheduled class, arrive on time and remain for the entire session. Adherence to this requirement will be reflected in the marks awarded for this assessment. Students are also strongly encouraged to actively participate in the class discussions and tutorial activities by answering questions, expressing their opinions, insights and their learnings from the course during the class hours.

Students are expected to contribute and participate actively in weekly online Moodle discussion forums. Students are also strongly encouraged to take the lead and facilitate active communication and interaction among their peers enrolled in this unit and academics. The well-structured student discussion forums organized in this unit should be better utilized by assisting other students to review the unit content prior an assessment, expressing their opinions on materials that they read, insights and their learnings from the course in their free time. Adherence to this requirement will be continuously monitored by the academics outside the class hours and reflected in the marks awarded for this assessment.

Presentations (if applicable)

For presentations conducted in class, students are required to wear business attire.

Teaching Methods

NOTE: All School of Business units 3-hour workshops Flipped Classroom Mode.

Textbook and Reference Materials

Note: Students are required to purchase the prescribed textbook and have it available each week in class.

Textbooks

  • Brooks, L.J., Dunn, P., (2018), Business and Professional Ethics (8th edition). Cengage Learning, Stamford, CT..

Other recommended references

  • Cheffers, M and Pakaluk, M., (2007) Understanding Accounting Ethics (2nd. Edition). Allen David Press, Sutton, Mass.
  • Grayling. A. C., (2010) Ideas that Matter. Phoenix, London.
  • Hofstede, Geert, Gert Jan Hofstede and Michael Minkov. Culture and Organizations. (2010). Software of the Mind, 3rd Ed., New York, McGraw-Hill.
  • APES110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, (2017), APESB.

Journals and Business publications

  • George, G.R,, Jones, A., Harvey, J., (2014) Analysis of the language used within codes of ethical conduct, Journal of Academic and Business Ethics, Vol. 8, pp.124ff.
  • Cristie, N., Dyck., Morrill, J., Stewart, R., (2013) CSR and Accounting: Drawing on Weber and Aristotle to rethink Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, 118:3 383-411.
  • Gustafson, A., (2013) In Defense of a Utilitarian Business Ethic, 118:3 325-360.

Adopted Reference Style: APA 6th Ed.

Graduate Attributes

MIT is committed to ensure the course is current, practical and relevant so that graduates are “work ready” and equipped for life-long learning. In order to accomplish this, the MIT Graduate Attributes identify the required knowledge, skills and attributes that prepare students for the industry.
The level to which Graduate Attributes covered in this unit are as follows:

Ability to communicate Independent and Lifelong Learning Ethics Analytical and Problem Solving Cultural and Global Awareness Team work Specialist knowledge of a field of study

Legend

Levels of attainment Extent covered
The attribute is covered by theory and practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students always play an active role, e.g. workshops, lab submissions, assignments, demonstrations, tests, examinations.
The attribute is covered by theory or practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students mostly play an active role, e.g. discussions, reading, intepreting documents, tests, examinations.
The attribute is discussed in theory or practice; it is addressed by assessed activities in which the students may play an active role, e.g. lectures and discussions, reading, interpretation, workshops, presentations.
The attribute is presented as a side issue in theory or practice; it is not specifically assessed, but it is addressed by activities such as lectures or tutorials.
The attribute is not considered, there is no theory or practice or activities associated with this attribute.