Ethics, Sustainability & Profit

This subject is available under ICMS undergraduate degrees, please click the button below to find an undergraduate course for you.

Subject Code:

MGT301A/MGT301B

Note: Both A and B code subject versions are displayed as they are approved equivalent in content, assessments and learning outcomes. As ICMS courses are reaccredited, the subject is updated to a B-code suffix. Students studying a Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Business (Sports Management), Bachelor of Business (Entrepreneurship and Innovation), Bachelor of Business (Marketing), Bachelor of Business (International Tourism) and Bachelor of Hospitality Management will be enrolled in ENT201B in 2027. Students enrolled in all other courses at ICMS with this subject will complete ENT201A. This arrangement applies to the nested Diploma qualifications of these courses also.

Subject Rationale:

MGT301A

To make effective business decisions, it is crucial that students use business strategies and frameworks to assist in their analysis and resolution of ethical problems. This subject examines the moral and ethical contexts that inform and frame decision-making in the world of business to enlighten students to the consequences of their decisions and actions. The subject calls on students to justify the bias, prejudice, vested interests, etc., that underpin behaviour and points of view in the world of business.

The subject aims at developing your ability to evaluate the relative arguments and the interests these stakeholders represent. Students will examine various moral frameworks that promote and lead to decisions, particularly business-related ones, including that of the perspective of all stakeholders to a decision. During this subject they will explore several ethical perspectives and their implications for a range of key business functions and contexts such as such as marketing, human resources, international business, and technology.

MGT301B

This subject equips students with advanced business strategies and ethical frameworks to analyse and resolve moral dilemmas in contemporary organisations. By examining the ethical and governance contexts that shape decision-making, students develop a sophisticated understanding of how their decisions may impact multiple stakeholders and organisational outcomes. The subject calls on students to critically evaluate the biases, prejudices, and vested interests that underpin behaviour and perspectives, enabling them to make informed business decisions

Students explore multiple ethical frameworks and perspectives – including stakeholder theory, consequentialism, and virtue ethics – and evaluate their practical implications across business disciplines. In addition, the subject examines strategic and ethical considerations in global supply chain management, highlighting issues such as sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility in sourcing and logistics. Through real-world case studies and collaborative analysis, students will learn to assess competing stakeholders’ interests, formulate ethically appropriate strategies, and communicate their reasoning to diverse audiences.  By integrating governance principles, ethical theories, and strategic supply chain insights, this subject prepares students to become reflective and innovative professionals who champion sustainable and responsible business practices within their organisations and across global networks.

Learning Outcomes:

MGT301A

a) Assess the relationship between ethics, sustainability and profit.
b) Evaluate diverse moral and ethical theories in a strategic capacity.
c) Apply ethical analysis in a wide range of business sectors while considering the needs of multiple stakeholders.
d) Integrate ethics, sustainability and profit into business strategy.

MGT301B

a) Analyse the relationship between ethics, sustainability and profit.
b) Critically evaluate diverse ethical theories and strategically apply them in real-world settings.
c) Conduct ethical analyses across diverse business contexts, consistent with stakeholder interests.
d) Integrate ethics and sustainability into competitive and innovative business strategies to enhance profitability across networks.

Student Assessment:

Note: (G) = Group Assessment