Business Ethics and Corporate Governance

TASK
Please choose one of the topics listed below to write your assignment on.
The starting point for your term paper will be the course book, the contents of which will serve as the basis for an in-depth examination of one of the following questions. You are expected to research and cite from sources corresponding to your chosen topic.

Note on copyright and plagiarism:
Please take note that IU Internationale Hochschule GmbH holds the copyright to the examination tasks. We expressly object to the publication of tasks on third-party platforms. In the event of a violation, IU Internationale Hochschule is entitled to injunctive relief. We would like to point out that every submitted written assignment is checked using a plagiarism software. We therefore suggest not to share solutions under any circumstances, as this may give rise to the suspicion of plagiarism.

1.1 Task 1: Ethics Theory and Business Ethics

1. Explain in detail the two theories of ethics – Utilitarianism and the Categorical Imperative. Make sure you use literature beyond the one found in the course book.
2. Use a real-life example from professional practice that portrays an ethical dilemma. Which of the two theories of ethics guided the company (or its employees) in this situation? Describe how the company (or its employees) would have decided or acted, if they had used the other ethics theory in order to come to a decision.

1.2 Task 2: Corporate Governance – Theory and Professional Practice

1. Provide a detailed explanation of the relationship between Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. Make sure you use literature beyond the one found in the course book.
2. Select a real-life business scandal. Explain how the two Corporate Governance theories (Agency Theory and Stewardship Theory) could have helped in avoiding the scandal and where the theories have not been properly put into practice (which then caused the business scandal to happen).

1.3 Task 3: Enterprise Risk Management

1. Provide an overview about the concept of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) within the range of governance mechanisms and explain ERM’s value for Corporate Governance and Business Ethics. Make sure you use literature beyond the one found in the course book.
2. Select a Risk Management framework of your choice (e.g. COSO, ISO etc.) and explain its characteristics, structure, relevance and impact.
3. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT
   When conceptualizing and writing the Written Assignment, the evaluation criteria and explanations given in the writing guidelines should be considered.
4. TUTORIAL SUPPORT
   In this Written Assignment task, several support channels are open; as the student, it is your responsibility to select your preferred support channel. The tutor is available for technical consultations and for formal and general questions regarding the procedure for processing the Written Assignment. However, the tutor is not required to approve outlines or parts of texts and drafts. Independent preparation is part of the examination work and is included in the overall evaluation. However, general editing tips and instructions are given in order to help you get started with the Written Assignment.